Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-06
!, ,v.rcu ON COMMISSIONS.

THE WATCH ON COMMISSIONS.
The advantage to the public of COM
missions over Council committees was
mover better illustrated than In the case
NJ the Fire Commission. The watchiui
ewes Of friends OF dependents of the CITY
Council have discovered that sum o'
money belonging to the city was expehu-
ed by the commission without peins
passed through the proper channeis' anu
,horaunon a great huliabaloo has been
made shout II.
To be sure II is not alleged that the
ci,v has been robbed of so much as one
dollar. but all the same up goes great
cry that mere is proof that commissions
are not the thing. But to our mimi, the
case in point proves that commissions are
the very thing that Richmond needs.
AS we have said before, the lynx-eyed
friends Of the City Council are forever
on the watch for the shortcomings or
commissions: while they shut their
eyes to the shortcomings of Council COM
mittees. The series of robberies perpe-
trated at the gas-works under the OLD
administration would probably never have
been discovered but for the fact that upon
the death OF the old Superintendent Mr..
James K. Branch took it upon himself
(for the public good to make a cursory
examination Of the books. Mr.. Branch
was a new member of the Council, is an
expert book-keeper and is Of an inquir-
Ing mind. Almost at the hrst
glance Mr.. Branch saw that the book
keeping was shockingly bad, and that
there were grave discrepancies in the
accounts Thus an investigation was be-
gun-all honor to the investigating COM
mittee-which has shown that the gas
works have been hot-bed Of corruption
for many years. At various times So
called investigations" were made. but
without uncovering the great losses that
the city had sustained.
1t is impossible for our City Council to
defend the wrong done at the gas-works;
90 they or their friends have gotten up
what they, no doubt, consider counter
attack. In this they show not that the
city has been robbed by the Fire Com
mission; no. not that, but that certain
city money was kept as separate ac-
count in bank to the credit of the COM
mission, instead OF being passed through
the Treasurer's office.
Now, please observe, dear friends, how
soon the delinquency of the Fire Com
mission was discovered. and how relent-
lessly 1t has been exposed. That the city
has not been robbed of a dollar does not
count for anything at all. That Is treated
as a matter OF no consequence. But, sup
pose the delinquency had been a Council
committees, can you believe that the
lynx-eyed friends of the Council would
have rushed forward to disclose II? mot
much" They didn't rush forward to dis
,close the robbery OF the city at the gas
works. they didn't rush forward to dis
close the defalcation that took place at
one Of our markets; nor that one In the
City Collectors office nor that In the
City Treasurer's office-all OF which &C.
CURED under former administrations,
And so upon this statement OF facts we
are entitled to claim, and do claim, that IL
bur people wish their public servants
watched they would better make COM
missoners of them. The whole array of
City Councdom has its eyes upon our
boards OF commissioners Everything
that these boards do is known, criticised.
and exposed This Is all right. of course;
but the pity is that the proceedings OF the
City Council committees are not subjected
TO the same relentless inQuisition.
Let the City Council. the boards. anu
the commissions. all be investigated, dis
cussed, and dlssected. so far as their
public acts are concerned There may be
disagreeabie exposures-we do not know
what else there IL TO come OUTPUT II viii
all be for the public good
The great mass of Richmonders are
fair. honest. and God-fearing people. who
are ready TO obey the law: who respect
worthy public servants. and who heartily
wish clean government.
We cannot but believe that the recent
denial Of the right to vote on charter
changes and the recent exposures with
reference to the gas-works have set
many quiet men 10 thinking. We cannot
but believe that many voters Will take
active part In the next Democratic prl-
mary who never before did more than cast
their ballots.
The great mass OF .our people are
aroused by a sense Of injustice done them
~ the denial OF their right to vote on
charter amendments. Nor is this feeling
4 81 Indignation confined "a those who wish
cd the charter changed Men who
pprposed voting against the amendments
nlso feel outraged. What these complain Of