The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-06

hat tax payers feel outraged Is Il any
wonder that they demand o change q
lystemY
They demand that our public works shall
be managed on business principles. They
have sent abroad for information and
learned the secret Of economy and efElcien.
ey from other cities. Ailthe replies show
that our miserable method has been dis
carded. Responsibility to the tax payers
has taken the place Of responsibility,
loosensss, incomptency and dishonesty.
This sort Of responsibility Is what the tax
payers Of this city seek at the hands Of the
Legislature. They seek protection against
waste and robbery.
We have one department 10 our city
government that is run on business princi.
ptes-the Gas works-and Il is the only
ono that gives satisfaction to tax
payers 1t Is managed by Commission
an unsalaried commission-composed Of
men Of character and responsibility-who
nominate their own leading subordinates
(tor whom they are responsibility 10 Coun.
Gil Ten years ago, or 50, these Gas Works
came into the hands Of the city, from the
possession OF the old GINS Company, and
fortunately they did not fall into the hands
Of the politicians and bummers. A com.
mission was organized nobody demanding
that the project should be submitted to a
popular vote and during that time The
debt incurred for their purchase amounting
to $76,500 has been paid of. and $40, 00d
spentin improvements, and the price Of
gas reduced from 50 so per thousand feet
to 81 20. And all without entatling one
dollar OF expense on the city, The city has
her gas free Of cost The streets are lit in
the same manner. Allexpenscs are paid
and the city furnished with free gas by
the gas consumers Of the city.
We want similar Commission 10 man.
age our Water Works and Streets and AL
leys. We want to get out Of the hands oil
politicians and bummen. We want The
money that is paid by taxpayers to count
for something. The people who pay the
taxes Of this city arc asking for this change
without distinction Of party. The
Legislature can easily satisfy themselves OIL
this fact. The opposition, who want tc
defeat this benefcent reform, are doing 81
under cover Of clamor about popular
vote. Their real object is not popular vote
but the defeat of the plan. They know
tina! revision Of the city charter by an or
dinance of Council and enabling Legislation
from the State, never yet has been sub
mitted to any such iormality. Nobody
ever before thought OF making such de.
mand. They want to put the city to the
expense Of an election in order TO de
lay and defeat the whole project, and no
because they care baubee about such {
vote. II they could defeat the bill in any
other way they would choose that way. l
is delay and defeat they are working for.
We ask the Legislature to look ut thu
situation in our midst; to look at our mis-
cradle streets; to notice the huge waite,
pipes-bought at Immense expense Will
borrowed money-that are lying on top o
ground, just as they have lain for months
because of incompctency on the part of thu
those who ordered them, and who neglected
to order the proper appurtenancei
at the same time; to look at oul
miserable drainage; at our mud
streets. with their sloughs and OBJ
structions; to the fact that the contin
gent expenses per annum OF our Watel
Works have risen from sl6,94S.9s in 1872
up to ST, 1862 in 1881; to the fact thai
we have no Water Works worthy Of the
name to-day; and then, after looking al
these things, ask themselves if it is any
wonder that the tax payers OF Wheeling
have risen up to demand a reform.
The only wonder is that those who have
been thus annoyed and plundered have
been silent SO long. They ask for relief
without distinction of party. 1t is an
indignant rising Of the business people Of
this city.