The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-05
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Some Pertinent Points About the Elec.
W. ton Of n CIiler.E q g,s1 iE -

5g. ~ ti0n Of CHIEF. ,6,s2 4 =
II will be remembered that at the las
meeting OF Council an ordinance was Intro
duced into the First Branch providing lhal
the election Of Chief Of the Fire Department
should take place on the first regular meet
ing IN December. The ordinance iorn,eYl,
read "at the regular meeting In December, =
proceeding the organization OF the new coun
Gil. During the past two years, It has been or
!lained that there be two regular meetings Ii
December, and the ordinance was for til,
purpose OF specifying at which one the
eiecttohshouid be had. In the First Brauct
lhis new ordinance was amended so as tt
make the election take place at the first meet
Ing In February AFTER the new Coupci
was seated. This action met decided opposi
lion, but the minority was too small, IN III,
Lower House the action was non.concurret
IN BY u vote OF seventeen 10 three. (, II wal
characterized ut the time rs "a scheme" ant
was believed to have been put on foot BY
friends OF the present Incumbent, who
thinking bis chances for third tern, rathel
slim with the present body, hoped To prolout
his official existence another term by thii
adroit move. II Is feared by some that th.
First Branch will play It's old trick again, u,
In the case OF the perlntendent OF ID.
Workhouse, nearly two years ago, and by
refusing 10 10 into an election cause dead
lock. Ilg. E4l NJ TI5I58 g'.IsI
A variety Of opinions and expression,
are heard about the city, and IN
view Of the fact that the matter
will probably come up this evening, few
Of these expressions will Prove interesting.
A Republican member thought that perhaps
1t was u plan adopted by the Democratic
tnethaers 70 stave Oft the election tn tie hope
that the Republican maj ority may not exist
In the incoming Council, but the decided
manner In which the Second Branch mem.
bers OF the party Of Jefferson expressed them.
selves a week ago, and The iact That this
Council has been noted for It selection OF
men who are competent without regard. to
politics, indicates that IL Is not party move.
The general feeling among the members
appears 10 be, tina, Tie election In February
Is wrong step. The election OF q chief Is al
most the last official act OF the outgoing
Council, and the time was fixed purppsely,
In order 10 prevent 80 far as possible the
various aspirants to this position from en-.
deavoring TO fix up rings and cliques. In OF.
der TO elect Counciimen who would serve
their interests, instead OF serving the city's.
In fact, nearly all agree that members Of
Council elect TOO many officers now directly
In the heels Of their own election, aud It IL
feared by some that unless some change Is
made, Council will eventually become moth.
ing more than q convention packed In the
interests Of some particular otllce.seekers
and regardless OF anything else. 1t is tha d..
sire OF good citizens, said one member, 'sto
see men placed in position because Of their
ability; in Council because Of their honesty
in handling the public funds, and because
OF their efficiency In guarding the citys in.
terests, and not for the purpose OF boosting
the chances Of any particular candidate"
The old ordinance was admirably adapted
to this purpose, for the length Of time that
must expire between the election OF Council
aud that OF Chief being almost two years, II
was entirely too long for any Office seeker
to look ahead and hence the Fire Depart.
ment has up to this time, been kept out Of
city politics. During the two years OF his
term the Chief Is under the direction and
control Of Council: 1t is Council that con.
firms or rejects his appointments; tits Coun-
ell that audits his accounts, and 1t is Council
that knows whether hs is serving the city as
he ahouid. 6.,. 1850 N '.s-
Altogether the opinion is, that no good
reason can be assigned for making the pro-
posed change, and It Is the general belief
that the election will come oil in December
as usual III ID. E1s-- T.IrL.s re- -t E,E.7H7 Fl