Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-08
THE MONEY VIE HAVE LOST.

ruE MONEY VIE HAVE LOST.
II was a businessman who, upon the
death of the late Superintendent OF the
Gas-works. made the discovery that the
system of bookkeeping at the works was
abominable. and that the city had been
defrauded of large sums. This pusi-
ness-man was Mr.. James X. Brahch'
who Tor a short time was n member OK
the Council. The detection OF the wrong.
doing that for years had escaped tpe
Committee on Light and the accounting
,ficers of the city. was the beginning OF
The series OF investigations that have been
made into our city affairs.
The eas-works expose and the organi-
ration of the Democratic League for Good
Government have together acted as pow
erfui stimulants upon the City Council.
rs committees, and officers. and In every
direction a probing into bills, books. and
accounts is going on. AS yet, perfection
has not been found in any department
Of our city government. Enough OF these
Investigations has been disclosed to give
the public a very good idea Of the busi-
ness methods under the committee sys-
tenn as compared with those under the
commission system. quite generally, the
administration of the gas-works viii be
compared with the administration Of the
Fire Department.
There has been some wrangling as to
the way the accounts OF the Fire De-
partment have been kept, and the Board
Of Commissioners are blamed for not pass
ing all Of their funds back and forth
through the Auditors offica IL Is
also charged that the board spent
few dollars for hack, In which to drive
10 a funeral. a few dollars more for
funeral floral design, and some more dol
lars In the way of paying for the en-
tertainment Of visiting firemen, etc The
grand total is Insignificant. But, so far
as we have seen. II Is nowhere shown
that the city las lost one dollar by rea-
son of frauds committed in the board or
In the Fire Department.
Now. how does this compare with the
record of the gas-works? There the city
had stolen from 1t at least $4,000. and
how much more never VIII be known, be-
cause the Superintendent under whose
administration these gross and almost
open frauds were committed Is dead and
gone. 1t may be that II he were alive
and could speak he could a tale unfold
that would mitigate the public judgment
against him. But, all OF that aside. and,
Notwithstanding the undoubted tendency
OF the City Council TO disoredit commits
II Is clear that the comparison of the
Fire Department with the gas-works is
vastly to the advantage Of the former
AS we have more than once said. II you
want to have your public servants
watched. make commissioners Of them.
when they become commissioners hum
dreds OF critical. II not positively un-
friendly. eyes are upon them, and no
thing that they do can pass unnoticed.
Not so with Council committees. II seems
to be--or, at least, 10 have been-no-
body's business to watch them. and in
the case OF the Committee on Light IL
lii not seem TO be its business TO watch
works. Hence. this committee is charge
abo with allowing barefaced frauds to
be committed frauds that would have
been dscoverable upon the merest ex-
animation OF the books and accounts OF
the department
We heartily wish that all OF the Council
committees affairs could be examined
g.. 4,
slor: but there Is scarcely time for this
The next best thing for the City Coun-
ell TO do. II II wishes to show that It
Is perfectly fair and impartial Is 10
examine FIRST into a Council committee
and then into a commission; and so con-
tlnue down the line.
Enough has been shown by the dis
closures already made 70 convince the
public that more or less OF looseness has
pervadcd every department OF our city
government. But only IN the case Of
The passwords Is there proof that the
city has been robbed; but everywhere II
Is seen that the existing order is not
the best possible order, and that & is
quite possible for our municipal sys-
TEN to be improved. In short. IT is
made clear that there Is plenty OF work
here for the Democratic League OF Good
Government TO DO. vs
"a We trust that the league will persuade
many good men 10 ofgsr az candidates
for the Board Of Aldermen and Com
mon Council. We trust too. that each
ward will thus be able 70 secure good
delegation. and that the delegation VIII
take note OF the recent disclosures as
70 our loose methods OF conducting nu-
niespal business and win proceed to
adept better ones.
IL would be great pity H. after all
the publicity tRss aiehmcnd has had IS