Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-04
cAs-WORKs AND CHARTER.

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Of the affairs Of the City Gao WORKS -
an able, frank. and fearless presentation
of the facts OF the case, as they APP
peared to the committee. Upon the evil
dence before the committee. H. seems 10
us that the committee would not have
been justified In making any other recon-
mendations than those which 1t has made
II, however, mitigating circumstances
should yet appear. we would have them
fairly considered by the City Council. ana
the accused given the benefit OF them; the
public asks that justice be donc-nothlng
more, nothing less.
IL a commission had been placed over
the gas-works at the same time That one
was placed over the Fire Department
Richmond would have saved at least
SIS 900 and a scandal that wounds every
true lover OF the city. Some of the de-
pendents OF the City Council have much
sharper eyes for the delinquences OF COM
missions than for Council committees.
Every act OF the commissions Is scanned
closely. and no short-coming Of theirs is
left uncovered On the other hand, under
the old administration OF the gas-works.
the Superintendent was a mighty man.
The average councilman was as eager TO
keep on the right side Of the Superln-
tendent as the Superintendent was TO
keep on the right side Of the councilmen.
So whatever the Superintendent said
went with the councilmen. But had
commission he would have been inde-
pendent of the councilmen and the coun-
cilmen of him.
The errors Of the past at the sas-
works 80 far as they have been pointed
out. should be corrected. The City Coun-
ell should do its duty fearlessly. More
over. the City Council would do well 10
cease It's aggressions upon our commits
sions and agree to aid the Chamber OF
Commerce in getting through the next
Legislature a bill creating a light com
mission and another creating a finance
commission.
We say that the present City Council
would better do so: but il may not have
the opportunity. In May our voters will
choose a new City Council. and IL our
businessmen are wise and energetic they
will exercise a power in the primary
which will compel the selection OF many
candidates for the Common Council and
Board of Aldermen, who are in sympathy
with purpose TO run our municipal de-
partments upon business principl IS.
Our businessmen have recently seen
how great a power may be exercised by
few persons organized into clubs. II
our businessmen would win at the Demo-
cratic primary, they. too, must organize;
they must either go into existing Demo-
cratic clubs. or form new ones. Little
can be accomplished without organiza-
ton.
The State newspaper Of yesterday af-
ternoon has this to say about the
Chamber of Commerce:
The Chamber of Commerce is n body
made up OF firms. corporations, and in
divduals. Its one purpose is 10 make
Richmond prosper. Its foundation idea
Is 10 work for the commercial and bust
ness advance Of this city All the job
bling lines, manufacturers. and a large
upon the rolls. The State has gone over
these rolls. and the lowest and most
careful and conservative computation
shows, estimating these upon per cent
ages and averages. that, of the total
Of $6i,13I.1S3. real and personal property,
the membership directly represents about
50 per cent, or, say. in round figures,
sS7,SGj,ooo and that indirectly they repre-
sent much larger per cent. We have,
as We say, taken the very lowest esti-
mate, and this must be so considered.
1t is safe TO assert that the correct figures
alton.
Now, then. here we have that for
which the Chamber Of Commerce stands.
And, Furthermore. this represents the
real interests Of Richmond in that II Is
concerned most largely, either directly
or indirectly. with the employment of
two thirds OF the citizens of Richmond
SO we say that II there IS ANYBODY in
Richmond that can, more than any other.
be considered Its representative body
IL is the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
If you blot out what II represents from
the city you blot out the city, or change
the city into town Of few thousand
inhabitants.
And yet, the Chamber of Commerce
the Grain and Cotton Exchange. and the
Tobacco Trade were overruled by the
majority Of the Richmond delegation at
the behest of men who hadn't a tenth
part Of their stake in the community. and
who were. we verify believe, much fewer
in numbers!
II all the Democratic voters of Rich
mond who favored the submission OF the
charter amendments to the people.
and all those who opposed submission.
could have been made TO stand I'D and
be counted" the former would have
largely outnumbered the latter. However.
we shall not dwell upon this point now.
The right to vote has been denied US. We
can but walt until the Legislature meets
again. 1t may meet in extra session
next winter: II not. we shall have 10 wait
until the next regular session, which will
begin in December, 1897 Meanwhile. how
ever. II our Businessmen heartily desire
to exercise influence in the city elections.
they can easily do So II our business
men are active at the next primary they
may elect City Council which, instead
OF condemning, will heartily approve Of
charter changes to put the gas-works
and our finances under commissions.
exszA2,.suss.