Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-27

In recent issue We indicated that
the Board of Public Interests and the
commissions now I'm existence. being but
the creations and at all times within the
control and removal of the City Council.
must perforce represent the intelligence
and sentiment of that body. TO say.
therefore. that commissions are undomo-
cratic is 10 say that our City Council Is
undemocratic-that the intervention OF
any body of men between the will OF
the people and the execution of that
will is also undemocratic. At recurrent
periods Of election the people have al
WAYS the chance 10 resume the power
which they have delegated 10 any body
of men. and make a clean sweep of its
public servants by elections. and impeach-
ments for corruption and abuse OF
power.
We propose now 10 show that COM
missions. whilst tending to fix an imme-
date responsibility for mismanagement'
as well as to secure efficiency in our city
work. supply a muchneeded relief TO the
onerous tax OF time and labor which
has been imposed upon and patiently
borne by the two branches of our city
Council in their effort to meet our cor
porate duties We all know that many
Of the members of the Board of Alder
men and Common Council, businessmen
dependent upon their trade or occupation
for the support OF their families, do give
and are forced TO give much more Of
fal a
the city than is either reasonable, just,
or proper.
The consciousness OF this severe tax is
known and f-,t in the community. and
is the explanation Of the fact that 50
few of our best citizens in active bust
ness life can be induced 10 serve in the
City Council
Some few do make this sacrifice. ana
we perhaps in times of critical wrath.
aroused by inefficiency or maladminlstra-
ton, fail TO make a just discrimination
and to award full commentator 10 those
who so justly deserve our praise.
But is there necessity for this unreal
sonable demand upon the time OF our
councimen? What is the explanation of
III. W nat - lnt dNollditt VI ~
The explanation is simple. Tho coun-
silmcn are desperately handicapped in
the labor of both a legislative and an
executive function. As a political body
they legislate for the city. and as COM
mittees of the two bodies they attempt
to execute the work which, as legislators.
they have authorized.
We need not say that the trouble arises
from this impolitic blending and confu-
sion Of powers 1t is an offence against
a natural law in the domain of politics,
and is indefensible in the experience Of
the past as we'll as in the practice Of the
present.
Commissions. therefore, subserve the
further purpose of making "A division Of
labor and relieving an overtaxed coun-
ell of medley of duties which has be-
come burdensome.
The Police Commission and the Fire
Commission have found favor with the
people, and so We believe would a COM
mission to manage tho gas-works, and
a board of finance and audit. Two or
three times since the war the gas de-
partment has been the subject OF investi-
CATION. and the disclosures have
always been disagrccable. The Demo-
cratic party could not excuse itself If II
failed TO rovolUtionize the system OF
managing that department. The fire.
quency of defalcations and the heavy
losses thereby imposed upon the city
offer an argument in favor of board
OF finance and audit which is well-nigh
Irresistible. With these two changes in
the city charter we think our people
would be satisfied but we do not believe
that they will be satisfied with less.