Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-28
or, ruLs srpE-TRACKED.


There have been several disasreeao'e
,nc,aents connected with the cons'dera-
t,on Of our charter amendment oiis; Du'
,o,a ~orse than that which occurred yes
terday. when the House committee POS"
.r.d action ON the entire subject untD
Tuesday next.
Tuesday Is the last day Of this lesisla-
five session, and this proceeding OF 'oe
committee's means not only tnat our ph's
are 10 be killed. but that the people u
p,chmond are not to know how each
: ,,.rober Of the House stands on them
This Is trif,ing with grave question ana
an indignant people. No more unwise or
s,,,ridal policy could have teen con-
oeiyed. The people are not an hrwor
A be trifed with; yet this is trifiing Oh
the most irritating description.
When the bills were placed IN the
hands OF the Richmond delegation the
chamber of Commerce had the assurance
of the delegation that no voice OF theirs
would be raised against the bills; the IN
derstsnding being that the adoption or
rejection Of the amendments should De
submitted TO the sovereign people at the
polls.
OF course, the Legislature could not
refer any measure to a Democratic pri-
mary but who can doubt that II the
hills had passed the two houses the
Democrats OF this city would have pre-
ceded the regular election with a pri-
mary to deal with this special question?
In short, II the legislative action asked
for could have been secured, the bills
would have been submitted, first TO
Democratic primary. and then to the
regular charter election. The Dispatch,
for its part. was pledged to advocate
NH, course, and we know OF no Demo-
crat who was inclined to oppose 1t. But
not only are we to be denied vote on
the amendments, but II the legislative
committees action be not undone. We are
to be denied a recorded vote on the bills
In the House.
This, we say. IS trifing with serious
matter II the Richmond delegation in
the House wish to render to their party
ana 10 their city the most signal public
service they have been able to render in
NJ, their lives. they will unite as one
man. and go to the committee and have
the bills reported and put before the
House.
What is II that the Legislature is asked
to do? Is It asked to amend the charter
OF RichmondY Is 1t asked to alter our
municipal system? Why. no; not at all.
what Is asked of the Legislature is to
allow the voters Of Richmond to decide
n they (the voters will adopt or reject
!. certain amendments. some OF which
have been proposed by the City Council
ana some by the Chamber Of Commerce.
Here Is a plain. sensible proposition
IN the interest of self-government and In
furtherance OF the Democratic doctrine
cf.the rule OF the majority. and yet We
are 10 be made victims Of the side-track-
8 SAG process.
This IL a matter In which the country
legislators are willing to be guided by
- nteA.~.ora vnauhoro Thore can he
no question on that point. The Richmond
deiegation assured the Chamber OF Com
msrce. we believe. that II opposition did
not como from the Richmond delegation
there wctsd be none at all. So let them
ssscue our party here from impending
danger by demanding Of the committee
ts@s the bills be reported and passed.
Deter. indeed. that the bills should
sauarely voted down In the House
tnat great number of our worthiest
81 re should have II to say that they
70 been trlfied with by Democratic
et,sturs in most provoking and I'M
n.rg way.
lie committee thought that by side
x1s the Richmond bills It could
the agitation here for charter
.snsnts. II has been grossly misled.
~ Is but one way to quiet the aeita-
Il. and that IL by referring It to the
Of this city. In no other con-
,ssis way can the win Of thf commu-
<sity be unmistaksbly pronounced. Even
fs1n the few days Of the session left our
! snnrty nay - rescued from its danger
= ~ 1schmond delegation win but unite
stnhs m lead. VIII they do 1T
s=-z;.---
y po,ora fhsl King Humbert cnrses