Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-17

if fksri1ltNt anu fA'tHllf' DlN'A -
separatcd- different ated u there be two
legislative Chambers council aud hOari
OF aldcrmcn-they should be constituted
On different principles. otherwise mere
Is no necessity fer two chambers. 20
council, or larger branch. should be
chosen on The ward plan: the aldermen
on a general city ticket. under me cuine-
latve or other form 10 secure pfopVfuonai
representation 10 Tie minority.
THE OFFICE or MAYOR.
THE executive head should be a mayor,
charged with full responsibility for the
execution OF the laws. lie shouid %
vested with the appointment OF the actuai
heads of departments, without reference
TO the legislative branch anu the terms
farmer and merchant OF bowman :, ihis
pOraneous with his. coupled with the ab,
sllgie and immediate power OF dlsm.ssdl
in the hands of the mayor. Inc MC.h oi
administration should be carried on or
isctiy by departments. responsible 10
single head. and subject TO no conttol
or dictation on the part OF the iesisiauN-
branch. ClcINsnips requning ordinary pm
telhgence and ialr elementary euuca'io'
sh ul be under the tenure OF good DO
havior Heads OF technical departments
gas. water. streets. hca IN FOOD
should be filed exclusively from classes
which have had the professional ta-l. eco
for such work The appointment OF tines.
TWO classes should be under some general
system. free from political consideIailon-'
and .rrem Jvable without written charges,
10 DC passed upon ana approved ~ some
power other than the one VINO makes Inc
charges Both Of these classes should
be put under rules of the civil service
such are now in force IN most OF tht
cities. and which have been attended v IN
most encouraging results in point or ci-
iiciency and economy.
Nr. Epps Against Commissions.
Mr.. Newton was literally applauded du-
ring his speech. As soon as he took MS
seat Mr.. Halves, In few ~ell-chosen
words. introduced Mr.. Epps. who pre-
.futed tn gatiVe side q. fnD quest Ton
Mr.. Epps expressed his embarrassment
at addressing such an audience on 50
important a public question, eNpIesst'
his devotion TO the city. ana interest pa
her welfare. and, coming directly 10 the
subject at issue. said:
II do not hesitate for one moment 20
say that ! am opposed 10 the establish
ment of more commissions IN inc Clts
government and would unheslldtlngly
abolish those now I'm existence, ana retu.n
to the people the power that has aif.alS
been taken from them Commissions
simply moan the ccntrai zit on OF 20
cal power in the hands Of rev, ana ngi-
Hnes the teachings 81 Democracy. Inc
people IN my opinion. are July conpe-
tent 10 govern themselves anu d. la
dangerous thing not 10 permit them 10
Mr.. Tpps then spoke. OF trusts, com
blues. ard commissions as members OF the
same family, which cJmu.nea 10 CO uS"
0ut an business enterprises MOI lh
with them. lie referred % the rlhs-ruIeh
cities of the country, and cndractt il].'
the record Of the New YORK police ioice'
which was governed Joy coiLHiiaa!' H
as one OF the fouest blots on huN-NitaI
history. lie praised the Two departments
I'm TX. chmond when are managed " -oln-
missions and asserted una nse OF tne
muulcpa. departments under the man
agemcnt OF Council comnlt-e7 were T..
honestly and capabiy managed as the
f|.f. q
THE GAs-WORKs MATTER
Mr.. Epps. continuing, said that the great
hue aud cry for commissions hda oeeh
raised because Of the dissiaceiul STATE
Of affairs that had been FOUND 10 exist
I'M our Gas Department. He asserted
however. that such could not nave exc
listed had the city had an expert ac-
c0untanL .
Board Of Public Interest. an wnle Ne
disclaimcd any intention Of le-ung on
the members of the board, sald lhat since
the adoption OF the amendments 10 th5
charter creating the Board of Ponce ana
IT, re Commissioners. the usefulness or me
Board of Public Interest had btfn greatly
diminished and it had deg nerated into a
political ring, which virtually cou'ioAed
Inc two boards of commits sioners.
1T not only nominated cane-aates' ne
said. but / believe | can clearly demon
strate by indlsputable facts mat II &C
tually elects the members Of these DoaIds.
The action of the City CO.ncli in regard 10
these nominations IS nothing more tndn
a confirmation OF what has already been
decided by the Board of Pubic Inter
HOW THE THING WORKS.
Mr.. Epps then went into the recital OF
facts gathered from the records Of the
Board of Public Interest. He asserted
that Mr.. John ;. harwood Of the Ere
commissioners, and Mr.. j. ". Beverage,
.f.l hoo Nl.l.N
to retire iherefrOm because the Board OF
Public Interest had by certain machina-
lions arranged for their defeat.
Continuing. ne said:
1T is needless, Mr.. Chairman. for me 10
co on cnumcrating Instances TO prove
The fallaCy of the argument that the
Board Of Public Interests protect the in
tercsts OF tie citizens by having the
power 10 nominate the candidates TO MI
vacancies ON the Board OF flte ana PONCE
Commissioners The facts ] have pre-
scented are sufficient TO convince any in.
telligent citizen that the action or the
lty Council was correct. You can very
readily see how much easier 10 would be
FOR a board. composed OF five COuncimen
and five citizens, 20 perpetuate ana foster
a corrupt department than a body of
fOrty-eight men, elected directly by the
people thirty-rinc Of whom are elected
ent system it is said that these b1apns
of Fire and Police Commissioners are
above repr0aca. that they have given us
honest and business-lilie administrations
and that they are all entirely free from
politics Admitting this 10 be true. the
foregoing facts VIII prove that 70 credit
Is due the Board Of babilc Interests.
HAVE NOT BEEN NV ESTlGATED.
81 do not desire To reflect upon those
commissions, but l do desire TO know
4Dou what a.. umptiOn this conclusion
was reached. Did you ever near or any
person or committee investigating tn
affairs OF the Police Fire commissions
or the School Board2 Is IL not fact
mat as late as twelve months ago every
body thought the affairs of the gas-works
were ia a most excellent condition. l.
q not a fact that the late superintendent
was selected as being superior TO al or
ms brother Officers save the CITY Engl-
aeeD as being worthy of large IN
crease in his salary. and was not This
Increase advocated by your newspapers,
and what YOU call your most intelligent
citiZens2 WAS there one citizen OF in
teligence at that time who would have
pointed the finger Of suspicion al this
ouicial2 We know II all now.
Who has the right TO Investigate the
action of these commissions and the
School Board They are created by the
right OF The City Council TO investigate
their proceedings. Their meetings axe
star-chamber proceedings, they are
'monarchs of all they survey, and re-
spOnsible to no one for their action. Look
at the personnel OF these commissions
of gcntlemcn VITO have formerly been
connected with city governments either
as councilmen or officials? is II posi-
BILE since they have become members
of these commissions that God has en-