Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-26
n,scrss,ox OF THE CHARTER.


p.scrss,oN OF THE CHARTER
The Richmond papers have been duo'eU
ho,ore the legislative committee as say
tr, Immediately after the last primary
that the result OF that eiectloh sno"
that our people were satisfied win ','
CITY charter. and did not wish II chahseu'
OF course, all that was written I"
the subject at that time waN rit'eii
An view OF the questions which had just
been disposed Of. and related 10 uoSe
questions: but who Is responsive ioi
renewipg the agitation over char'er
changes Who began this contest? was
a. the Chamber of Commerce or the CITY
Council, WHY. II was the City Coun-
Gill;
Yes; very soon after the Democrats Oh
This city had sent forth their mishS
protest against any disturbance OF our
two commissions, the City Council began
20 lesislate on the subject OF charter
changes. And. mind you, IT chose 10
rim omen one Of the very questions that
had been settled at the primary-to w.t.
the manner Of the election of the Board
of Public interests, NiiANNeh -
Fire and Police commissions.
The way the City Council went about
its work was to pass a resolution asking
the legislature so TO amend our charter
as not to compel the City Council to be
confined to the nominees OF the Board OF
Public Interests i'm selecting the Police
and Fire commissioners. SO, If there was
any understanding that there should be
no charter amendments asked for at this
session of the Legislature, the City Coun-
ell was the first TO break II. These are
facts. 1t is well for them to go upon
record. Yes; they should go upon re-
cord, and they win show to every fair
minded person that the City Council was
the first to approach the Legislature with
an application to change the charter!
Another thing 1t would be well TO re-
member--that in asking for a special
election to vote upon charter amend
ments, the desirability>of preceding such
an election with Democratic primary
election was discussed in the papers.
The nles of the Dispatch since Friday
last will show that the feasibility Of
having a Democratic primary election
10 settle this amendment question was
pointed out. Moreover. this. paper COM
United itself as favoring the policy Of
the Democrats coming together at such
a primary and then and there determining
how the party vote should be cast upon
the charter amendments.
So It is not fair TO say that the
Chambers bills as endorsed by the Grain
n ha
Trade mean that we have TO call in the
negroes Of Jackson Ward TO help us de-
eide what sort Of city government we
shall have.
we entertain no doubt at all that the
Chamber OF Commerce would have in
dicated it's preference for primary
election had the subject been brought
up there. It's members, OF course, knew
that the primary was the usual method
OF deciding party questions here: bus
as a matter OF fact. after the Chambers
committee reported that the committee
had had an entirely satisfactory interview
with the Richmond legislative delega-
ton, no more was said on the subject
Of the election. All further details con-
nected with the passage OF the charter
bills were left TO the Chambers COM
mittee.
SO we must insist that 1t was the City
Council, and not the Chamber which
first approached the Legislature with a
arter~amendment; secondly. that there
Is apparent no reason whatsoever why
the Democratic party OF Richmond should
not precede special charter election
with a primary. In the opinion OF the
Dispatch IL ought to do SO. And mas
much as the great majority Of the men,
bers OF the Chamber OF Commerce and
Grain and Cotton Exchange and Tobacco
Trade are good Democrats, We cannot
but believe that this is their opinion also.
We can see how there may be some
difference OF opinion as TO the advisa'
bilify OF this, that. OF the other amend
rnent. but It passes our understanding
how any legislator can deny to the citi
Gems OF Richmo..I the privilege Of
voting upon the question-of saying whai
they want and what they do not want
should the election prayed for be al
lowed. our legislators may confidently
rely upon the Democrats OF our city set
ting our party's position at a primary
TO be held. say, week in advance of the
= special election. at which the charter
amendments are 20 be passed upon.
The people claim the right to vote Oh
~ this question. and should have H.