The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-02-08
City Reform.


Ellt0Es OF tle lnltllSeheeF'
There are but few Of our citizens who
are not gratiiied at the recent infusion Of
fresh blood into the City Council in place
OF that which had become stagnant from
long occupancy Of one position. Wheel
ing is in need Of many improvements,
pavCments aud sewerage, fmore
than PeniRsular bridges) but the liFSt step
Il 10 seo what existing current expendi-
tures can be .cuEtailed, There are many
items in which much saving can b had
to the city without loss Of service. Take
q single instance incidentally connected
with the chain gang, am informed that
when person is fined by the Police
Court and, being unable to pay the fine,
is sentenced to work in lieu thereof on
the chain gang; that the costs Of prOsCCu-
ton amounting to over 81 in each case
(sOme times $50 arc in that Court paid
by the city out Of the public city treasury,
These costs, ! suppose, go to the police
officers, to the Clerk OF the Municipal
Court and witnesses, and the keeper Of
the Lookup, The prisoner may, under
temporary excitement, have been guilty Of
using language forbidden by the city ordi-
nancts and may be utterly insOlVent.
lie IL sent to the Jail Tor ten days at q cost
per day for board Of - cents and put in
charge OF the Oyerseer OF the Chain-gang,
who receives two dollars per day for look
ing at them. They are exercised Occa-
sionally ON the streets for few hours per
day, and no one snppOscs Tor an instant
that this nominal work pays their board.
Now in these eases the city pays the costs
Of the police court out Of its own pocket,
mainly to its own officers and gets moth
ing whatever for the outlay. Is this
right? Ought not the city to pay to its
necessary officials n fair fixed salary and
not pay any extras to her own otlicersY
Il not the necessary tendency Of such
system to prMiualisc frivolous arrests?
No one charges improper motive ON the
part Of the city officials. The fault il in
the system, il fault it be. Would it not
be well for report to be had Of the
amount paid by the city for the past year
on account OF costs in the police court,
and to whom? How much costs has the
city paid for Toby Vance during the past
year, and how much for iIoose Lasnre for
the same time, and 10 whom paid? 1t
seems CminCntly proper that u
change should bO had in the Ordi-
nance on this subject. The Judge
gels no pCrquisitcs from this source
and why should His subordinatcsY 1t is
suggested that the passage VI an ordinance
prohibiting the payment Of costs by the
city to her police and other officials IN
cases Of prosecutions for violation Of
penal ordinances Of the city would save
directly u large amount to the city treas
ury and incidentally rs large, II not u
larger amount, in tic boarding bills and
other expenses Of large number Of I'M
fOrtunaI0s whose OiIInscs were in fact too
trivial TO have meritcd arrest. II IL con
lldently expected Of this Council that IL
will reform in earnest where reformation
Is needed, and II my understanding bc
correct, surely the matter above stated
furnishes ground for inquiry and action.
The first thing the Taxpayers ask il u
CurtNimunt Of all unnecessary eXlendi-
tlrc, md then u judicious outlay Of the
city revenues for city improvement, By
this means the present Council will earn
the thanksof the community and especial
ly Of all friends Of REFORM,
P.S. Is II true that the fees Of the
Clerk Of tho Municipal Court Gxceed
$500 per Nnnum and how much Of 1t
does the city payP