The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-29
Editor OF The Times:

Sir,-When / first heard or the Demo-
cratic League for Good Government, IL
was my impression that IT was formed lor
started by a certain set or dissatisfied |
politicians and wre-pullcrs, or certain |
political element OF the Chamber OK COM
mers. who, in either case, mad ther |
own "aNcs TO grind" and VINO were /
beaten in their attempt 10 have certain /
commissions or boards established over |
certain departments of our municipal a.
fairs. instead OF committees, &c.
Preferring TO have the people manage
their own affairs, and always willing 10
trust the people. l have opposed an cnques
and Capitalization OF power, wei KNOWING |
that the strongest wire-pullers cor Waru
politicians are pow in the COMMISSIONS
and practically have matters 'heiI oNn
vay. 1 have to-day seen the ciTcuiar
issued by the "Good-Government League |
and while 1 have the highest esteem Ior
and confidence in the gentlemen VINO nave
signed the same, yet | feel that the
move originated through others' anu do
above stated. What surprises me Is the
card. published April 2od, explaining inc
aims of the Good Government Leds ue'
For men Of such high learning ana 50
eminent IN business circles. it is the weak
est. tamest, and lamest back-doWh ever
exnected TO emanate from them. Ihey
have simply crawled in their hole anu
pulled the hole in after them lhey bNc
a startling array of figures ana Coihpati
sons with other cities, taken rum -
United States census Of 1871 tahu Win
will not receive any more atteh"on nan
the baseball scoro). But tney oil0i
remedy. their figures take away our
breath hut give US no relief. win rum
srarin,, us in the face their only soIuuoh
is Give within your income 40 nv IA
crease taxation nor assessment Oh ieAi
estate" and also do not reduce wages
| a sort Of do-noThing plan or ~hs' "aS
once called mastery inacuNit! ~,
Business men or the DelnOV 80, 20,
Gov Good Government, what 40 you
mean? .. rodrce
Tl,o FIRST rule in economy is 10 reduce
expenses and chop of all unnecessalle ,,.
W. do not want a narrow-mlnued gov
o,nr,ent Certain expenditures we must
| 49, and we NAV as well face the music
| today as tomorrow. we are coinpeiIeu
either 10 reduce salaries or increase '''>@
| ton: there is no middle ground LOT our
| margin is not large enough 10 slahu "pon'
| The Democratic League Tor Coca Gov
eminent" seems to be uncertain or thelr
standing. for they have endorsed ma
| ioritv of the present Council, ana quite
number who arc rhhuie anu
cannot afford TO serve the ci'!'
| 70 the neglect Of their own a.
| fairs. It was supposed mat they Wou,u
have brought forth some Oh 'ie' ''s
| guns and greater lights
No doubt a great deal OF good couiu pe
accomplished If the League were 10
appoint a committee of fifteen or twenty
leading business men TO thoroughly exam
| inc into all salaries and pay-roils OF every
] department and branch OF service. ana re-
! port some detailed plan or economy.
! Let me say, right here, that 1 heartily
| approve of good gOvernment-the very best
| no. HN HfH.a.
price i'm my power for it, that ! have
| never held any Office. and do not aspire
| TO one. / am simply plain, everyday
| business man, who believes In the Drac-
| teal and not in the high-sounding
phrases, that mean nothing.
! Having said that 1 favored good gov
! eminent (even the besO, ! DO not THINK
the League" viii object TO my pointing
out a few things that 1T would be wei
for them to inquire into and correct;
Whole families live on the city by each
! one holding Office, the same official hold
ing several offices, especially made LOT
him. so as 10 give him an aggregate lat
salary.
Ordinary talent in city offices making
! more money than many hrst-class IheI-
chants and manufacturers can make IN
| their business, with all thelF cheisy' e"-
terprise, and capital.
why should there be a police or fire.
mems doctor? Why should not The police
or firemen choose their own doctor, ana
| why should the other doctors Of the city
be deprived of the patronage?
also favor good wages to good men,
| and a full days work Tor a full DAY
pay" but l do not favor paying more
than you are able TO pay, or employing
more persons than are necessai! III any
| department, or paying any clerk any
more wages than are paid to trst-class
clerks and book-keepers by the best busl-
| ness houses and banks in the city.
| have before me list of salaries PAID
| city officers, as published IN The Klchmond
Times. August 9, 1898, and by sealing same
down to a far valuation, the city can
easily save from $4,000 to $1,000 and pos
sibly 100000 annually. / very much re-
, gret that l have no later data, but our
expenses are, no doubt, very much more
than they We're in SSg3.
| do not claim TO know IL all' or 10
! be entirely accurate, as very much OF
| the estimate is guess-wOrk, but II VIII be
instructive, and will furnish SUFFICIENT
data for the League" or the next Coun-
| ell, or the people 10 study and work upon
viz:
The writer has gone over in detail every
Office, and the salary attached thereto as
| stated in The Times Of August 9, 1922 the
| total salaries amounting 10 S2sl.5l350. ana
| by the application or ordinary business prln
| ciples. such as would be adopted In any
! wcll-managed concern, can SHOW pos
| sible saving of 49,, Do SO. without In any
degree impairng the efficiency Of the
city government, and with no reasonable
! danger Of losing the services or any OIL
| nccr or employe because OF reduction OF
| salary IT, in addition 10 this, $9'SuO
| spent on James river is dispensed with.
and delinquent taxes are collected by the
| city Collector, ana other officers, now
receiving fees and commissions. are PAID
in salaries. thus saving at least SZOVO
more, a total sum OF SjS,l22.50 can be
lifted from the tax payers OF Richmond.
Add TO this the large saving that could
be made by thorough examination into all
the pay-rolls OF every department OF SER
vice. IT being possible that many names OF
parties not employed are on these rolls.
Add further. 10 this the number or new
positions created since the completion OF
the new City Hall that could be easily dis
pensed with, and the reductions that
J could he made off OF the specially-maGe
salaries of certain favorites, 10 winch ada
the appropriations made 10 sectarlah III
stitutions, which are abundanty able 10
| care for themselves. and there VIII De
certainly a saving OF at least SlOoOOO an
nually, which could be applied 10 reducing
our Indebtedness, or 10 improvements
needed In a progressive city, which would
also give employment 10 a large number
OF our people.
| In conclusion, | will state That am per-
| fectiy satisfied with all our present city
officers. and would vote for them again