Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-17
Politics in City Government

T is quite true, SO forcibly said by
l Charles V. Meredith on Thursday evening,
that so long as municipal officers and en-
poyees take an active part in municipal cleo
tons. it will be impossible to prevent politi-
cal considerations from controlling in large
have gone farther and said that SO long as
the city official and employee continue to live
IN the community and 10 possess personality
and influence, political considerations always
will be potent.
Partial Acknowledgement of these men, so
that they could no longer cast ballot in a
municipal election, would greatly weaken, but
would not destroy, their political power.
They would continue to vote for members of
the General Assembly and for State and na,
uonal ofhcers-and political barter is not un+
known They would still exercise the power
OF persuasion their families and friends
and on the men with whom they do business
Deprived OF the ballot. but united on any par
ticular candidacy, they would go far toward
making 1t successful
But Of course this is all academic City
employees in Richmond are not going to be
dlsfranchised. even partially, so that citizens
whose desire for good government is not
mitigated by personal prejudices, intimacies
or interests must look elsewhere for the
problems solution
Partial solution lies clearly in increasing
officials and employees will not be quite so
controlling. If Richmond men are willing
TO surrender their right to exercise the fran
chlse, they lose also the right TO cavil over
results they do not like. Some thousands of
Richmonders who might qualify to vote do
not do so. On very moderate estimate
these men outnumber two or three to one
the whole official voting strength If they
can be induced to register and to vote the
citys freedom from selfish political control
will be measurably advanced
There remains the duty OF supplying a
modern and efficient charter, which lessons,
so far as may be, selfish political interests
1t is noteworthy that no American city which
ever has adopted such charter has ever gone
back to its old form Of government Often
there are demands for changes and improve
ments-usually in the form of nsistence on
more centralized powers-and nearly always
there Is the sullen rebellion of politicians
driven away from the trough, but the city
that has taken the step forward will not con-
sent to retreat
We confess We do not quite understand the
discussion that went on at the first meeting
or the charter commission as to the supposed
lmpossibility of raining and submitting a
new charter in time for II to be acted on at
the next session of the General Assembly
II is six months before the Legislature con-
venes and eight months before it will ad journ
me movement for reform In municipal gov
eminent Is not thing of yesterday in this
country. 1t has been in progress for years,
ana charters that express every conceivable
theory have been carefully and expertly
drawn The experiences of municipalities
under these charters have been described
tme and time again The railroads are still
operating their trains, and any city that is
at all likely to repay visit can be reached in
three or four days at the most 1t would
: seem to lis quite as easy TO frame an entirely
new charter as to make sweeping changes in
that under which the city now is operated
What the city wants. we believe, is sub
stantial change in the manner of operatin G
the city government through it's several de-
partments. II this can be brought about BY
ordinance, there is unlikely to be objection
although entirely new charter would be
far more desirable. Public sentiment will
not approve a few quibbliLg amendments
that will promise no real betterment. but
leave the city where 1t is now