The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
PULLING TOGETHER For CONSOLE
nATlON.


--z-s-
PULLING TOGETHER FOR CoNsoL1
DATION.
some night early this week the Al
dertnen Will meet to decide whcGlc
or not they will concur in the consoli
dation ordinance as passed by tn
Council last Thursday. No doubt GU
citizens in the Council are gettin
weary of meeting to discuss consoli
dation, and our citizens out Of TIL
Council are somewhat jaded Will
much cditorializing about it, But thu
fact IS that we have before us a move
ment of the first Importance to the
future of Richmond, and public spirit
demands that there be no let up until
the issue is settled and settled right.
Therefore The Times-D Dispatch hopes
very much that the Aldermen can see
their way clear to adopting tho ordi-
nance as it now stands by decisive
majority, and so put this measure at
last on tho broad high road to full
filment.
Tho Board OF Aldermen, 1t will be
remembered. never voted directly on
the original ordinance as first passed
by the lower branch. But 1t was I'M
derstood that majority Of the mem
bers was opposed to 1t, and 1t went
through only after the annual allow
ance TO Manchester had been cut from
40 per cent. of the revenues to 20 per
cent Now the ordinance goes back to
the Board with this allowance fixed
at 80 per cent. which is the logical
compromise between the desire to do
as we'll as possible for Richmond and
the necessity of keeping the ordinance
acceptable to Manchester. Probably
many Of the Aldermen Will object to
this figure as still too large; prob
ably they viii decidedly prefer their
own figure and feel confident that
Inc argument is on their side; but to
our minds the difference is clearly not
great enough to warrant the jeopardiz-
ing of the whole movement. The de-
tails of the arrangement will be wholly
forgotten ten years from now, but the
splendid fact of the united, thriving
remain
We do not think that there can b
any question where public opinio,
stands on this matter or room 70
doubt that the great majority of tn
citizens of both cities heartily favo
consolidation and are not inclined t
dicker overmuch about terms. 1t seem
10 US. therefore, that the Aldermen
have fine opportunity to show thel
good spirit by yielding their OWL
preferences in order to insure The
success OF a great public movement
This spirit of concession and sacrifice
OF personal opinion to the common
good the Aldermen have displayed in
this matter before now. At their
earlier meeting five OF them who
were understood 10 be strongly OPP
posed. to the 40 per cent. provision.
if not TO the whole measure-Messrs.
Zimmermafh Powers. Melton, Donahoe
and Hohson@turncd in and supported
the ordinance with the allowance cut
to 20 per cent II these gentlemen
will now make further concession and
stand by the compromise arrangement
they will not only insure the passage
OF the measure. but win help to give
fine example of how Richmond can
all pull together TO get things done
For this movement has not only It's
large practical SIDE but also what wo
may cal! moral bearing of real signi-
ficance. We have undertaken to do
a certain thing here, and. quite apart
from the tangible value OF the thing
itself, II Is of the greatest Importance
that We should not fail. If we do fail,
we of Richmond shall lose more than
Manchester. We shall lose something
OF our growing civic confidence. OF our
expanding capacity Tor teamwork. OF
our increasing readiness to tackle big
things with the certainty that we car
carry them through. This will be
serious loss. The knowledge of de
feat and failure here will unfailingl,
weaken us the next time we try to pu
our shoulders together for the com
mon good. But on the other hand
success and victory now viii stand al
an inspiration for the future; It vii
add another impulse to that spirit o
unsefish cooperation for progress
which Richmond is now developing 81
splendidly, and which means so lnucl
10 her future; and remember wha
We did with consolIdationp VIII be-
come rallying-word to uphold III,
hands and encourage the hearts Of
our leaders In progress through tht
Years to come.
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BADNESS, DRauGHTs AND
ci'iNALUY.