Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-23
THE CHARTER AND THE COUNCIL

THE CHARTER NNb f'
The General Assembly Of Virginia has
hafore II two schemes for amending the
charter OF the city of Richmond-to WIZ
The amendment proposed by the
CITY Council aiming to undermine ''s
BOARD Of Public Interests in the matter
OF making nominations Cor members os
the boards of Police and Fire cominls-
sioners.
. The amendments recommended ny
the Chamber Of Commerce. proposing 10
create a Gas-worls Commission ana
Finance Commission, etc
The City Council asks for the adoption
NJ IFS amendment without suggesting
mat II be referred to the vote OF the
peepIe for ratification or rejection.
The Chamber OF Commerce asks tho
Legislature to make the bills that IT has
proposed operative as laws only ai'er
thew have been ratified by the people.
But q mighty outcry Is being raised
that the word "people" means al the
people-Democrats Republicans. Popu-
lists. etc And so II does. The Gene
raj Assembly is not authorized to legs
late for a class Of people. II cannot
recognize parties IN such matter as
this. But II will be their own fault II
the Democrats Of Richmond do not pre-
oede the charter election by or with
urinary election. and at that primary
decide how the party vote shall be cast
at the charter election.
So. while the General Assembly can
only legislate for the people at large. the
Democrats OF this city may decide FOR
themselves how their party vote shall
be thrown at the charter election-that
Is 10 say. at the election when the vari-
Gus charter amendments are 10 bo
passed upon.
II Is absolutely unfair and untrue 10
cay. as has been said, that the Chamber
Of Commerce is seeking 10 have a great
public question decided by the help OF
the negroes OF jackson Ward. We OBJ
serve. however, that the City Council has
used the Jackson Ward delegation 10
aid Il I'm asking legislative action to
undermine the Board OF Public Interests
and non-action to kin of the Chamber
OF Commerce amendments.
There is. too, an undetermined effort
being made to create the impression
thai the Chamber Of Commerce amend
ments will revoiutionize our municipal
system. Not So Judge George l.. Christians
plan, il II had been adopted, would have
made radical changes; but II was not
adopted. and Judge Christian voted
against the pending amendments.
II the Chambers amendments become
laws, these laws will put the gas-works
under a commission. At present the
Gas Department is managed by COM
mittee OF the City Council. The Cham
ber's amendments will also create a
Finance Commission and enlarge the
powers Of the Mayor and make the Board
OF Public Interests even more indie
pendent OF the City Council than II now
Is. But every officer now elected by the
people viii continue TO be elected by
the people IN this respect there win
be no change Every voter will be en-
titled hereafter to vote for the same
Officers that he has heretofore been en-
titled to vote for.
No voters rights or privileges Will be
abridged In the slightest degree; but our
poor. oyerworked counciimen will DO
given some of that relief they much
need. Understand. no voters privileges
will be curtailed. but some authority and
some patronage viii be taken from the
City Council
There's the rub. The alarm and dis
tress Of the City Council isn't for the
voter. but for itself.
The Chamber of Commerce amendments
are endorsed by the mass OF our business
men and will be fully approved by the
general public when they are thoroaghly
understood. These amendments have
been carefully prepared; they arc practi-
cal and conservative. and are not open
70 the objections urged against those
amendments which were suggested
by Judge Christian. Our senators and
delegates In the General Assembly would
DO violence TO public opinion II they
denied our voters the privilege OF pass
Ing upon these amendments al the polls
As we have said. II is for the Legisla-
ture TO provide for the special election:
n Is for the Democrats OF Richmond to
say whether they will divide on the
question. or will throw their solid vote.
'sYen" or NAY" m accordance with
the viii OF the majority as ascertained
II primary election.