Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-22
,,,,r People AND THE COUNCIL.

Aro we 10 understand by the resoiu-
,,on of the Common Council that 'iN'
"a, aoss not wish our people TO nave
the privilege OF saying at 'he poi'
whether or not they desire eef'aiii
amendments made TO the charter! Does
the Council undertake to assert tnd' ~
eon sneak for the people better than 'he
noonle can speak for themselves ii not
lint Is the meaning of the resolution
.',rsoa nigh, before last upon motion OF
Mr. Epps? u
Again: Does the Council ask ihat inc
amendment that II is demanding shah DC
enacted into law without reference 10
the people. while ii is opposed 10 SUD
uniting to a popular vote amendments
asked for by the Chamber of Commerce
md the Grain and Cotton Exchange!
n so II is the coolest proceeding
tba, we have ever known any repre-
sentative body to be guilty of. Not only
shou,d the Chamber Of Commerce amenu-
ments be submitted TO the people put
Tho amendment asked for by the CITY
Council should be likewise submitted
Observe that the City Council was the
ers, IN the fed with a charter amend
ment. The results OF the votes taken
nj the last Democratic primary had hard
Nv been announced when the CITY
Council began to plan to undermine the
hoard of Public Interests. Though the
people had declared with great emphasis
that they did not wish the two EXIST
ing commissions interfered with, the CITY
Council went TO work TO Undermine the
board which dominates the mem
beers of those commissions. us
amendment having this purpose in
view Is now before the "Legis-
lature. Nor does the Council ask a popu-
lar vote on this amendment; 1t wishes
Il nut through upon its own say-so-
without the expressed approval of the
voters. The City Council has forced
upon us this issue OF charter amend
ments. and our people ought to rouse
themselves and assert their rights, and
meet the issue squarely and vigorously.
1The Chamber OF Commerce amendments
do not propose to do anything more
than clothe the Mayor with larger powers
than ne now possesses, and create
n finance commission and light COM
mission. The main object Of the amend
ments Is to have work that is now
done by Council committees done here
after by commissions. That our gas
works were very badly managed until
the present Superintendent came into Of
nee cannot be denied. That our finances
have been badly managed is shown by
the fact that for many years the City
Council has been selling city bonds TO
make up deficiencies In current revenues.
Now the people demand to be permitted
to say that changes shall be made in
our charter which will ensure US bet
ter financial system. VIII the Legislature
deny us this privilege? VIII the Legis-
iature undertake to say that our City
Council can speak for the people OF Rich
mond better than the people can speak
for themselves? We guess not.
Not only should the Chamber OF
Commerce charter amendments be
passed upon by the voters Of this city,
but the amendments proposed by the City
Council should be passed upon by the
voters OF the city.
The Chamber OF Commerce has pro-
posed a great and good work for Rich
mond, and II should be heartily sus-
talned by the public II is aiming to serve
with n thoroughly unselfsh purpose.