The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-12
Sustaining the Council.
Editor OF The Times:

Editor OF The Times:
"A time ike this demands, ,.n,.
Men, whom the lust OF Once doss not ~,
Men whom the spoils OF Office cannot
Men Who possess opinions and a VIII;
Men who have honor; men, VINO VIII not
Men. VINO can stand before a demagogue
And tdamn his treacheIouS ''''i''7
Tall m men ssun'crowned, VINO live above
the fog,
In public duty and private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb
Their lar large profession and their little
MlngIe in selfish strife, 10! Freedom
Wrong rules the land, and waiting Jus
tee sleeps" NJ,
As a man and as cluzeh OF hlCu
mond. l rejoice that We have a rev sucn
men in our City Council. Men, who VIII
not be frightened into wrong DONG py
the clamOr OF the press. Men, WHO can
look unconcerned at their names III pis
letters at the top OF the column Pat
there that they may De Drought l"l"
monetary dsrepute.
We have some blaming everything lot
the conditions that prevailed 10 me pot
house politician" the ward heller the
wire Duler," etc. A year or more ago
a few citizens inaugurated a movement
for reform. The old-tlme respect for men
in the Council had given way 10 want ol
confidence, IL not 10 contempt. Allei
waiting on scores Of business men, a ~"
were found who. after much peIs uasiOil,
consented to allow their names 20 De ussd
FOR the Council They pledged the people
mar they would live within the Income
and II was on that platform tnat they
were elected. So. when the income "as
ascertained each department was appiis
ed OF the amount IL would get ana "dtheu
by resolution not 20 eHpehd NOR t ~
was appropriated. In defiance or TINS the
school Board went on as usual ana spent
moro than IL had any right 10 spend
trusting as II evidently dIdi 70 iofcc
The Council 10 give additional money
though the cry of sickly sentimehtaii'y,
aided bv those members who have always
and ever will tight true reform ana econ
ony I'M. question now Is. which IS the
greater and more powerful body, me
School Board or city Council, and Wnlch
will tho thoughtfui cltizeh sue NJ l,,s
Is a test case. IL these true men are not
supported now retreDchment and REFORM
will be but a dream. n that 800 - now
appropriated the same Board Will come
again next year and demand ana get sip'-
no additional II that 5000 "a now given
Ion, rolling will commence at once and
every department in the city with excep-
tion OF Streets there Is nobody rartlcu-
larlv Interested I'm shouting for Streets
will commence hammering for more
money III the people do not support these
men IL will be useless IN future 90 al
tempt 10 get citizens whose standard or
pubic duty is high 90 represent them IN
the Council.
In this connection let US look at few
figures compiled from the annual reports
Of the City Auditor:
Expenditure 80. -, o..
Streets. lSo, si"pyiS.o3
Streets 1895, 81 $50 52
SchooIs 1855 S667n.5 81
Schools, 1870, lz5'5te'l0
are not Included I'm these figures. / am in
formed by a councilman, who has eN-
amined the record. that every year, with
out exception, during the past nfteen
years. this School Board has in the month
OF November demanded more money with
the result as shown IN above figures Does
ANYBODY claim that the growth Of RICH
mond has been In unison with the grown
OF IFS school expenses? No harm viii come
to these children by giving them an extra
week OF holiday during the joyous Christ,
mes tide or the heated summer time. Ana
why Is Il due the teachers that all things
else should be sacrificed In their inter-
est? Haven't merchants, manufacturer
bankers. clerks. statesmen. typewrtefs,
mechanics. and laborers been ioreeu 70
live on less than they formerly spent;
The teachers have been fortunate indeed
to have gone through such years as we
have experienced, with loss during Tue
entire time. Of only one weeks wages ana
Il Is my opinion that very little OF TINS
bowling for justice has come either iron
the teachers, the children, or thrit pef-
ents. IL has proceeded In part from
desire OF some 20 defeat reform; from