The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-28
THURSDAY, MAY 2s. 1903.
AN INVESTIGATION AT LAST.

We are glad to hear that tho board OF
< Aldermen has determined. as 1t Is now
permitted to do. to make an investigation
on It's own account OF tho doings OF Its
members, present and past.
There was time when 1t was fashion
nble for officers OF government to keer
their acts dark, to cover up and conceal
but that Is not the fashion In this day OF
civilization. The public demand light.
The public nre suspicious when any pub
lie body attempts to conceal. or refuses
to investigate charges that have been
badc against any Of its members We
a,ear great deal about the power Of
the press. Tho real power OF the press
Ia implicitly. It is the business OF the
press to mako public all matters of public
Interest and while some newspapers nave
pone too far and have made sensations
when there was no occasion for 1t. the
fnct remains that tie press has often ex-
posed wrongdolng. and 1t is this exposure
which bad men fear more than they fear
I'LL the powers Of government
For n long time there were rumors in
This community that some members OF
pur legislative body were guilty OF wrong
doing, and the newspapers or the CITY
very properly gave currency to such ru-
1nors BY and by the grand jury took
The matter up, and although only ono In
dictment was found. 1t made pubic n
rey,,rt In which 1t was charged IN gen
eral terms that there was evidence TO
show that other members were guilty,
and then there was n popular demand
+hnt the Council and Board of Aldermen
institute an Investigation and prope the
charges TO the bottom.
A majority of the members OF the Coun-
Gil. for reasons which seemed sufficient
- jS,ut hen, refused to go into this lnvestl-
cation, and while the members or the
Board OF Aldermen were IN favor or IN
vestlgation, under tho existing law they
were powerless to do so on their own
account. The law has since been amend
ed. and the Aldermen are now In position
10 act. An Investigation will DO held
and the light will be turned Into the
dark corners. Tho investigation VIII be
watched with keen interest In this COM
munity. II It be shown that tho charges
are unfounded. that all the members have
been honest and faithful In the discharge
of their duties. the community VIII be
greatly gratihed. II, on tho other hand.
st be shown that the charges are well
founded, that members have betrayed
their trust In one way or another, they
7 VIII be punished
The investigation Will be in the interest
Of good government and public morals
1.-THE people. Of the city are largely at
The mercy 81. their representatives in the
Council and Board of Aldermen. and they
must In their own interest see to It that
tho men whom they choose to represent
them look after the public welfare and
-;Ybt after their own private gain. Our
legislative body must be above suspicion.
and whenever charges are made against
any member or members there must be
an official inquiry and there must be an
acquittal or an exposure. Such things
cannot be covered up In this city. The
way to deal with all such charges Is to
meet them frankly and courageously and
dispose OF them according to the evidence.