The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-03
the way of personalities. vague sus.

| In the way OF personalities, vague sug-
| gestions Of danger to the Democratic
party. and OF Interference with the rlgnt
| OF the people to control. but | ma scarce
| ~ an attempted defence OF the present
| system OF municipal management. l at
tended the recent meeting OF the Chamber
Oh commerce, when the proposed amend
ments were reported and considered, and
do not think IL any injustice TO say that
the discussion was upon "a much higher
plane than which has characterized the
opposition. The speeches were not OF the
'ad captandum' sort. They were earn
est and thoughtful presentations OF the
reasons which were supposed TO make
some change necessary In the sdethods OF
administering our city goIcrnmen,. II
was cOntenucd that the management OF
our finances had not been wise and eco.
nomical, but on the contrary. wastetul
and eXtrayagant. IL was contended that
our present system OF city government
had brought MS to CONDITION OF srea,
peril. and that IL behOoved every goot
citizen TO consider IL wiser measures could
not be adopted 10 safeguard our inter,
ests. IL was argued that the proposed
amendments would In all probability place
better men in control OF our finances, ana
would remove at least some OF the eNis
of the present system. | fail 10 ma IN
the speeches IN opposition 10 the amend
ments any indications OF the present
system or any refutation or the charges
made against our city government. FER.
h3Ds no one viii attempt 10 meet the
charge that the management Of our mil-
nicipa affairs has been loose. wastetui.
and eNtraVagant. No thoughtful man can
question the fact that we have been
brought TO "A point where IL Is absolutely
necessary to do something. looking 10
wiser administration or OR city govern
ment. The plan suggested IN the propos-
ed amendments Of the charter Is the re-
suit OF much thought. labor, ana inNes,
tigation upon the part or a number OF
gentleman of intelligence and pubic spirit
and several OF these gentlemen had eA-
ceptional opportunities for knowing some.
thing of the city's needs. me cnampel
of Commerce endorsed the plan with only
one dissenting voice, and the amendments
suggested have since met the approval
OF a large body Of our people, upon whom
the evils of the present system ran most
heavily.
III the proposed plan is not wise one.
let the opponents Of 81 suggest better
oue-cppositiOn TO any ana All changes OF
the charter VIII not do. SOmetnlnS must
be done-the evil has become intolerable.
The objections TO the amendments 40 not
rest upon any sound basis. Why sHoul'
IL break mp the Democratic party 20 p ia.
our city government IN moro tfustWoilh.
hands? Is the Democratic party weddea
TO corruption. to extravaganza, ana ms
management in our CITY government 1
do not believe it, believe there are goou
men enough I'm this city, II properly
arousod 10 a sense OF our condition, IRON
the nettlc danger 10 pluck the flower,
safety" In the management or CITY
government the danger always arisyS
from apathy. The good element can al,
vravs riile N Il will. There is nothing III
tho suggestion that the proposed changes
interfere with the right Of the people 10
Govern. The state Is sovereign. The city
is a municipal corporation with powers
created and limited by it's charter, ane'
besides. any possible objection on th's
score IL removed by the fact that mo
nronosed amendments are to be submit
ted to a vote Of the whole people OF the
CITY entitled 10 vote I may say IN con
cluslon that while questioning the Nalih-
az ~ the grounds Of opposition TO the
,,'s,ssoonsed amendments. there has been no
ni,rpose in anything said to question the
motives OF any one opposed 10 any
changes In the city charter.
JOHN HUNTER. JR.
Pichrnond. Va, Feb y, 10.