The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-18

the superintendent Of both
have occasion frequently to employ large
numbers Of extra men IN cleaning |
streets and reservoirs, plpelayipg, re-
pairing, etc. II this labor Is used
Immediately preceding a Council meeting,
the heads Of these departments include 1t
in their reports, which, certified by them,
arepassed by the proper committees, adopt.
ed by Council, and the wages appropriated
are paid over without any inconvenient
delay 10 the wcrkmen. II on the other
hand the work Is done Immediately after
the regular monthly meeting Of Council,
and too late 70 be included In the regular
reports. the men have, to wait nearly
month for their money, unless they can
get II through special meetings Of Coun.
Gil and committees, or by discount.
ing their wages through private parties,
This not infrequently occasions good deal
Of hardship and Is bitterly complained OF
by those most interested. Che Committee
on Ordinances sought to relieve the situa.
ton Of It's most obnoxious features by ar.
ranging that the Clerk Of the city should
issue an order at once to any person EN-.
ployed by the Street Commissioner or
Superintendent Of Water Works. on pre-.
sentation to him Of certificate from eth.
er OF these officers, setting forth that such
person had lGbored temporarily for the
city, the length OF such labor, and the
amount due for it, and intended that such
order should be paid at once by the Re-
ceiver, provided, however, that no certi6.
cate should include more than ten days
pay, and that not more than one Certih.
cate should be issued to one person in any
month.
This arrangement seems al least as free
from objection on the ground Of afiording
opportunity for fraud on the part OF dis.
bursting officers, as the practice that now
obtains, and would probably relieve the
difficulty most complained Of. At present
the Street Commissioner and Water
Works Superintendent being authorized
to hire extra labor when they consider II
necessary, their report Of 1t to Council is
generally considered final, and the adop.
ton Of their reports and appropriation Of
the amounts stated by them as due have
grown tOlbe matters Of routine, and are at.
tended to without much questioning.
II 1.-THE work and the prices paid are ex'
cessive the heads OF departments could be
controlled by fixing the amount and prices
in one case as well as another, and these
being fixed at reasonable amounts an
figures there is no reason why street
laborer should not be paid his wages
weekly as well as monthly. Certainly a,
far as stealage on the part otthe contract
ing or disbursing officers Of the city is con
cerned there is as much opportunity fol
it now as there would be under the pro.
posed new arrangement. The only op.
portuuity for it in either case would be
through the reporting Of and payment OF
fictitious labor, which would require the
collision oftwo officers oil the city, with
about the same chances OF detection in
both plans. There could be no great
amount Of such Encouragement in
either case unless the Council Commit.
tees neglected their business. Under
the proposed new plan the certificate
OF the Street Commissioner or Water
Works Superintendent, the City Clerks
order and the receipt of the party tc
whom money was paid would be as good
vouchers for the City Clerk and Receiver
as the present appropriation orders OIL
Council, andsignatures OF partiestow1iom
the money is paid. The only difference
would be that by the plan proposed by the
Committee on Ordinances, the Street
Commissioner and the Superintendent oil
Water Works would be permitted to Sc.
cure the prompt payment OF certain per.
centage OF the labor employed by them,
and the city would run the risk that in
some months the amountso paid would be
greater than the Council deemed proper
and reasonable. Whether the prompt
paymentof the public labor is sufficient
reason for running this risk is the ques.
ton the City Fathers have TO determine.