Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12

FAST LIVING IN RfthhOND.
That the good government movement
has already done good. who can doubt?
Zee how careful the Council has become
In the matter OF making appropriations!
Observe how determined it Is that our
expenses shall not exceed our income!
why is this thus?" Last year the ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts was
about SiS5,Oo0. and there is now waiting
to be funded. or otherwise dis
posed OF. q floating debt Of over
$4,000 II positive public de-
mand for an economical administration
of the city government had not been
made. when II was made. when would a
stop have been put 10 our fast living?
THE Committee Of Nine" organized in
1863 to secure the readmlssion OF Virginia
INTO the federal union was at first the
Iubjeet Of much ridicule. Many people
Rho knew how 1t ought TO be done"
out would 90 nothing but talk. criticised
the committee freely. For a long time
the committee rowed against wind and
tide as it were. But at last the elements
favored them and hope began TO dawn.
~ little longer and the prospects for Vir-
ginia's readmission grew very bright.
Then 1t was reluctantly admitted by the
breakers that the Committee OF Nine
had done great deal OF good" This
phrase came 10 be very popular during
that eyentful period and more and more
frequently as time passed, It said that
"the Committee of Nine has done a great
deal OF good" until at last under the
committees skilful pilotage. Congress re-
admitted Virginia to the family Of States
The Democratic League has already
done great deal Of good" and we be-
lleve that II Is going to do
deal more. Whether IL succeeds In
nominating few or many members
OF the City Council its influence
Is going to be felt in this community
for a long time TO come. or the candi-
dates whom II will support Il only asks
that they shall promise 20 do all that
they can TO have the city OF Richmond
live within its income: nor does II ASA
this retrenehment at the expense OF the
tiremen, policemen. school teachers, and
other employees OF the city. Not at all;
its motto is "a fair days pay for a fair
lays work" 1t is incomprehensible that
the people Of Richmond should repudiate
such platform as this. and we do not
believe that they will do so.
The City Council in the face Of the
great defalcation at the gas-works, in
the face of our ever recurring annual
deficits. in the face OF our continually
swelling bonded debt. suggests no plan
Of relief. offers no hope Of better
municipal methods And in this ex-
tremity the Democratic League has come
forward with a good plan; plan that,
II fairly tried. is bound 10 succeed:
plan that no Intelligent voter can object
to. and this plan is for the city to cease
iis fast living, ana spend no more than
It's income.
BY the way, 1t is now and then limited
that Mr.. James II. Branch is not entitled
20 the credit for discovering the defalca-
lion at the gas-works 1t is intimated
that city official who knew that the
books were "out OF keller" put Mr..
Branch upon the track. This may be
true. We do not say that II is not but
certainly. Mr.. Branch was the first to call
public attention TO the books and to
demand an investigation. No matter how
many city officials knew OF the defalca-
ton, what did IL profit the city SO long
es they did not come out openly and
say TO the Committee on Light, as Mr..
Branch did: Lets examine these books.
Discrepancies are apparent; here are sus-
picious circumstances into which we must
make inquiry" Mr.. Branch was the nrst
10 take this stand. He shoulderec the
responsibility Of making charges as Il
were, against the management: In short.
he took all Of the risk. and we therefore
think that he Is entitled to the credit for
the discoveries made
1t IS going to be u question. how much
OF the $4,000 defalcation at the City Gas
Works can be recovered OF the bonds
men OF the late Superintendent OF those
works. That the city lost $500 and
probably twice that sum by the delln-
Quency Of the superintendent and her
other representatives at the gas-works
II likely enough; but Il Is a question
how much OF this money passed through
the hands OF the Superintendent. To re-
cover OF the Superlntendents bondsmen
We suppoSe IL viii be necessary 10 show
that the lost money actually went into
his hands or into the hands OF a SUBJ
ordinate OF bis for whom he was re-
spsnslbie In law. Can this be
proved 70 the satisfaction Of Judge and
Juryg Certainly there never were ouch
unsatisfactory books kept as those that
were kept at the eas-works.
II the Committee on LIGHT had given
the books the slightest attention--if they
had over 30 much as ~glancedy al them
the committee woaia hsye seen that the
entries and foctinss we're wrong hut
sEs commitsee were nexiectfei az their