The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-09

a
and perhaps, was large enough previous
to the rebellion, to maintain order III
CITY so remarkable for quiet as this was
but now there is greater disposition 10
rowdyism, drunkenness and crime,
which, if it runs longer unchecked, VIII
work serious injury To the interests oi
the city. You, gentlemen, are sent here
by the people, and clothed with certain
powers. and have full Authority to make
such regulations and employ such force
as may be necessary to maintain the or
dinances, secure quiet and good order
The men of the present force are required
to serve warrants and summons III penal
and civil cases in the city, and to remain
on dnty from 6 A. NJ. until midnight OF
each day; il is not to be expected that
they can perform so many hours service
and do it well; they are stationed. one Ill
each ward, which places two men below
the creek among population VI eight
to nine thousand people; one i'll the third
ward among three thousand. The force
has not now, nor ever had efficient
organization. and is practically useless.
If the council Intends TO secure the gov
ernment of the city nnder municipal
law. force adequate for the purpose
must be employed, let the cost he what
it may; unless this is done, but one course
remains, and that is to call upon the
commandment of the post to take charge
OF us. Conversation with many citizens
convinces me that the taxpayers and
majority of the people are willing to In
cur an increased expenditure tor police
force, III the hope that it will be effective
against the night assaults, and robberies,
and violations of the peace, latterly SO
frequent. have the police ordinances
of the cities of Chicago, Louisville, Bal
timore and Pittsburg which can De ex-
amined by the committee to which You
may refer the subject. The examlna-
ton of their several plans suggests to
me that the best one is to employ say
thirty one men, and pay for their ser
vice such sum as will secure persons OF
ability; from three divisions, No to con.
sist of seven men, No. 9 and No. OF
twelve men each | name thirty one as
the number, because | believe that no
smaller force can be made efficient. l
propose that division No. ! shall be on
duty from A. NJ until p NJ, eleven
hours for one day; division No. from
} o'clock P. NJ. until o'clock A. IN, ten
hours service, and division No from
o'clock p. NJ until 6 A. NJ, nine hours
service thus, from 9 o'clock at night
until O'Clock in the morning there Will
be OH a force of twenty -four men, andit is
during this period that most violations
FLAW occur. The whole force would
4 . L., Il in
riot, or other emergency The whole or
ganization should be under the Sergeant.
subordinate to the Mayor, and the May
or's sergeants, and pOlicemen's duties,
such as the council may prescribe by or
dinance, the Sergeant being responsible
for the efficiency and good conduct OF his
command The roll of each division
should show each days service, and alb
sentees from duty should be docked; the
men should be uniformed, as the effect
is to give them confidence and deter re-
sistance to them, while in the discharge
of duty; any officer proven guilty
of drunkenness, bad conduct or using
unnecessary violence in performance OF
duty should be dismissed, orif so charged
should be suspended until an investiga-
ton may be had, and the Council should
confer these powers upon the Mayor
There ere many other points of arrange
ment and detail which it is not necessa-
ry | should notice here, and which will
no doubt suggest themselves to your com
mittees, when they examine the Police
plans of the cities named above. l re-
spectfully ask your speedy action upon
this important subject.
The Charter, sec Sc, gives To the COun-
ell the power to establish City Prison.
If there can be a saving of money, and
increased convenience procured 10y its
construction, it will be our interest and
duty to adopt the plan. | have examined
the accounts of money paid the Jallor OF
Ohio county for fees for the retention
and boarding of city prisoners for the
las! three years, and find that for the year
1852 they amounted To fourteen hundred
and five and 4O-l0O dollars; for 1868, to
twelve hundred and twenty-four and
l5-l0O dollars, and for 1864, to fourteen
hundred and twenty-five and 5000 dol
lars, an average of thirteen hundred and
fifty-one and 75-I00 dollars per annum.-
This sum is only what the city pays and
does not include or show the amounts re-
ceived by the JailOr for fees from persons
who, after being committed, are released
by their payment of fine, costs and jail
fees 1t is evident that there is business
enough to maintain City Prison But
the advantage TO the city would he re-
allied, in money, from the operation of
other things connected with the Prison.
Under the present system when one Is
assessed with fine and costs, for violation
of ordinances, and is unable 70 pay, he Is
sentenced to labor without compensation
for gwen time. The city there loses
the fine, pays the Alderman5 and Ser
pcant's costs, and the Jailor's fees and
charge for boarding, during the time of
the prisoners sentence, and receives III
return if the weather is good, the value
of his lador, for few hours each day at
breaking stone. or working on the street.
I propose that snitable building be
erected upon some parcel Of ground be-
longing to the city, or to he acquired,
with sufficient space, properly enclosed,
within which prisoners can work, shade
roofs being built to protect them from
rain, and that you amend the ordinances
bearing upon the subject of labor with
ont compensation" so that an offender
NAV be sentenced to work ont the pay
ment OF his fine, costs, and boarding
while at labor. by breaking stone, at
a certain rate per perch, and discharge
him "a soon as lie has accomplished it,
Limestone would be hauled to the enclo-
,rIar, hrnEan no ngp1 unon the