Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-05-06
SATURDAY, MAY 9Th, 1882.
THE COMING ELECTION.

The corporation election will take
place on the fourth Monday in this
month, 22d, and ills of vital impor-
tancc to our citizens that they dis
cuss the questions at issue. The re-
cent developments in corporation
affairs have doubtless convinced all
except those personally interested
that there was much to condemn in
many particulars. On the other hand
again, it has been shown that men
have made sacrifices of valuable
time and labor, and subjected them
selves TO annoyance and unenviable
position that no compensation could
recompense. There we're men in the
council who labored consciencionsly
and disintercstedly for the public
god, vet labored in vain. Men as
public servants should have no pri-
waite interest in view, for all that can
be gained by scheming and deyising
is not worth its bitter cost-unlike
positions of national trust, where
their influence and power is dearly
paid for. All appointments in mum.
cipal affairs should be made with q
view to merit and competency--not
on account of personal friendship or
family connection,-neither for po-
litical reasons, but the best man in
the right place. There are two kinds
of public opinion-that of the law.
abiding and order-loving clement,
and that Of just the reverse. Public
trusts want men who fear and re-
spect the former, no matter how
over-powering the latter may be, for
christianity and civilization are
laboring for the ascendency, with a
steady progression from time i'm
memorial in the face Of as strong an
opposing force.
What the people are now expect.
ing should be kept uppermost in
mipd-light, the proper enforcement
of the ordinances, the encouragement
of industries, and every effort to in
crease the value Of our property aud
to reduce taxation. This is no
baekwoods town, but a promising in
.dustrial and commercial city. The
cry of financial complications will
answer no longer; we have been
promised light; and if necessary,
there are men with public spirit suf.
fcient to secure it. That the City
Hall was a needed improvement we
will not question; that light above
all else was the desire of the people,
is as far beyond doubt. We have no
fear in saying that some steps to-
ward selecting a ticket should be
taken-taken in the light of day and
in opportune time that all that can
be said one way or another may be
said. Let the ticket be the peoples
ticket or the ticket of reform or light
or aught else, just so the wishes of
the people are respected, and if de-
feated there remains the proud con-
ISOLATION that as citizens we have
done one duty.
There are a few Of our citizens
under the impression that various
ordinances have been repealed, and
in justice to the Council we have
made inquiries and find they have
repealed no ordinances relating to
public welfare; on the contrary, Mr..
Parks recently offered set of reso-
lntions defining the duties of thorough
officials, which by adoption became
ordinances, and which specify the
right and duty Of the Mayor to ex-
ercise all powers granted by the
Charter: +" He shall have the super
vision of all police matters and shall
have power over police officers, as to
their direction and supervision. =
lie shall have power to suspend and
reprimand any officer for non-per-
Torrance of mis- dnties. lie
shall see that all the ordinances are
duly carried OUT &c.