Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-01-05
THURSDAY MORNING. JANUARY 5, 1854.
Tho Proposed Amendments to the City
Charter--The Election next Saturday.

We cannot rufrnin from again calling the ntten-
ton of our voters to the proposed amendments TO
the City Charter. We do this for the double pur.
pose of exhorting those who are the friends of
form 10 be at the polls on Saturday, aud for the
purpose Of answering some objections which we
have heard urged against one feature Of the pro-
posed amendments.
The objection is that only part of the city.ofi-
GERS are made elective by the people. Now
we have before stated that the only effect of this
clause ofthe charter is leave it with the coun-
Gil TO say whether the other officers shall be elect
ed by the people or not, AMI this is equivalent TO
leaving it 10 the people themselves, for their
Gil will not dare TO act in opposition to the wishes
of III. voters of the city. Now we aSk persons
who regard this matter differently 10 say whether
it is better TO entail upon voters for oil time by
Legislative enactment, the necessity OF electing
every petty officer Of the town, whether they de-
sire it not; whether it is better to say to those
voters. ''You may arrange that matter hereafter as
you please, you elect your own council, and they
can act for you in the matter, and you may elect
them yourselves not as you please. Now we abb
nit il TO the votersof heeling alive they should
he to the ruinous appropriations made and pro-
posed 10 be made under Ire present system, whelh
they will risk the reckless expenditure OF the next
two years, (for no change can be made for two
years if not made now,) which the past tells will
he made rs heretofore, whether they will risk that
question for the nominal objection TO which
have alluded? This is tie plain question to be
met. Bankruptcy or SOlveucy may be the issue,
for the certain result of continuance of SyS-
lei, of appropriation without regard to consequent
ceS, will be 10 hazard rminently if not ruinousy
impair the credit of our city. Fer part,
so imminent do repard the danger of over APP
propriation, that should be willinS to favor al
most any proposition which would have for its Oh
ject the decrease of taxes and dimnutlon Of tile
bucdenS of the poorer classes OF our citlzenS.-
Their cents are already high as they can bear,
next Apr! will see them higher, and ut the same
time every other expense is increasing in proper
ton. Taxes are necessary 10 pay the CITY debts;
taxes increase Tic rents, and thus every part Of
the community, but more especially the poor man
feels the pressure Of city Indebtedness " hat cit
xen teen, anxious for the true interests OF the city,
anxious 10 have the expenses of living here pro-
portionate 10 the prices OF labor in its various de-
partmeniS, can hesitate about ''lodgng the IKE at
the root of the evil" even though he may suppose
his right to elect the city sexton, &C., jeOpardled!
In reality there is no such risk. The enemies OF
economy and reform foremost in using this OBJ
lection, fortunate one indeed, if they Gun by lis
use divert the minds OF the voters from the true
issue which is ber,re them, namely, whether they
are i'll favor OF running the city hopelessy and IL
reirevaby into debt, or whether they favor econ-
omy and prudence in our city contracts! This is
the true issue. Let it be met fairly. If MAORI
ty of our citizens are in favor of recklessness
and extravaganza, then (as did the sailor when
touching off an old cannon loaded with broken
plates, dishes, and pewter, his last load Of amuni-
ticn) we Say, "let her rip" and "de'il take the
hindmost." But we repeat it that the friends OF
economy and reform must look to their interests
on Saturday, if they would protect the credit and
fortunes of the city. They must come to the polls
ifthey would not render ii ruinous to prosper
Ity here. and worse than taxation even to have 10
pay Ients.