The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17

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SUNDAY, MARCH IL. 1907.
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Accept the place divine Providence
has for you the society of your con-
temporaries, the connection Of events.
4 Here we are, and II we tarry little,
we may come to learn that here is
best.-Emerson.
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Log-2olling and Combines.
The action of the street Committee
In apportioning the appropriation Tor
street improvement is. or ought to be,
an eye-opener 1t should show our
people the absurdity and danger of the
ward system, and convince them that
radical reforms in our plan Of govern
ment are necessary
The Street Committees apportion-
ment is as follows:
Clay Ward. .............. S2U,uOo
jefferson Ward. ........,., l6,6oo
Marshall Ward............ l6,boo
Madison Ward ............. lb,oVu
Monroe Ward. ............ lu,0oV
Henry Ward. ............, 5000
Lee Ward ................ .,ooo
Repairs. ...... .........-. e,ooV
100000
1t will be observed that four of the
wards are literally provided for at
the expense of the other three, and 1T
is alleged that this was the result of
majority combine against the minor
ity Keeping that fact in mind, pray
give attention to the following exhibit:
Assess Appro-
ynent 1906. priation.
Clay Ward. .....s 5,s23,Ii2 $4,000
JEFFERSON Ward. 4.749,SS2 1880
Marshall Ward. assam 1S,5oo
MhGsSOH w if,VpNfo-S A"'N'N
Monroe Ward. -. 1.255,l14 10000
Henry Ward ~ 6,40I.45s 5000
* Lee Ward. S206.S52 1000
Clay Ward pays taxes on property
assessed at s5,s2s.772, and Lee Ward
pays on property assessed at sS,206,S52.
Yet CT Ward receives nearly three
times as much for street Improvement
as Lee Ward receives. Marshall Ward
pays taxes on property assessed at
s2.5S4.2ll, and l4enry Ward on prop
erty assessed at s6,i07A5S. Yet Mar
shall Ward receives $4,000 for street
Improvement, and Henry Ward receives
$4,000
Monroe Ward pays taxes on property
assessed at s7,255,ll4 and jefferson
Ward on property assessed at S4,749,
S32, yet Monroe Ward receives $4,000
for street Improvement and Jefferson
Ward receives $4,000. While the.
We're at it, why did not the combine
take it all? They might have don,
so, ana that II ,the danger to which
the attention. Of, the"'taXpayers Is he
specially called. Tho apportionmen
is very pleasant for those who are i
the combine, but next time there ma
be another sort Of a combine,
The whole scheme is vicious i
principle and intolerable. 1t is
game OF log-rolling and grab, and W
fail to see how members of the com
bine. who are sworn to do their dut
by the whole city, can justify thei
9 course OF action in this particula
We do not champion the interests
any particular ward or section of I'll
# city, We consider the welfare of I'll
city as a whole. Nor do we say the
the money should always be appoI
toned according to the assessed val,
of the real property in the sever
wards. The question of need and IL
question Of public benefit must ali
be taken into account. 1t cannot
that Madison Ward, for example, nee
I'M as much money for street improv
ment as some of the other ward
where much less paving has bee
done, but Madison Ward is in the cor
bine and gets one of the big slices.
Richmond is "a concrete city. not
aggregation of small towns with sep
rate and distinct interests. Wards Il
merely political divisions, and in ma
ing appointments for any purpo
no question of WI distraction sho,
ever be considered But so long as
elect our Councilmen according
wards, and so long as ward Coune
men have the disbursement of q
revenues, we may oct log-rolli
If and combines.
The action of the Street Commits
emphasizes the Importance OF passi
the pabney resolution, providing
s@ y committee to investigate and rep
II on a better form of government
Richmond,
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President Finley's Preachmcr