Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-29
THE NEED OF REFORM
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN OUR
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Moore Thinks IL Would he
Better to Lense Out the Gas-WOrks
Day Labor.
Richmond. December 20, 1895


There Is nothing fraught with more
Importance and nothing Of more vital
interest than the subject that now en-
cages the attention of this community
municipal reform. The scholarly effort or
Mr.. Newton. the strong and convincing
arguments OF Judge Christian, and the
views expressed by Mr. Epps at the
recent meeting Of our citizens at the
Chamber of Commerce we're listened 10
with marked attention. When the scan
daous developments were unearthed IN
New York, under the auspices OF the
Lexow Committee, some months ago.
they excited the deepest interest and the
most profound disgust at the corruption
and populations that were exposed TO the
public gaze, and. yet, considering the re
lativc difference in the population and
size of the two cities, the developments
OF the dark and questionable acts per-
pctrated, without the knowledge, or win
the connivance. of some of the members
of the Committee on Light OF our city
has found a parallel equal TO the New
York scandal. There can De no question
with thinking minds that the govern
ments of cities By boards or commits
sons composed OF the intelligent pro-
performers of the city, who nave the
material interest OF the city at heart,
Is far preferable TO the lax system now
in vogue under Council committees. mat
the municipal affairs of our city should
be managed by businessmen with the
same economy and forethought that char
acterizes the management of their per-
sonal affairs no one will deny; that the
spoils and spoliatiOn schemes that are
engendered and perpetrated under our
present system should be abolished every
one will admit Why should a person IN
the city's employ receive more wages than
the same person employed by a citizen
/ for similar work? 1t is an injustice 10 the
| city, and also unfair to other citizens
In the employ OF private persons or cor
porations. That the patronage OF the city
| Council should be greatly curtailed
seems to be a partial remedy, and the
suggestion thrown out by Judge Chris
tan that every. city councilman ought
to be voted for by the whole city Is
/ happy and wise one, and would TO some
extent palliate the present evils and
clownish disposition and expenditure OF
the city's money.
BETTER LEASE THE WORKS.
So far as the gas-works Of the city
are concerned, l am satisfied that II
the city Of Richmond would lease them
| out at once TO the highest responsive
bidder for a term of years. win Soou
| security recurring the lessee 10 furnlsh
the CITY and the citizens with gas OF a
stimulated candle power, at fixed price,
she would save thousands of dollars an
uually The city should, Of course, APP
point and pay the meter-takers, 50 tha'
no imposition I'm this respect could pe
perpetrated either upon the city or the
consumers Of gas. The city should also
have an expert 10 test the quallty anu
candle-power OF the illuminar. ne
would amply as well TO electric-lights a.
IA Gas This plan would take the man
agement out Of politics and patronage OIL
the Council do away with an asylum
for incompetents, dead-beats, anu polu
cal heelers. An individual or corporauof
could furnish as good, II not better ga
AZ far iess than the city does, and MAKE
money. for IT, as it is claimed. the cit,
has made money at the present pflc'
and been mulctcd out OF SlvJVv"-ah'
how much more no one knOws-ah III
dividual could with ordinary economy an.
management furnish it for less ana SUI
make GOOD money. There - nothing ina
50 threatens our governmental affairs
Federal. state, and municipal, as pateI
nalisrn. into which We are so fast drliI
ing. IL occurs TO me that all city Won
should, as far as practicable, De tahei
ont of politics, and should be done unde
the contract-system-our streets shoui
be cleaned by contract, our sewers uu,
by contract, and, We are inclined 10 thiii
il would be economy and wisdom 10 nav
our water in the same way as Is sus
eested that our gas be supplied 80 ION
o. our CITY legislature has so large
patronage to dispense, men VIII seek eleC
lion solely TO find places ana employ
ment for their friends. regardless OF III
citv's interests We thinn these susses
mons far preferable to either committee
mr. commission. Take, for instance, IN
Man Of apportioning the appropriation
FOR streets-who has not seen none
wasted and uselessly expended IN 'edlli,
= M good sidewalks and streets III "alu
or sections when there existed no oCOa
/ sion or necessity for it, but the iac
,hat a certain amount had been assigne
20 the ward or section, ana II hiuSt
expended
THE EXPERIENCE OF PARIS.
I, il conceded by all who have give
The subject thought or investigation tina
, the citv of Paris is the typical moo
ern CITY. and possesses in a pre-en
nent degree all the conven!ences that
weu-ordered city should. OrlSina!i.
there were six gas companies engage
in the distribution. In 1870 they wei
fused into one company; contract wa
made by the city with this company
! MIR Albert Shaw in very lucid al
! ticle. written in 1891, says: The cap
talization Of the company was hNed
SlO0OCOO francs. The quality or the "a
and method of testing prescribed.
: The price Of gas per cubic meter 10 pr
vate consumers is fixed by agreemeh
and the price TO the city for public pu
= poses is fixed at about half that whiC
y nrivat. consumers pay. The company
: allowed. after paying fixed charges al
. placing a certain sum In its reserve run
4 Ia devote 10000 francs OF net prom
IN naving dividends and interest upon j
, 5000 90 francs OF capital stock. All su
: plus must be equally divided between u
. company and the municipal treasury
, Mr.. Shaw goes on TO show that the CT
: and the public get better gas ana
o., cheaper rates than In many other cite
and both the city and the corporate
. make a handsome bonus. 1t not IN
= system far preferable to ours
DUTIES OF THE MAYOR
n We do not agree with our friend. Jud.
Christian. in placing the onus OF Il
{ eas-house scandal entirely upon q
( committee on Light. Section OF u
city ordinance says. concerning u
d Mayor He shall from time to time
n he NAV consider necessary or prope
= have the books and accounts OF all pc
e sons who collect or disburse the runs
> az the CITY examined by an expert &
= countant. and have report thereof MAJ
: IN him, etc. This ordinance is ma
|. datory and had it been complied WI
the stealing could not have gone on fro
a year to year. As it is. the mayoraI
5 Of our city is a mere snecure-the ofiici
4 a mere figure-head. and does nothing
= earn the handsome salary he draw
l. There * another ordinance that we da