The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-20
a CARD

Editors Of the Iatsl6enoa:
was much surprised at the card published
by Mr.. John ". Cummings, In the lNTKLLt'
SxScER and Rsoistsr, charging mo with having,
hr political purpCss, sent = petition 70 Coun-
Al. asking for COMPENSATION for service o.
SUPERINTENDENT OF the Water Works for the
last three days, on January, 1873.
A short statement OF the facts IN inc case
will be sufficient to let the citizens form their
own opinions OF the merits Of the case, ano
decide for themselves whether | have done
anything 10 Injure Mr.. Cummings, In any
way. .,...,.. -.
notified, In writing, by Mr.. Cumming -
meet him nj the Water Works at once. On
meetinr him was told by him th't he was
going Ia Quit the works and that must taSe
sSarSs Of them tsat day. asked him 70 walt
until F.brIary /, SO as TO make the months OF
INV term complete, but he potitirely Refused 70
20. He said he would not stay nor tCoutd ne
pay any ofthe men for their WOrk after thai day
The 28h.
Under these circumstances l qualified and
took charge of the works that srening, "a the
inst day Of February made my report Ter
the last three days In January, and applied to
ths clerk for an order for three days salary,
ont Of which to pay the eng1neersand hremen:
and was told by him that Mr. Cummings had
drawn The rhOk months salary, and ! would
have TO look to him for that part Of the
months salary dua me. ! replied that, OF
course would expect the city to pay me FOR
INV services and had nothing to do with ar-
other persons having received an order for
what was justly due me. CT.
then reported the matter 10 the Commit
tee on Water Works and the subiectwGs post.
poned by them from time to time. nave
also tried 10 have the matter presented 10
Council By different members oil that BODY,
but failed TO have It done from press OF ouslI
ness, As the term Of this Council Is almost
snJsd and I Thought It but right to have the
matter settled before the close OF the official
wear. presented petition TO Council at Its
last meeting asking for u settlement oil my
claim. In that petition said not one word
which could, by any possibility, be construed
Into meaning any diSrespect to MI. Cum
mings. only stated the facts aud asked
| Council to pay me for my services ana not
make me suffer for an error In the drawing OF
Mr.. c. last order. -,
To show the justice Of my claim l will
quote from the minutes OF Council, when
he salary OF city officers was fixed THE
Superintendent Of the Water Works, 5000 per
wear That out Of the sum so appropriated
10 the SuperintendentO OF the Water Works he
DO required 10 pay tWO ehsineeA9 Wv ~
month zach, and two firemen $50 per month
eaci.i Does that show the engineers and
tTemen are employed by the year, or Is 1t I'M.
plled that they are employed by the month
bid John Anderson, who was one Of Nj. Us
engine ers, receive pay for the whole OF that
wear or for eleven menths aud tTenty.elght
DAYS? Anderson says he has never been paid
| by MIR. c, for tue three days in dispute and
holds me responsible for his wages. Mr.. y. 5
other engineer and his tiremen left the works
when he did, and l don't know whether he
paid them or not, but do know that | am
expected TO pay the men who worked in their
places for the three days Mr.. O. drew The
alary-(ons OF them have already paid
| II he was entitled to this pay was 1t honorable
or honest in him to refuse to work for the
time he wss paid by the city or to refuse to
nav his men Il they did SO?
In short, was 1t dishonorable in me, when
found the works pushed on to me, TO at once
take charge and prevent the citizens being de-
prived Of their water supply, and trust to
Council for compensation tor my services and
those OF my men, and was 1t honorable in
Mr.. Cummings to refuse t. work for the full
time for which he was paid aud leave the
citizens without a supply Uf water, had not
acted'as did in taking charge Of the works ?
JAMES II RIDDLE,
Superintendent Water Works.
DECENBER II, 1850. de2o