Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-12
.MR,M' CARTHY TALK
CrTY-ACCoUNTANT DISCUSSES MU-
N1C1pAL GOVERNMENT.
NO PERSONAL ALLUsI0Ns.
Did Say, However, That There Were
only Two "othep' Cite. which
Have No a1ayor-opposes Sale of
Public Utilities.

A small, though thoroughly interested
and representative audience greeted Mr..
Carlton Mccarthy, at Belvidere Hall last
night, when he made his address on 'fA1u-5
nicipal Government under the manage
ment Of the Clay Ward Actives.
Mr.. McCarthy's talk was conservative
and showed thorough understanding and
great study Of the questions of city gov
eminent. He made no personal ailu-
sions, and mis- talk was that of an in
terestcd private citizen. In his discus
sions Of The government Of Richmond he
was armed with statistics OF other cities
which he used in comparison.
Mr.. Mccarthy, upon taking the rostrurn,
explained that his talk was in no way
IN address or 4 lecture, but was simply
q few remarks intended if possible, to
stimulate interest, and made at time
when there was no one running for Of
flee ana nothing to be gained.
He began his talk with discussion
OF municipal government in general,
which is considered 4 JOB. and the reform
ing Of which is said to be impossible,
many cities having given it up, thinking
the same necessarily corrupt. He then
entered on a general discussion of char
ters. saying that the charters conferred
on the cities by the Legislature were too
limited in the powers given. TT is" he
said, absolutely necessary for the city
to be free from the Legislature on the
same principle that the Federal govern
ment lets the States alone. Until Rich
mond is released from the restrictions Of
the Legislature it is impossible for her
to grow into a great city"
AS TO MAYORS POWERS.
The Mayor was Il topic which he dwelt
lightly. upon. He talked of the powers
Sof- no ~ no T,,ti u-hr,b
were his. thinking he should be mem
Der ex-offcio of all committees of the
city government that he might keep him
self Informed. lie IN snticned that Paris
and Washington were the only "other'
two cities in the world which had no
Mayor.
In mis- discussion of the Council he
talked at length. He said it was Ques-
tionaGle whether there should be two
bodies. Il should at all events be legis-
lativc. No city governed by commission
;ers or boards is as we'll off as a city gov
erned by a Council. When the depart
ments are put under separate commits
sions. the end Of the will of the people
ana the principles of Democracy is at
hand.
The giving Of power to the Mayor has
proven unsatisfactory. as IS illustrated
in New York. In reference to commits
sions, he said the James River Commits
sions was illegal. and had taken power
upon Itself which the Code of Virginia
die, not give.
The rest of his talk was taken up in
outlining the necessities Of great city
and the kinds of men who should govern
it.
There are, ne said, three prerequisites
wealth, intelligence. and morality-the lat
ter Of which means religion, because mo-
rality is a myth without religion. The
prime necessities are public spirit, ener-
gy, industry. and duty. There is, he
said, "a lazy, slip-shod management about
the government of Richmond. man
who enters the Council and is especially
energetic and interested is warned to at
tend to his own business, and unless he
obeys he makes a fool of himself Inc
masses of the people need to be interested
in the city government. and this does not
mean the same thing as being interested
in electing some particular person to some
particular place. Richmond is the rear
guard in municipal management. COM
pared with some Of the European cities.
Here he cited many instances showing
the progress of the cities of Europe, and
their superior management in every de-
partmert Of the city government.
The water scheme and the efforts OF pri-
vate officials to capture the contract was
mentioned, and the disadvantages OF al
lowing the water-works to get out Of the
city's hand was pointed out. The ten
dercy now is to acquire all these things.
and the time would soon come when the
city would buy it back at an enormous
loss Such things have happened in 9th
er cities, and private individuals have
realized millions of dollars in the deal
Mr. Mccarthy, in speaking of the pres
emf agitation, said it was not stasmodic
but a gradual development, which has
been worked out by the people. 1t is q
constitutional improvement.
He ended with a strong appeal for the
people to take an interest ia the affairs
of their city