The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-10
sTEUBENvILLE.
The Reform MISUNDERSTANDING up the
Census OF the City-TweIye More Added
10 the Population,


SrEuRRSvILLE, July 9. :
Special correspondence Of the IntellIgenCer.
In reply to your correspondents article
on steubenville city Council as a body OF
relormers, both our city dailies rush into
print on the subject. The Ga:ette says
first, the matter was discovered by the
Mayor after the ordinances were printed,
although he had had the copy in his pos.
session for some time before 1t was sent to
the printer that second, the ordinances
were read three times before they were
passed that third, the Mayor had brought
the matter before Council; that fourth,
since your correspondent had found 1t out,
Council would have no rest until the city
laws are changed. In reply We would say
that first, the Mayor might have discovered
1t; that second, the ordinances were read
three times, but the majority OF the Coun-
Gil knew as much about them then as they
did before they were read at all, as it was
a matter OF form and Of confidence in
the Committee on Revision, and as it
was simply supposed to be codifcation
Of the old ordinance, bringing them into
conformity with the new municipal code;
that (S) the Mayor did not bring the mat.
ter before Council in its full sweep Of
penal punishment, but only as to triiling
oifense; that (i) as your correspo ndent
wants to see laws Of equality and laws to
punish criminals, We may show indie
pendence enough to show the matter up
as 1t is. The Herald attempts to answer
our. article more fully, but the whole thing
Is lame attempt to cover up the fact that
either the ordinances were so coditied by
and for the benefit OF few who will
have much less trouble under these ordin.
ances than under the old, or the ne.
gligence or want OF knowledge on the part
OF Council. In It's editorial the Herald
confines itself to but one part OF the cor
respondence, and completely fails to gives
US It's views on the equality OF the new
laws. It also fails to enlighten US on the
adyisability OF giving any one man so
great pardoning power as the Mayor has
under these ordinances, All 1t says Is that
they are right; that they are economical F;
thatey dead.beat could put the city into
any amount Of costs under the old ordin.
ances, and that we have the State laws to
fall back upon.
No such abuse Of the jury privilege was
ever complained Of as is iutimated by the
Heruld's reference 10 the dead-beats, and
the people OF Steubenville have reason to
know that this talk oil our economy in the
administration OF the penal affairs OF the
city is all moonshine.
The Herald writer, being lawyer, surely
knows that misdemeanors are rarely tried
| In the Court OF Common Pleas, owing to
the crowded condition OF the civil docket,
and that its criminal business is for the
most part confined 10 the trial OF ielonies.
The Probate Court holds but four terms a
wear, and the trial OF the cases referred to
by the Herald writer are disposed OF in
that court at q much greater expense than
would be incurred in the Mayors Court,
with the disadvantage ol the delay OF trials
In this class oil cases especially what IL
most desirable and necessary to due ad
ministratiou OF justice is a speedy trial
and proHpt punishment on conviction
This end can ba accomplished most effect
ually In the Mayors Court, within whose
IluTlbulCbluu buO AAo
them. Keepers oil gambling halls, o.
houses OF III fame and disorderly houses
the diborderly and chronic peace.breakeri
are peculiar subjects OF the Probate Court
and require frequently more than petty
tine in the way Of punishment, and suci
punishment has always been considered
necessary until this new light has shonC
in upon Us. We close by saying we hayI
failed TO find single person 10 Justify th
action oil Council in this Reform.
As noted In our dispatch OF last night,
young man named George Weaver, age,
%, was drowned at the Washington stree
. wharf last night. He could not swim, bu
J the boys got him in by telling him th
water was not deep, whereas Il was lover
head, and the current carried him unde
, the RATS. This Is bad place to swim, an
} the boys should remember Il. This youn
. man met his death and two more narrow
/ ly escaped drowning this week, at th
} same place.