Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-21
THE ACTION OF COUNCIL UPON
OFFICIAL SALARIES, sc.

Before and during the last campaign
preceding the city election, the question
of a general reduction in the salaries OF
municipal officers was quite thoroughly
discussed, and the prevailing public SEN
timent seemed to establish a kind of
tacit agreement that upon the installa-
ton of the new corps Of officials re-
duction would be made. Inaccordance
with this, what We might term, public
demand, a committee of the First
Branch Of the City Council, reported on
Friday last in favor of a reduction Of ten
per cent, which was the amount ex-
pected, and would have been satisfac-
tory. But after quite lengthy debate,
the First Branch rejected the recon-
mendation of the committee, and fixed
the salaries at what they were last year.
Not only this, but the same Branch
discussed with seeming favor, the prOpO-
sitions to increase the police force toan
additional cost OF $500, and the ex-
pense Of the fire department To over
5000. This does not look much like
the retrcnchment and reform that was
proposed, nor do we think the action
meets with general approval.
The demand for reduction Of official
salaries is based upon just and reaSOna-
BILE grounds. The same causes which
have compelled business men to cut
down the salaries OF their employees, are
operating 10 justify an economical all
ministration OF or municipal affairs.
Il is Just a. hard for the aggregate
population 10 maintain ante bellam
wages, in these times, a. il is
for the individual citizen in his private
business. And now when the cost Of
living, the cost Of clothing, the rate Of
rents, and nearly every item that goes
10 make up the annual expenditure Of
an individual or family, have been re-
duced, while the income from all lines
of business has been materially dimin-
ished, it is not just to the taxpayer
that municipal salaries should be main
tanned, as the single exception to the n
dution that has been made in all other
cases.
Nor do we think there is any present
demand or public necessity ior multi
plying the expenses Of the city % such
an extent as is involved in the proposed
increase Of the police force. We are not
aware that any complaint has
been made of the insufhciency of
the force as at present conSti-
tuted. II would be impracticable
to maintain force OF sufficient num-
Der 70 patrol every portion OF every
street, alley and by-way OF the city.
We have neither the occasion nor the
funds to put on metropolitan airs after
such fashion. The policy has been to
provide a sufficient force 10 sup
press any ordinary breach Of the
peace, and to keep a man with
in easy distance OF any outbreak
OF the kind that may occur in any
section Of the city. IL would require
very large force to DO more than this. A
slight increase in the number would do
nothing more. II is not expected that
every business house and dwelling
should be under constant sur
vigilance Of the police force.
Where this is necessary, or the nature
of the property requiring protection is
such as to justify it, our business men,
Is a rule employ private vstchmen.
And they would do so still, whatever
increase was made in the police force.