Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-19
proposed Garter Changes.

proposcd Garter Changes.
Tho chamber Of Commerce has decided
IN rall a public meeting during the month
of December to discuss the advisability
OF uetitioning the Legislature TO put
morc OF the city departments under COM
missions.
This meeting we feel sure will be well
attended. and we may expect the sub
zoe, TO be considered thoughtfully and
thoroughly. The public is watching mu-
nicpal affairs more closely than 1t has
done in many years. The questions sub
mittcd TO the primary election in octo-
ber last swokc an interest which 50 far
from dying out is extending.
We hope that this meeting Of business
men and citizens generally will take is
sue squarcly with the City Council in
the matter Of relieving the Board of
Public interests from the duty of nomi-
mating Fire and Police commissioners.
II the charter amendment proposed by
the city Council should be enacted into
law by the Legislature. The Board of
Public Interests from the duty Of nomi-
ishcd. Very little will be left 1T TO do
after the nominations arc taken from IT.
of old the Board of Aldermen and Com
mon Council were won't to refer important
questions TO the hoard once. when the
matter Of purchasing coal for the gas
works was referred TO the board. it was
able TO save the city 5000 per annum by
suggestion that 1t made. But now-a-
days little business is referred 10 the
hoard by either branch Of the city Coun-
ell and should the duty of making
nominations of commissioners be taken
from its hands The board might as well
be abolished.
But the Board OF Public Interests Is
not going to be abolished without vigo-
rous effort on the part Of the people to
prevent 1T. In the first place many hold
that this movement IS an attempt on
the part OF the city Council to undo the
results Of the primary. In the next
place the belief is general that the re-
cord of the Board of Public Interests
VIII show that It has done valuable
work for Richmond in keeping a good,
safe distance between politics and the
Fire and Police boards. The high stand
ing and purity OF administration char
actcriaing these departments carry with
them eloquent and emphatic endorse
mont Of the system that now exists
Tho public looks with wonder at the
move on the part of the city Council
Ia absorb the power of the Board of
Public Interests. when the Police
and Fire departments have been man.
aged without reasonable complaint from
any quarter
II is further TO be noted that the
Board of Public Interests is appointed by
the presiding officers and other members
of the City Council. There is a popular
Impression that the Chamber of Com
merce appoints one half of the mem
bers of the Board of Public Interests.
Not So The chamber has no hand in
1t. The entire matter of making APP
pointments is with the members of the
CITY Council. and If the membership OF
the Board Of Public Interests is not
such as II should be the City Council
has itself To blame-nobody else. But
looking at results we should say that the
membership Of the Board Of Public In
terests is good, and We furthermore be-
lcve that the city Council might well
refer TO the board many matters that
are either not investigated at all. or are
referred 10 Council committees which are
overburdened with work.
We shall look forward with much in
tcrest TO the citizens mesting. The Dis
patch has long advocated the appoint
ment OF Board OF Finance. and We
have argued that II the City Council
would cali such a board to its assistance
the finances of the city would be much
better managed than they are now. And
We take 1t that in view Of recent de-
velopments at the gas-works there VIII
he general demand that that depart
mont be also put under commission.
But II will be scarcely worth while 10
create any new commissions II the Board
OF Public Interests Is to be abolished.
The commissions will then be little more
than City Council committees. Each
commissioner win have to court the IA
yor Of the ward politician. so that he
may have the support of the ward mem
bers Of the City Council He will not
be in ii position TO show his independ-
cnce. lie will have TO take care whom
his board employs lest offence be given
\ TO the members OF the City Council.
Al present the Board of Public Interests
stands as a bulwark between the com
missioners and the members of the city
Council. In short, the changes proposed
by the City Council Will be detrimental
20 the taxpayers interest. and will be
nowise serviceable to the employees of
the departments.
We should think that none Of our city
senators or delegates in the General As
sembly would commit themselves TO the
CITY Councils proposition before the citi-