Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-07
OURCHARTER'S NEEDS
GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE
THINKS IT SHOULD BE CHANGED.
LET DEPARTMENTS BS SEPARATE.
Evils of the Same Body Exercising
Executive and Judicial Functions.
Committee to Report.
Committee to Report.

Messrs. Roosevelt Page ana Virginius
Newton.
The necessity for amendments TO the
city's charter was the subject for dis
cussion. and profound interest was man
ifested in the question by all present.
the result Of the meeting being that
committee of five was ordered 10 be APP
pointed to collaborate with the judiciary
Committee and suggest at the meeting
on the 4th of May such changes as they
deem should be made in the charter
MR.. VIRGINIUS NEWTON SPEAKS.
After routine business had been trans
acted by the league, Mr.. Vrginius New
ton took the floor and delivered a highly
instructive address on charters and their
features. lie spoke Of the work Of
leagues for good government all over
this country and then, at length. gave
the histories of various city charters,
dwelling on the features of the charters
of Boston and st. Louis. many Of the
most striking OF which he emphasized.
He made no recommendations, except
TO say that It would be well for the citi-
zens of Richmond to familiarize them
selves with the provisions Of these char
ters. which look to the segregation
of the administrative and legislative
branches Of the municipal government
MIR. PAGE on CHARTER AMEND
MENTS.
When he concluded, Mr. Roosevelt
Page was accorded the floor.
Mr. Page said. when l was assigned
by the committee to speak tonight upon
the charter Of the city of Richmond, L
realized the importance Of the subject,
and have made every effort to make my
observations worthy of that subject and
Of the honorable body l am now address
ing. 1t requires but little knowledge to
enable one TO find fault. He is the genu-
inc critic who is able 10 point out errors
and offer a remedy. lie IS the true
legislator who is aOle TO combine the
Just spirit of criticism with the effective
capacity for Improvement
Burke said d disposition to preserve
and an ability 10 improve. taken to-
gcther, would be his standard Of a states
man. And any man who undertakes 10
make any criticism Of the form Of gov
ernment under which the affairs Of a
people have been conducted, may well
ponder the words of this wise man.
A careful study of the charter of the
city of Richmond. and "A comparison OF
il with many other city charters con-
vnces me that it is in the main use
ful and satisfactory one That certain
changes are necessary as the result Of
the growth OF the city, and as requi-
site 10 meet the eXigencies Of the ad-
vance of civilization. may be admitted
D. aff
and most conservative Of old systems.
The easy-golng habits Of a country village
will hardly suit for the governance of
great city.
Much of late has been written and
spoken upon the subject of commissions
for the departments of our municipal
government not now under their control.
/ remember to have heard a very able
debate upon the subject, and have read
recently that debate in printed form.
Since this question has arisen have
devoted myself to the study Of commits
sions for municipal governments. and
find that the highest authorities upon the
subject are as much divided as We're our
own citizens at the time mentioned.
MUST BE SEPARATED
"Aiy Judgment. which l offer with many
misgiyings, is that the remedy which is
to come to our people is to be the re-
suit of a separation of the legislative de-
partment of the City Government from
the executive or administrative depart
ment and that commissions are only
valuable as they accomplish that object
an object which overbalances the dam
gers arisen from commissions Of separat-
ing departments, and making the gov
ernment a congress Of bureauX, rather
than one harmonious whole.
"When the founders of this government
put into the Bill OF Rights, which has
ever since been a part of our Constitu-
tion. the provision making It's legisla-
tive, executive. and judicial powers sepa-
rate and distinct. they were establish
ing government Of the people upon
the hrmest foundation. The Constitution
Of the United States followed our State
Constitution in this respect and the first
three articles thereof vest respectively
the legislative powers in Congress. the
executive power in the President and
the judicial power in the courts.
Making due allowance for the difference
between the government of a State and
city. one who sees the evil Of COM
bnine the legislative and executive de-
partments of a city government may well
argue from analogy in favor of sepa-
taton Of these departments In the latter
case The evils of combining the legisla-
tive and executive or administrative. de-
partments of the city government as they
are at present. in the hands Of the Coun-
ell Is apparent 10 any one who Will study
the present system.
Those evils appear I'm the following
ways: The burdens imposed upon a MEM
Der Of the Council are such as 10 deter
many citizens from undertaking the same.
The member of the Council has not only
to attend the meetings in the legisla-
tive capacity-to make laws, levy taxes,
etc--but he has. as a member Of the va
riOus committees, to perform the func-
tons of administrator and executor of
those very laws.
HOW THE MONEY GOES.
"A member of the Council, in his exc
cutive or administrative capacity as COM
mitteeman. undertakes a certain piece Of
work. Let II be what it may; whether
TO open street. build cuVert, estab-
lish a gas pant. etc. Naturally. he be-
comes enthused with his work. He sees
how a slight addition TO the outlay be
comes absolutely essential. He is known
10 be honest; he has the confidence Of
his felloW-members and OF the com
munity. and he ynpresses the Council
with the idea that that work must be
done and done at once, that II VIII Oniy
require "a small amount additional, and
great puDnc sOOd VIII De dccoihpl4sheu'
IL is likely that the appropriation VIII be
made, and little by little the taxes have
10 be raised TO meet il, and others like II.
Now, in the case supposed, the
Council had only been a legislative BODY,
and a certain sum had been voted TO
defray the expenses of the work, one OF
two things would have happened-the
executive department (Which | shall refer
10 later would have brought the work
within the appropriation, or else would
have found the legis ative department
inexorable 10 It's demands.
WHERE THE REMEDY LIES.