Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-02
Proposed Bond Issue and smau.Town Stuff

Proposed Bond Issue and Sman.Town Stuff
A LTHOUGH it is city which hopes soon
a to pass the 100000 population mark,
and prides itself on its progressiveness, it
seems impossible for Richmond to break away
from certain Of its small-town methods in
handling its affairs. In this respect it has
advanced little beyond the stage it had
reached half century ago, when 1t was only
a large community. and herein may be found
one, if not the chief. reason why in municipal
improvements it has Jagged far behind
other cities whose natural advantages are not
SO marked. In other words, 1t has cung
tenaciously to the old-fashioned, discredited
patchwork system of appropriations for civic
improvements, refusing through local pride,
which translated means local selfshness and
Jealousy, to adopt comprehensive, contin-
uing program in preference to one where
ward or neighborhood lines serve as boun-
diaries to civic loyalty.
The which is apropos to the Jones ordi-
nance, adopted by the Council Finance Com
mittee as substitute for the one introduced
by Mr. Roden. Each recommends a bond
issue of S2,500,00o, the proceeds to be ex-
pended at the rate of 100000 year for
street improvements. but, whereas the Roden
measure would have left the improvement
program TO the discretion of the Department
of Public Works, that of Mr.. Jones reverts to
the village idea and makes 1t mandatory that
each of the four wards receive 100000 Il
year. leaving 100000 year to be expended
according to tho judgment of the Director of
Public Works And only one member Of the
committee voted for the Roden measure The
remaining seven preferring to support the
crazy-quilt program under which Richmond
has suffered and for which it has sNent hun
dreds of thousands Of dollars with minimum
of good results.
Underlying the reactionary vote of the FL
nance Committee there is reason, and it is
not conceivable that the members honestly
believe they have acted for the best interests
of the city at large. The vote professedly
was influenced by each members fear that
the bond issue would not carry before tho
people ii the citizens of each ward were not
assured they would receive amount equal
to that given every other ward. With that
view The Times-Dispatch does not agree.
lhere is sufhclent reason to believe that the
local jealousies of the Councilmen themselves
have prejudiced their minds, that the citizens
have clearer saner view Of what Richmond
needs. and will vote for it gladly il given the
chance to do so. If there is any pronounced
unwillingness to accept general program of
street Improvement as the Councilmen assert
there is. then it is born of distrust of the
Department of Public Works, and the new
city government is not working according to
specihcatlons. That new government was
formed to d9kSway with old patchwork plans
and to build5RiGhmond along comprehensive,
enduring andSat the same time economical,
lines No evidence has been adduced to show
that the department is not atune with mod
ern ideas, that 1t is not thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with Richmond's needs, and is not ready
TO put into operation general plan of street
Improvement without bias for against any
particular section. If these things are not
true, then there should be change in the de-
partment. The one great fact cannot be de-
MED that the Department of Public Works
was created with one modern idea in mind
andNnow when the first occasion arises to give
that idea practical form, it is proposed to
deny it the opportunity.
Should the Jones measure be finally adopt
cd by Council and go before the people it
doubtless will be approved by them, for the
need of street improvement is Imperative
but it does not follow that they would not
approve the better plan of placing the whole
matter in the hands Of the department which
they created for that very purpose.