Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-29

rHE POWER OF CITY COUNCIL.
For a long time there has been feit
the want in the city's charter, OF power
to impose more severe penalties for the
infraction Of the city ordinances. For
the greatest breach OF the city's laws, the
Police Judge was limited TO the impos-
ing of a fine OF not more than twenty dol
lars. or Imprisonment for not more than
thirty DAYS, or both, and either OF these
punishments, it was claimed, was In
sufficient to properly preserve the peace
and decorum of the city. Sterner meas
ures and more severe were required.
The matter was discussed among the
city fathers, informally and in session,
and it was concluded to ask the Legisla-
ture to so amend the charter as to give
Council the powerto frame an ordinance
or ordinances in accordance with these
views This was done, and on March
Sth, an appropriate act, to take effect IN
ninety days from the above date, sue
ceeded in running the gauntlet OF both
houses.
The act OF the General Assembly OF
Virginia, incorporating the city OF
Wheeling, was passed March IL, lSj6'
and sections %, 50 and 81 OF this act are
now changed to read as follows;
''2g. The Council shall have authority
10 pass all ordinances mot repugnant to
the constitution and laws OF the United
States, or OF this State) which shall be
necessary and proper TO carry into iull
effect any power, authority, capacity or
jurisdiction which is or shall be granted
to. or vested in, the said city or IN the
Council, or any officer OF said city; ana
TO enforce any or all OF their ordinances
bv reasonable fines and penalties and
by imprisoningthe offender or offenders,
and by compelling them to labor, with
ont compensation, at any Of the public
works or improvements undertaken, or
10 be undertaken, by SAID city, or by
any or all of said modes. PrOcidsd, how
ever, that no fine shall be imposed eX-
ceeding one hundred dollars, and that
| no person shall be imprisoned or com
pelled 10 labor as aforesaid more than
one year for any one Otiense. Ind pro-
rifei further, That no jury shall he al
| lowed in any trial for the violation OF an
ordinance OF said city.
80. The Council shall have authority
| To or,lain and enforce such regulations
/ as shall be necessary or proper To pre-
vent accidents by fire within said city,
/ or To secure the inhabitants thereof, as
/ iar as practicable, from injury thereby,
and specially to provide Tor the estab,
| lishment, organization, equipment and
/ government of fire COmpanl,s IN sad
city; and to provide suitable magazines
| ar places i'm or near SAID city Tor the
/ storage OF gunpOwder, petroleum or
| other cOmbuStible and dangerous artl-
/ cles; and to ordain and enforce such
/ regulations as they may deem necessary
respecting the place and manner OF
/ krcping the same. And the council
/ shall also have authority 10 assess by
ordinance and collect an annual license
| for the sale Of all such articles. The
council shall further have authority To
| assess by ordinance and collect an annu-
/ al license on each agency OF any foreign
/ insurance company doing business
/ within the city.
"5l. The council shall have author
/ ity 10 pass such ordinances rs shall be
necessary or proper To secure the IN
| habitants of said city against thieves,
robbers, burglars, and all other persons
violating the public peace OF SAID clty;
\ for the suppression at riots aud gaming,
\ and iOr the prevention ami punishment
/ of lewd, lasciviouS, indecent or dlSnr-
derry conduct, and cruelty to animals,
/ in said city.
$50 much of the incorporating act as
comes within puryiew of this act, Is IT.
/ nealrd
Ii will be seen by section - that the
power is given Council to frame an
ordinance making otfenses pun shabe
by not more than 500 or Imprisonment
or labor ior a time not longer than one
year. With these penalties before the
/ eyes OF law-br,akers, change for the
better may be expected in the quiet and
order of the city, when this act takes
effect. The other sections explain them
selves and are simply to Increase the
citys jurisdiction in the matters there
in contained.