Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-05-18
Pulling and Backing. 9
The proceedings of the Council on Tu

The proceedings of the Council on Tuesday
evening sTe about on par with that OF their past
meeiings 1t repealed tax ordinance No. Q, relat-
ing to ,ordinaIes and enacted No. 3. The first
imposed s., 500 on the Srrigg House, and ss000on
the M'Lure House, and $1,000 ON all other ordi-
naIirs in the city. This was pronounced uncon
stitutonal by the Attorney tie city, and by the
Circuit Judge when il came before him. The
next ordinance commenced at 800, on 5000 of
rental value, and proceeded by different rer cents
upwards unlilit realized the maximum of sloos.
This was suggested 10 be ''same as 'tother'' in a
legal sense, by the city Attorney, aud the Council
repealed al their last meeting and starting with
tax Of 800 ON the LIST 5000, of rental value adds
s12a per cent on the excess of rental value above
$500. This will make the tax on the Sprigg House
lat rental rute last year 500 $73I, and does
any one Imagine that any court, governed by
reason and Law, looking to the revenue rights of
the city, and the rights Of the citizens at the same
time, would hesitate moment at deciding such a
lax illegal and unjust? Yetthis is the position of
the Council alter the third trial at law np-
on the license question. They seem to have for
gotten that they acting l.,lder the law and not
mgkfBg the law, and not being yet competent 10
legfslate, they find themselves at every turn in
sSolyed in difficulties and dilemmas. What sort OF
aposition does If present before the country and
our own ci,i5ens2 What is the manifest conclu-
sion to which any one must, come when looking
nttheir volatile, unsettled, unsatisfactory and lille.
gal ACTS. they themselves being the judges2 They
S have alIeady nronounced their own sentence of
condemnation upon two out of three of these acts,
sandsat thenext Council they will very probably
-baak agein and attempt something else.
It is not for us-even to suggestto the ssassem-
.hled wisdom Of the city, especially after such
proofs of their abliity legislation as we have re-
Gently had. but constituent we do hope that
athe cornell will take some course to save them.
selves from being the laughing stock of the pub
9 lilo. What confidence can the public have in the
sEound discretion of those 10 whom our city affairs
axe entrusted. when they have action such as This
staring them in the sfaee2 While we have all
along differed with emsioritSo of The Council as
to theis action on the license question, regarding
their very FIRST position ns illegal, yet We de-
sire as citizen TO some frnier position taken
and maintained. .Be sure you are right, is
maxim which we might commend te them. ssThink
before ydH nct'' is one which tleir late action
suggests; hut come what may. we sincerely hope
that Council may hereafter prove itself more com
potent 70 discharge the duties imposed upon them
than they have recently proved. That such is
the common wish OF our citizens wa doubt moi,
asah must feel ehagrinsd At the 'sshiIly shalIy''
.dily daily " hich has recently marked their ca
reer, and which has shaken and must shake the
confidence of the public in their competency for
mansging our city affairs.