Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-09
A Correspondence Views.

Ibelieye am entitled 10 the credit OF
FIRST suggesting through the columns OF the
REGIsTER, as far back as March II, 1850, the
necessity and importance OF dispensing
with this lone man" way OF working our
streets and alleys and TO work them under
the supervision of Board of Commission
ers, appointed by Council. l renewed this
suggestion in two or three subsequent
communications in the REGISTER and one
in the Lntclligencer. The public meeting at
Washington Hall on last Saturday night
adopted my suggestion, not through any
reference to me as the original author, but
because necessity forced them 10 accept II.
| was the first correspondent to make
similar suggestion about the water works.
This communication is dated July %, 1881,
and the suggestion was taken up and sup
ported by several we'll written editorials in
the REGISTER az the time. The pubilc
meeting at Washington Hall on Saturday
night again adopted my view OF the man
agement OF the water works.
Now, while the ball OF civil service and
financial reform is in motion, relative TO
two of our departments. why not include
the other two likewise? The police de-
partment should be put on the same foot
ing, and until it is done, the city will
never be properly governed and cared for
No one man should have the appointment
of the police deputies left TO him. They
should hold their commissions from under
the hands OF board of commissioners, and
not the sergeant The Chief of Police
should be appointed in precisely the same
way, and without power TO remove
deputy. The :board alone, should have
that authority. This system prevails in
all our large towns and cities. There is
now on duty in the city of New York,
policeman, who has acted as such, for forty
consecutive years. The adoption OF this
system in Wheeling is only = question OF
time. 1t will have TO be adopted.
DR.. Reeves made an effort while lie was
member of the last Council TO get this
Board Of Police Commissioners, but was de-
feated. There is no man in our city per-
haps, that is better posted on city affairs
than DR.. Reeves.
Last, but by no mean the least inn
portarcs TO our city, comes the Fire De,
partment. 1t should be under the control
Of a Board OF Commissioners with au-
thOrity 70 make any appointment authori-
zed BY Council, from the Chief down ;sand
to discharge such persons who would prove
themselves unfit for their position.
Until the city government is run in all
OF its departments by Boards OF Commits
sioners, such as they have in other cities,
we will always have collisions and troubles
in our city machinery.
The Board of Commissioners should con-
sist OF four members, two OF each political
party All appointments and discharges
should be left TO them, subject to the APP
prevail or disapproval by council. Until
we put the city government in all of its
departments in this position by proper leg
islation. we may look for all of these mis-
haps and shut-offs and sudden shut-downs
and confusion worse than confounded, just
like those we have passed through. 1t will
only give more trouble and require us TO
make another effort TO place the police and
fire departments just where We now pro-
pose to put the water and street and alley
departments, and why not do all undergone
arrangement and at one time.
LOOKING AHEAD.
Wheeling January 8 1882