Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-23
BULLDOZING.
Who Has the Authority to Call
the Committee?
correspondence OF the Register.

| NOlACa RNAAdNAAAS W eNS "Sb''NS
FEBRUARY %, 1880.
The Mayor, it seems from an inter
view between himself and a N,tcs-Lte-
reporter, claims the prerogatlve OF cali
ing the Sweeney investigating Commltr
tee together. Where does he get his
authority? Page iSS, section 3, OF The
| ordinances reads as follows:
"Thr Mayor shall supervise the con-
| duct Of all the officers OF the city, exam
inc the grounds Of all reasonable COM
plants made against any Of them, and
cause all their violations Of duty to he
promptly punished, or reported to
Council
This is all the printed ordinances
have about the Mayor and his author
| ity on this subject. Has he any author
ity under this section? Certainly not.
Now Tor the rules, for they Clinch the
question and settle it beyond all con
troycrsy: "Rule 2S-All standing COM
mittecS shall be appointed by Council;
all SSlect committees shall be appointed by
the presiding officer, unless otherwise
ordered by Council"
Now, what are the duties OF a joint
committee? Joint Committees-and
the Sweeney Investigating Committee
il one Of this kind-have their duties
defined as follows:
Rule 30-Al Joint committees, unless
otherwise specially ordered, shall CON
sist OF six members Of the Council;
three to be appointed 10y each branch.
They shall appoint their W chairman,
and shall be authorized to direct their
reports to he made to either branch, or
both branches ut the same time, AZ they
may deem proper
Now where does the Mayor derive his
authority Tor mcddling with this mat
ter? There is nothing in the written
ordinances conlering such authority on
him. But bull dozing is the policy, and
il must be- carried out. 1t began III the
lower Branch, when the Sergeant
wanted the charges referred to the police
cammittcc, and it was boldly praCticed
by the Mayor in the upper Branch
when he cnquircd OF the Sergeant who
he wanted on that committee, and his
answer was, "rhe police committee. Il"
Is not this a muckery OF justice and
right?
And now for a question OF parlia-
mentary law and etiquette. 1t is a well
established rule in parliamentary law
that the mover, or propounder OF any
motion, resolution, or any question be-
fore Il dclibcrative body, is, de jure and
dc fdclO, the chairman Of tho COMMITTEE
raised under such motion or resolution /,
and he alone has the right and authori-
" TO convene such committee at his
pleasure.
Who will controvcrt this proposition
Will the Mayor? | refer TO special
committees only.
This question, considered per Sc, is
important, because many people think
that the committee wantssOme lOOpholc
to escape from the investigation. The
duty Of the committee is plain, and can't
be cschcwed under any circumstances
whatever.
NoicS uOicHs, the investigation must
and will 90 on, or the accused stands
condemned already. But the Mayors
motto is rem, uidi rici, and nothing less
than this seems TO suit this aggressive
gentleman. Prudence is one Of the
good virtues which preside over the al
fairs OF men, but she seems never to
have llapped her wings over the Mayor
R~EPCBLICA.