The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-27
MUNICIPAL REroRSf..
Anew Suggestions q Importance 10 IN,
Council. t'


Council. p t''
EdltOn IntsllIssnssr, sss 10. ~. nst Z
Ibeg permission to use the columns o
your paper for the purpose Of offering
few suggestions to the Council Of yer,
great Importance to the citizens and tax
payers. ~ @
would suggest to the Committee OF
Salaries, to be appointed soon, for the pur
pose Of fixing the salaries Of the various
officers for their ensuing terms Of office, tc
examine we'll before reporting salaries TO
Council what are the salaries paid now Al
compared to what the same officers receiv.
ed ten years ago, and whether they will
not bear cutting down considerable.
We will commence with the police force.
Ten years ago they received s85 90 per
month. To-day they receive the same,
while 1t costs only half as much to live;
$50 per month Is good pay. Tho city
would save thereby 5000 per annum.
Then reduction in the other officers Of
from 500 to $500 per annum, would give
US a saving Of say s, 900 per annum more,
l would also call attention to contem.
plated saving by the last Council, in the
Office OF the Clerk Of the Municipal Court,
a bill Is now before the Legislature asking
the amendment Of the 23d section Of the
act establishing tho Municipal Court, 80 as
to have oil the costs and fees from the DO.
lice side ot said court go into the treasury
ofthecity, thereby saving TO the city in costs
paid out OF the treasury heretofore to the
Clerk and Sergeant about $1,000 nor
annum. In addition to this saving the
costs paid by parties paying their fines,
amounts to say $2,000 more. lam clearly
OF the opinion Mr. Editor, that the Clerk
OF the Municipal Court can get good
salary out Of the civil side OF the Munici.
pal Court. The said Court holding eight
sessions in year, and being full Of busi.
ness all the time, the fees from the said
civil side of the Court will pay clerk at
least 81 900 per annum, and L want To
know how many men performing clerical
labor are receiving more to-day.
l desire, Mr.. Editor, to call the attention
Of Council to the foregoing reductions, be.
lieving that q saving Of ten thousand dol.
lars can be effected without doing an in.
justice to any OF the officers OF the city,
Now then, having accomplished the above
result, we would say to Council, pay out
the amountso saved as follows, viz: When
Council makes the annual levy in May,
make 1t 40c on the $l00 for general pur.
poses and 10c on the 500 for street paving
purposes. You will then get street paw.
Ing fund without the passage OF the 50.
called paving bill now before the Legisla.
ture, which must become Intellectual (l)
because It will cause litigation, and (2) be.
cause the city willhave to advance the mon.
ey necessary TO pave the streets TO the
property owners and give them six
months credit, and in the event OF non.
payment the city shall charge 10 per cent
interest. Will that give the city funds To
pave the streets? think not, There
will no doubt be litigation on account OF
the injustice the bill will work on one
class Of property. The Constitution also
requires that all property shall be taxed
alike and equal. This bill places all the
cost Of paving on real estate.
Another little matter should not be
lost sight ofby Council, viz: the Commit.
tee on Real Estate OF the former Council
show by their report that considerable
money Is due 10 the city for back rents.
Some is due by parties who have been in
the employ OF the city for years and
have drawn their pay regularly from the
Tresury.
Another matter Is being considerably
discussed on the streets, that Is the secnst
manner in ,utich ue affairs Of H6 Gas nlork,
are conducted. Will lsome enterprising mem.
ber Of the Council order regular month.
ly report to Council from the Superintend.
ent, through the Trustees? and the peo.
pie will feel that that they arc not being
sllghted.
Now, gentlemen ofthe Council. Think all
the matters mentioned are worthy OF the
closest attention on your part. Let me say,
don't be molusca. Show backbone sufficient
to institute such reforms as will in your own
opinions bel just and right without working
injustice or hardship on any OF the officers
Of the city, yet, keeping in view the peo-
pies interests. 1t Is the hard earnings OF
the poor laborer as well as the money OF
the rich that Is entrusted to your keeping.
Watch II well, gentlemen. Reforms are
called for aud are needed. Reforms are
the order OF the day throughout the land,
and reforms are looked for at your hands
by the people Of the city. TRUST the
gentlemen composing the present Council
will use the authority vested in them re.
gardless Of fear or favor.
Messers. Editors, let US now recapitnlate
and see what We may accomplish by the
above suggestions. First, lot us see what
We save by the salary reductions referred
to:
Saving In salaries oi police. 1000
:. Of other OfiCerS..... .......,....... 1900
o. costs and fees police court. 1000
Of receipts H.. 1000