The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-28
A General Charter.

Editor Of Inc 1llheS- ,,t
SRI am unlikely ever to have voice
IN mr. General Assembly, :andfyet desire
as.ona,ly TO suggest for dts consldera-
1snn matters. in my mind, OF puDnc IN
teres.. Let this be MY excuse LOT e
sumtnc to ask attention TO the 1oiio"ins'
ts,viouslv il is desirable that all cities
IN y State should be governed axe, ana,
therefore, certain general laws. si-ou.d
obtain applicable to all Not"i.hsstliIilp
ing each city having a charter Oh us y" A.
and these are constantly being ahleiioeu'
more or less hastily, to meet coi'ot',oiis
arising from local circumstances. ana IN
consequence our municipal law must be
construed more or less variously, accord
ing 10 the respective city charters. now
| suggest that il would be wise 10 nave d
commission of competent lawyers 10 oia
n general charter for all cities and towns
IN the state. so that ali cities and towns
snail exist under its provisions. and mus
we could enact and administer our muHlci-
pal law far more inteiligently ana WIN
much less risk of mistake. AS it is every
General Assembly is called upon to amend
rho charter of this or that city, generally
to meet some local condition. and Very
often this is done inconsiderately. with
CONSEQUENT confusion in the general ad-
ministration of municipal affairs. Sy
taking the existing charters OF our seNe-
raj cities, it seems to me generic chaIter
might be prescribed to cover any and
every city and town. which, without pe-
cial enactment. would apply to all ai.ke.
This would enable all to know the char-
ter rights and powers OF a city without
need to consult its own charter. ana
whenever our Supreme Court decides a
question Of municipal law, such decision
would at once apply to every city ana
town in the state. There are possibly
a few subjects which would have TO. DE
left to special legislation. pertinent to
particular place, but cannot conceive
much Of this. One never knows now
what mischief may he done 3E come mast!
amendment to 4 charter, brought ABOUT
to meet the designs OF the auihortles ioi
The time in power. BY a general charter
Of the kind, this special and diverse leg
isIa ton for the several cities will be OBJ
waited The counties of the State, exist
under the provisions of such general
laws Why should not the cities ana
towns be likewise drought under the
like system? Why must Richmond. Dan
Vile. Norfolk etc. have each Its own
charter with constant changes, often care
lessly made. producing confusion. ana
doubtless attracting the designs of people
who seek to impose upon the pSipllc u 11A
pretense of acting for its good.
a ~ Dr.
trust It may attract deserved coaslcer r
ton.
Another suggestion somewhat pertinent
to the foregoing, hut more directly appil-
cable to that most important measure
now under consideration by the LeGis!a-
ture. is insurance against fire by munich
palities.
some years ago I got my friend, Sena-
tor Wi.hers. to offer bill In the Senate
upon this subject, which he did by. re-
quest and 1t was duly p!geonnoied.
Nevertheless, serious study conVinces me
Of its merit. and again ask attention to
Il.
IN general my idea IS that every city
and town should become the insurer Of
its own buildings to the extent Of the as
sessed value of the same. so that the
ownership OF a house in the city would
ipso racto secure its insurance against
fire without any policy of insurance. 70
the extent Of its assessment for taxation,
anG TO meet the risk such city or town
should lay and levy a tax, graduated &C
cording to the character of the building
and its location. collectabIe as other tax
es, the fund thus raised to be Scrupulonsly
set apart and used to provide more ef-
ficient dire department. q more thorough
and rigid inspection and supervision OF
structures, and to pay losses. This would
be of vast benefit to insurance companies
by having them in partnership with the
public, leaving to them exclusively the
insurance OF the contents of the bu5 ldi.Ss.
and Il would keep ats home the vast
amount paid to foreign corpora tons 70
secure indemnity. which the community
can, at less cost. provide Tor Its own
people. rs
This mays be communism. hut SC IS prac.
III H~1x>l-