The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-14
MUNICIPAL EMANCIPATION.


Richmond is moro fortunately sit
uh,e6 than her sister cities In New
York or Pennsylvania, not only In
the matter OF climate and citizenship,
but also in the freedom which the
oity has under its charter to care for
It's own citizens without Intervention
from state legislation. In Richmond
:he gas works, the water works and
the electric plant are all owned and
: operated by the municipality. The
Police and Health Departments nre
directly under the control of the City
Council, and there Is no intention or
III; elihood al rny time that the State
of Virginia will undertake to do TO
Richmond what Michigan d'd when
the Legislature Of that state appoint.
ed e. board Of public works to control
TIE public buildings. pavements, sewers,
water works, etc, OF Detroit. Or, as
when IN 1870, the Legislature of Penn
sylvanin ordered new City Hall for
Philadelphia, and named certain COM
nissoners to erect tho building, with
absolute power to create a debt for
That purpose and to require n levy
OF ta~cs on the city for the payment.
But that was forty years ago and IN
those four decades the common sense
OF this country has risen up and de-
MED the legal theory that cities as
part OF the state government were abb
solutely under State control, and could
about at the will of the Legislature.
The courts. even as far back as
1870, would not have allowed the Leg
lSlature to say TO m individual, Your
house Is too small, Will huiId you
better ono: / will make It largo,
handsome and impressive: 1 Will en-
ploy my own architect and my own
contractor. and you shall pay the bill"
Yet when the State undertakes to
make exactly the Same demands upon
100000 or 100000 individuals, the
courts have frequently held such acts
to be constitutional
Even courts respond to change In
public sentiment. and tho growth OF
the principle OF commission govern
mcnt in this country has done more
TO open the way for local .clf-gov-
eminent In cities than all the nrgu-
ncnts OF professors and reformers.
mere is no reason IN exped.ency or
experience why cities should be de-
prived OF the right to do US a NUM-
ciPal corporation what the same num-
Der OF men could do "a q private cor
porauon. Tho shame which every
American feels when he contemplates
the failure of municipal administration
nrioT TO the adoption OF commission
form OF government. should be rather
laid at the door of.regisl.stive Inter
ference with the c,GIs than regarded
rs an indication of inherent !ncapactty
on the part of tho citizens 10 govern
themselves
-'~4''-'S-'N " ~ ti'iGsllh on = ne" en-
Nperiment next year in the municipal
administration of this city, but the
people OF Richmond Will never be eat
1siied until they are set free from
! limitations imposed upon this city and
upon all cities by the Constitution of
Virginia and by Il charter which does
I not meet the requirements Of modern
conditions.
The Legislature now In session
naturally desires to make record for
itself. 1t cannot do SO by approprja-
ton, for 1t has no money to appro-
PIRATE. But It can establish new and
. organic laws for this State that VIII
I far outweigh in popular approval and
. in pubic good any lave which con-
! sist only in spending public money
II the Legislature OF 1912 wisbes
ITO raise Itself to g position of lasting
tame. let It adopt the tax commission,s
report and emancipate tho cities O,
Virginia.