Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-03
EIRENEN AND POLICE.

Whatever fate betidcS the CAampers
amendments in the Legislature. the City
Ccrncirs amendment will share.
Notwithstanding the decision OF
the Democrats OF Richmond. rendered
az the primary polls in October last that
the election of Chief OF Police and Chief
Of the Fire Department should not be
irterfered Within short. that our COM
mission system Ia satisfactory-the CITY
Council months ago set to work TO I'M
dermine the Board of Public Interests.
This board is the breakwater. as IT
were, between the police force and the
Fire Department on the one hand and
the City Council and band of schem-
ing politicians on the other. At present
no man can become a fire or police com
missioner unless he be recommended
to the Council for election by the Board
of Public Interests. Now. what the City
Council wishes is to "get at the board
easier than IT can now do.
Well. how did the Council hope to get
al" the board better? Why. by char
ter amendment. allowing 1t to go outside
of the nominees Of the board for COM
missoners.
II such an amendment were adopted
the policemen and fremen Of Richmond.
from the highest TO the lowest, would
sooI be at the mercy OF the City Coun-
Gil The officers and men Of our police
force and OF our Fire Department may
thank the Chamber of Commerce for
movement which has made the Council
Tal tie n undermine
the Board Of Public Interests and COM
PEELED II to look after its own fences.
Not a word have the opponents Of the
Chambers amendments to say about the
Councils amendment. but we don't In
tend TO let II or them off go easily.
These opponents OF the Chambers bills
are mighty indignant that the Chamber
should wish to have the Legislature act
upon bills that have not previously"
been passed upon by the people. whereas
the City Council hoped and worked to
get its amendment through without any
reference Of 1t to the people at all.
Mind you. the Councils undermining
amendment had not been previously
passed upon by a Democratic primary.
nor did the Council propose that IT should
be so passed upon subsequently" Yet
we see gentlemen who claim to repre-
sent Democratic clubs of this city de-
nouncing the. effort that the Chamber
is making to have its amendments sub
mitted TO a Democratic primary, while
they make no protest against the Coun-
cPs amendment being pushed through
the LEGISLATURE without any popular en-
dorsement at all.
In short, our policemen and fremen,
and all the interests that are dependent
upon these two great municipal depart
ments are not worthy to be passed upon
by the people; but the Gas Department
and the Finance Department must not
be legislated upon until the Democrats
have previously" approved the bills!
How inconsistent; how unfair: how indie
feasible!
Our own wish is that the whole lot Of
amendments may be submitted to the
people. with the right to vote upon each
amendment separately. Then the people
the Democrats first-may say whether
or rot they wish any change made as
to the Board of Public Interests really
the Fire and Police commissioner. or the
Gas-works, or the Finance Department,
&c.
But II the Chambers bits are not to
be passed by the Legislature, the City
Councils bill will not be passed either.
| The Richmond delegation. we presume.
| isn't going TO make fish Of one and fowl
| OF the other. II the Gas Department and
| the Finance Department are rot TO be
touched by the hand of legislation nei-
Their is the Fire Department and the
| Police Department.
But. suppose the Chamber OF Commerce
had not come forward with its bills. who
| would have prevented the passage OF the
| Councils amendment? Who then would
have seen to 1t that 1t was previously"
or subsequently" approved by the DEM
ocrats of Richmond? Who?