The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-23

o germ, nay q world of goodness In hii
heart which the community should warm
encourage and sustain. II the objecl
Of law IS @to command what Is right and
prohibit what Is wrong" Is 1t not duty
that society owes to itself and to each OF
its membets TO prevent the wrong by en-
couraging the right s5s 2
What shall be said and done for the
man who Is willing to work and cannot
get Il? he must live, his children need
bread and clothing. If he seeks work
elsewhere, his body and goods are at
tached, as an absconding debtor; If he
steals, he is-arrested, disgraced, ruined,
and ten thousand good acts and virtues
forgotten in q single vice. These and
many Kindred thoughts lead me TO the
enquiry, what Is our duty, what our op.
portunitye l have thought which l
have on several occasions suggested with
hope that something practicable might
come oi it and now suggest II TO the
public through your columns.
Let our city authorities devise p Ian
by which all industrious citizens who
become b0,sai jide residents Of the citywith
q purpose 10 remain such, and who alb
solutely cannot get employment else.
where, may be furnished employment at
the expense Of the city, OF moderate va.
ges, improving our streets, alleys and
public works.
The wages should be such as 10 enable
o frugal man to live and support his lam.
lily, and yet go adjusted and apportioned
as to leave an inducement to accept other
employment at other work In the. city,
whenever opportunity offers. Men Of in
telhgence and Integrity could be found IN
each ward of the city, who, from their
knowledge Of applicants, or upon the stes.
timony Of their neighbors, could furnish
certificates and credentials emitting the
persons named to the benefits Of the ar
rapgement. These persons could work
under. the supervision Of the Street Com
missioner, or other proper person, and be
paid in the scrip Of the city, or other evi-
dence Of Indebtedness, backed BY the
pledged faith OF the city.
This wouldabe an honorable employment
would improve and beautify our city, so
much needed, increase It's wealth and i'm.
portance, promote It's order and happi.
ness, endear 1t 10 every lover oil fair play
and magnanlmity, make 1t the pride of
the rich and the poor, and render many
worthy hearts bright and cheerful which
else may be darkened with want, misery
and crime. ~ 80 y. Z
Five,tenoreyen fifteen thousand dollars
o month for the next three or four months
would add infinitely more to our material
prosperity than any $3O0,O 600 City Hall or
Court House. Every worthy poor man
would feel this city to be indeed his home,
one whose peace and honor he would
delight to keep ana preserve.
The police court would danot present lib
numerous and nameronsly attended ees-
sions and matinees, the jail It's board bills,
the courts their witness and jury fees, the
chain gang its victims, society its slaves;
and thousands Of dollars spent 10 repress
crime, protect the peace and send adriit
upon society the ruined, reputation and
blasted hopes (which with the oportunity
might have adorned 1t, will be saved 10
beautily and bless.
! have not considered the legal ques-
tion-oi the power OF the city to do this,
I leave that lor Others, but take j tor
granted that swhere there Is d will there
isa way"
/ ask you, Messrs. Editors, to consider
this suggestion, and favoring them, or
something kindred, ito urge, them. with
your accustomed force and provoke en-
qniry, discussion and action y , I
- WINTER,