The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-05-01
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY /.

Iris suggested that the meetings OF
the CITY Council are not arranged AS
adynntageously as they might be TO
promote proper and prompt transaction
of business. Too much Is attempted
In too short time. The regular meet
Iugs are monthIyand held at night. II
Is very seldom that IA quorum Is OBJ
tanned before so'clock, and It is hard
to keep one later ihnn ten, though
Council sits sometimes Till eleven
Two or three hours is not time enough
for the proper transaction OF months
busIness-the more especially since 1t
must 20 through two bodies. Yet, gem
orally, Council tries to get through III
one night. Tho result, which has been
witnessed by all accustomed to look In
on their deliberations, is that business
~ rushed through in 1t tumble, and
often with 30 little regard TO the forms
of legislation that not even the CLERK IL
sure what has been done.
Besides tho liability to crude legisla-
ton which is inevitable from such
mode OF procedure, vexatious delays
very often occur for lack of concur
renee by one Branch in tho action OF
tho other. One Branch may pass a
measure of pressing Importance. and
the other from want Conformation con-
corning 1t or the necessity for immcdi-
alto action, or for want of timeto give
biz due consideration, may fail to act
upon 1t. or they may amend it, and
the other Branch DO adjourned before
il is returned for concurrence. In either
event 1t falls, and goes over in half
finished condition to the next monthly
meeting, unless 1t be of so much impOr-
lance na TO compel an extra meeting.
Perhaps the proceedings OF both
Branches, but especially the Second,
are open TO criticism in respect TO IA
due observance OF tho rules aud Obser-
vanoes that characterize Legislative boz
dies, without which 1t ia almost impos-
sibio to conduct business correctly.
But much on this point can DO excused
In consideration OF tho limited time In
which business must be dispatched, ana
in consideration of the continual rOta-
ton in tho election of councilmen,
whereby inexperienced men constantly
fill ut loasL half the chairs.
Some Improvement In the particu-
lars pointed out is very much needed
and In saying so, wo beg our Demo-
cratic friends not TO suppose we wish
nnduly to critlcise the present Council
because It Is Democratic. Probably IN
these respects it WIS not much better
when the majority WAS ON tho other
side. Our suggestion Is that the
system is Mt mult. and that it
Is to the interest of all alike
to have 1t improved If it can be. tbs
to have tho legislative bust
ness of tho city transacted with the ne.
cessury deliberation to secure accuracy
and to embody tho best Judgment of
the Council. At present either OF these
Is possible, but not probable.
We do not know that we have any
thing to suggest that will fully meet the
want in this case; but we will repeat
some suggestions that have been mado
to us. Inthe first place, we believe the
Council, like other honest men, should
transact their business in the day time.
For doing this they ought to be paid n
fair compensation. 1t is a false econo-
my which expects any man to attend
to public duties for nothing. The
mRxims that apply TO private business
apply equally to public. Ask
men to perform gratuitOus labor, and
ON the average it will be sliShted as
much as possible Pay Councilmen
good wages; then require that the
wages shall be earned, and as rule
they will be. Do this and the positions
will BIO filed by more capable men
than frequently occupy chairs in Coun-
Gil now. What this costs will be saved
to tho city many times over by the prop
or sitting that will be given to the BUSH
ness and the "fat takes" that will be
stopped.
There are reasons, We suppose. under
the present system OF city government,
why the meetings OF Council should
be monthlyi but why not take as much |
time each month as proper regard for
the interests affected by the transaction
oil this business requires?
Each monthly session ought to EN-.
brace at least three sittings, whether
held by day or at night. The Second
Branch, in which we believe all bust
ness originates (where Mt least 1t ought
TO oriEinstel might meet first. The
proceedings would be duly reported in
Tue morning papers. Let the First
branch sit next day, and it would have
time to consider the action of the
Second. The third day, let both
brauchea sit; aud at Thu, sit,in. 4, "a
dition to auishiuE up other bnsiroSs
all matters of disagreement conId ~
arranged and the business Of ,,,S .H ~ ~
could thus be completed.
This We suggest as not perhprs ,,,.
best plan that could be devised h.. 'n .e
better than the present. We SHAH Ss
glad to give place to any suppes,,oUs
that MAY be offered. We believe ,h,.
matter much more important that a,
the hEst glance 1t may seem. ItwouIt
be the first step towards less reckless
and more economical administration O
the city government, aud one in whicl
all parties ought, therefore, to agree.
81 IT ,NnJs hrpr-ov,a 49,, eonn nm.