Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-02
cnnn GovERNMENT WINS.

GOOD fsONEkNMlNT NiNS'
The results Of Thursdays Democratic
urinary election give the people Of Rich
,oond the assurance that hereafter the
fiscal affairs Of this city viii be ad-
roinistered upon the lines laid down in
the platform of the Democratic League
for Good Government. Again. we say
that the league like the Committee OF
Nine has done a great deal of good
First of all. the league has demonstrated
that the teaching Of the Democratic party
that Democrats who have complaints to
make ought TO make them to the party
Is sound and practical. We have made
our fight within the party and have ell
fected our purposes, and the party mas
been much prohted by ii, since the
probability IS that nothing but the or
eanization of the Democratic League
STAYED off an Independent movement. No
independent movement could now raise
ns head here with the slightest hope of
success.
In the second place, the league has won
n great victory, not merely because 1t
has elected most Of the councilmen whom
a. endorsed. but because it has indoctri-
mated our people with the belief that it is
lust as bad policy for city as for an
individual TO live beyond its income.
Again. the results Of the primary are
i,nnortant. as proving that when the BUSH
ness-men Of our city unite to secure
changes for the good Of the community
they will be supported by large numbers
Of thrifty and intelligent worhngmen.
The league never warred upon persons,
and never INDUCED in abuse of individual
members Of the City Council. Its COM
olaint was against the systems in vogue
here which. without protest from the
general public, had resulted in the pilins
nm of a great bonded debt, much of which
was the accumulation Of current expenses.
Eut though those who organized them
selves for good government were ever
conservative and kind in the expression of
their views, we regret to say that not
few who should have known better were
very abusive of the league and not only
ridiculed and misrepresented its purposes
but I'm public INDUCED i'm personal de-
traction of members thereof However
since IL is impossible 20 have any sort
of election contest free from excitement
and exhibitions of undue partisanry, we
must overlook all these things and only
remember that the ticket nominated l.
the Democratic ticket; that for the most
,art IL is an uncommonly good ticket
ana all who are Democrats should take
pleasure in marching shoulder to shoulder
10 the polls and giving ii their cordial
g1pport.
The nominees whom we have chosen
? y..ll be put up for election at the regular
election. which Is to be he'd on the fourth
Thursday In May, and the new City
council viii enter upon its duties on the
isl OF July next. The only thing thai
yin be demanded Of it that has not beer
demanded OF other Councils is that Il
.han see TO It that as FAR as possible oul
.ity shall make its annual expenses com,
within its annual income. This, We think
Nib not be q difficult matter to do. Ger
lalnly 1t will not be 50 difficult for th'
rev Council to do aa it would have beer
Tor the old Council since the former vii
l,uow public sentiment on the subject
ana will know that it will be strongl'
backed up in every reasonable effort tina
AZ may make in this direction.
with the matter of assessments on rea
state the City Council has nothing L
10. The assessments win have to stan'
rntn the year 1890. when there win b
a general reassessment OF the lands In IN
commonwealth. When that time come
II would be well for the people OF thi
s,tv to see 20 1t that the assessment
here are placed on level with the as
easements In other cities of this State. /
our assessments represent more than
per cent. OF the property value and i
sthcr cUes Of Virginia their assessment
represent DO more than 20 per cent, Q
value. then we arc paying more than on
proportion OF state taxa tion. IN tina
ease. it would be better for az to secur
over assessments. ~ possible, and rails
our city tax-rate. by so doing we shoul
realize the sum that we are now realisin
Tor the City Treasury. and not pay int
he State Treasury any more than OF
irst and fair share OF State taxes.
other words, our city taxes would !
no lower but the sum OF our State take
.Soald be. However there viii be plen,
81 time TO think about thcse things ocfoi
any action can Dc taken concerning then
Indeed. We ought 10 ask pardon for II
Getting this matteg-of-fact matter into a
article which might wen be made up
congratulations alone. Congratulations
the party that lis doctrine is yindicate'
CONCENTRATIONS 10 the people OF Ricl
mond that without any upheayal Of II
established order OF things We are