Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-22

Dettee the CSsafsisa 'sr Ae city.
Financially, Wheeling was nov laboring
under debt OF between $690. .0ceand 500.
600. which was constantly increasing. and
what was there TO show for it, Nothing
but dilapidated barn, called the Water
Works and the mud lanes. or streets, upon
which were poured thousands Of dollars.
| As matter Of fact there was not single
square in the city that was not in dis.
| graceful condition. What was now wanted
was to inaugurate more
| Bconomicai and, Eaeteat
| system. There was, of course, some oppo-
sition to the measure. He believed IL there
was . proposition to send everybody
straight to heaven free Of charge. some
body would oppose il, and it was so in this
case. How had the streets been managed ?
In nire years upwards OF 500, 900 had been
buried in the streets. Where had il gone :?
| He hoped every member would look into
| the matter carefully. In behalf of the tax
payers, whose money had been equandered,
in behalf OF the workingmen who. by stop
paNs of the water works, lost their wages.
| Of their families who need their wages, of
the whole community who had so long
suffered. he hoped the Legislature would
pass the bill and give new. better and
more judicious system of government.
| u.
imagine that Wheeling was
hardened with Great Debt.
He had q statement from the city Clerk
showing IL amountedto bat<6i, 900, which
for a city OF the size and wealth Of Wheel
ing, was very small. Compared with that
of the other corporations in the State, il
the debt created? $4,000 is invested in
the Capitol building, 5000 in the water
works, and some in the gas works and other
Improvements. so that the debt, as a matter
of fact, amounted 10 but little.
A. 60 the streets,
their condition was not the fault Of the
system. Wheeling had fifty miles of
streets. In the Second and Third wards
they were in good condition. Why were
they not so in the outskirts OF the city?
Because the ordinances Of the city were
not enforced. There was dead letter 0rdi-
nance now subsisting which required
levy Of 10 per cent. upon property for the
improvement of streets and alleys, and ii IL
had been enforced there would have been
no reason for complaint; but through the
influence of the property owners, the ordi.
nance had never been enforced, but in
order to keep the streets in decent condi-
tion they had taken the funds arising from
the Water Works. What was the pretended
Reasows for the Changer
1t was that for some time the Water Works
had been in bad condition. Four years
ago the Superintendent warned them that
the works would give out, and the present
Superintendent had stated the same thing.
Nothing was done, and they had given
out. II should be understood that water
is not a tax on property, but is levied upon
the rental value, and those who use il have
topay fori and they do pay So, ,0oOp per year:
a sum sufficient to secure good service and
plenty of il. But we have not good ser.
vice nor plenty of water. Why Because.
as nothing was levied for the streets, they
have drawn upon the Water Works fund
for their repair, and the $ss.O00 Of water
rent
Has Been Taken. StoIen.
and diverted from the purpose for which
il was intended. and applied to other pur.
poses Last year $50 900 Of this fund went
into the general treasury, from $4,000 10
$4,000 for streets, and only about 5000
TO keep up the Water Works. and this was
the reason that the works was deficient.
The object of the new movement was to
place the Water Works fund in the hands
of these men so that 4 tax for streets and
alleys. which would come directly Of the
property owners.
should Re Avoided,
The matter was one OF serious import.
anCe to the citizens. IL they wanted such
a measure let them have il; but il they
did not, they should be afforded an OPP
portunity OF saying so. The bill made a
decided change in the form Of government,
in that it diminished the franchises OF the
citizens. II it was right to dc, SO in this
instance. il was in others, aRd they might
be totally driven from the exercises OF this
right.
Mr.. Hubbard.
thought the bill ought 10 pass without
amendment Under the plan on which the
city is governed, the streets and alleys and
the water works. were carried on by com.
mittees appointed by the council and the
work was done Just about as well rs though
the peuitentiary and insane asylum was
carried on by committees appointed by the
| legislature without pay. The committees
were all changed every two years aud con Sc
quently have no experience and no special
capabilities. IL was no trouble TO see how
| the money was spent. member from one
ward wants something: and in order to get
| il be must vote with other members for
other things, and there was no system Of
| improvement and the part repaired would
| be worn out before that adjoining was
| fixed This is why 500, 900 had been spent
| in the last nine years, and $3.50 900 in the
| last wear and half, Why in the street in
| the rear Of the capital
Team. wouId Stall
| with light loads. II might be that Tweed
and Shepherd had squandered money, but
| il was also true that the present system
was both inefficient and eKtravagant. II
was true the city debt was Si2i, ,O0V, and 1t
| was also true that Of this $i5t ,OO9 was from
| the loan Of last September, and that since
that time the city had cyerdrawn her ac.
| count, $l24 900. on which il sss now paying
| interest. He insisted il was the duty OF
| the legislature TO give the city the best pos
| sible form Of government The corpora.
ton was the creation Of legislative action.
! 10 was not an
InaIienable- Right
| TO vote for all corporation officers. II had
never been the case and was not so now.
| The people now elect the street Commits.
sioner and Superintendent Of the Water
| Works. Under the provisions OF the bill
| they would elect the City Council every
| two wears, and il they did not select proper
men. they could be changed. Formerly
more than twenty officers were elected by
a direct vote OF the people. even down TO
superintendent Of the Cbain"Gang and
Sexton, and no complaint was made when
the right TO vote for these was away. 30 in
|
form OF the city government by establish
ing two boards. and no complaint was ever
suggested against this bill until II was
sgreed 10 by the Council and IL was found
not 10 suit the views Of certain gentlemen.
As m Instance
Of how matters was conducted he cited a
case in which repairs On the streets weJe
estimated to cost - 100. and when com
| pleted was found TO have cost $4,000
There should Be sssse system by which
the work sbv,Sf be done fus sccor,isnce
with a general piana. He then cited the
condition OF the Gas Works under the
management Of trustees. 70 show how !,
had been improved by the extension oi
mains. for gas for the city and reduction
in pyieeato consumers In regard TO ths
sums alleged to have been stolen from tue
Water Works funds he asked under .ha
system that had taken place. The Coun
eli. under the proposed bill. world hsF'
the power to say ko1 much shosld. be ex
pepded In each department.. as they nos
had. The Legislature had an interest II
the city. because the State Owls 00o.OD o
the city's bonds, and they should look toi
that nothing should be done 70 impair 1t
ability to pay. and that the eStssragane'
and costs should be stopped