The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-16
THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
SEVERAL wEIeArY SUGGESTIONS
coue,rnIur the Management of the City, JudIeIlI
e isd D1seGtIIs lnGIr', BY Citizen who ETI.
IDENTIFY Knows what he is Taking
About-Soms Radical Changes.

'Ii any one Of the manufacturing estab'
lishments in this city we're to have It's affairs
conducted in so reckless a style as this city
conducts some oil hers, II would 10 10
ruin In six months" said prominent busi'
ness man as be overlook an ISrELLIGEScER re-
porter yesterday.
Whats the matter now?'
"Why did Council increase the salary Of
the Clerk OF the Municipal Court the
other night? Only thirty.thrce cases on the
civil side OF that court last year, aud seven OF
those we're scIolO cases, and yet the salary is
raised to $1,000 from $3.50 because the docket
WAS 30 small that the fees did not amount to
much over $3.50 tell you that the NUM-
cipal court ought 10 be abolished. It WsS
established, you know, in 1860. At that time
A. j, Sweeney was Mayor and the city bad
tue Aldsrmanic system, which II was iound
was costing the city thousands Of dollars and
re ally doing very little good. The docxes
OF the Circuit aud County Courts we're
crowded aud 1t was very dithcnlt matter
iud-ed 10 po!cure judgment MI Lam
was in the Legislature, and had bill drawn
which was passed and became law. The
first object OF the bill was 10 provide for .
police court, but while 1t was being drawn, 1t
WAS suggested that there also be erected Il
civil side. This was done, and Rs you know
a court created having the same jurisdiction
and powers at Law and inequitya as the County
Cont. and in certain cases having concur
rent Jurisdiction with, and the same powers
as Circuit Courts. For time everything
worked very nicely, and tue people were
well pleased because their cases were dlspos-
ed OF in reasonable time.
"But now, there Is no use for the Court IN
this city. The Legislature has, since the
passage Of that act, Increased the powers aud
jurisdiction Of the magistrates or Justices 80
that suits Ia which is involved any SUN I'M
der $50 can be brought before them, and has
divided the Circuit Court into two parts.
All OF this allows OF the speedy transaction
Of business, and the Municipal Court, as is
shown by tho report OF It's Clerk, Is falling
into disuse. The question Is, does 1t pay the
city 10 keep up department OF justice at
considerable expense for the purpose ottrying
thirty three cases veal? ana does II increase
the value and use OF that court 10 increase
the Clerks salary? think not The Clerk OF
that court used 10 make big money out OF
the Office when be received the fees from the
police side, but the city very sensibly, a few
wears since, took those fees away and appro'
priated them to herself, still allowing the
CLERK a salary Of $3.50 and the fees from the
civil side"
THE MAYOR opEc 8 TO BE MAYOR.
1.-THE Judge OF the court receives 5000 per
wear: the clerk s., 100; there Is S, 900 per
year. Now let US change the subject for
lew moments, aud eventually See II that
money could not be spent in much better
direction" said the gentleman who was now
warmed up. He lit a stogie, got behind
telegraph pole where the cold wind did not
srike quite SO hard, and continued: 'Oqr
present city government would DO well
enough, say for friadelphia, where every one
knows everyone. Since the establishment
of the Boards II Is much improved, for there
are now three men who are responsible In
each Of those departments, and Oh whom
you can place your finger at any time:
But in other matters, there Is a Council OF
over forty members and no one really re-
sponsible, You 20 TO Councilman and say.
What did you do this foiF'he answers that
he was no. there, that the majority over.
powered him, or something OF that sort. Its
true that the Mayor Is presumably the head,
nut still he Is not such head as he ought 10
be, At our city elections we elect Mayor,
Clerk, Sergeant aud Wharfmaster. Now the
electing Of such petty officer az wharnaster
is ridiculous. would have him nominated
10 Council by the Mayor for continuation.
would 90 further even, and you will ind
large msjority OF the thinking public, es-
pecially the business men, are with me. The
plan We would suggest, IS something like
this-Itis one that Is similar to those IN
vogue In Ohio cities, In Pittsburgh aud many
other cities.
"First, then, abolish both sides OF your
Municipal Court. That gives 49, 900 TO be
used somewhere else. Pay thatto the Mayor
as a salary. You would then be paying
enough 10 warrant q good business man &C.
cepting the office and giving nearly his entire
time and attention TO the city. Establish
next q Mayors court as they have in Pitts
burgh, and before him let the police cases be
tried. He should have an Office and regular
office hours. The clerical work he could
either do himself, hire clerk out OF hissalary
or have deputy detailed TO do 1t, as the
Chief Of Police now details an officer 10 look
after his book; or the Receiver might be paid
some additional compensation, and look after
that part OF the work. Then at the city cleo
ton let the Council, a Mayor and possibly
tho City Clerk be elected by the people
Let the Sergeant and all the petty officers
now elected by Contradictions, by the
way, that are always farces-be nominated by
the Mayor. II Council refuse to confirm he
can nominate another and 50 on. until a man
Is found who is acceptable all around. A
better class OF officers Is thus obtained and
the Mayor is held responsible for the proper
discharge OF their duties, II he finds man
drinking TO excess, as city officers have done
in the past, or in any way derelict In his
duties he can remove him, or as it Is more
commonly done, accept his resignation. l
recollect that while A. J. Sweeney was Mayor,
although he Was not obliged TO do It In
reality, yet he always was watching the Of
ticers, and when two OF them went asiray he
induced them TO resign.
TOO MUCH OH vIRGIEY.
ayes, know that objections will be raised
10 the plan, and that the idea OF taking the
election OF the Sergeant out Of the hands Of
the people will raise bowl. Yet while |
have nothing TO say against the administra-
lion Of Captain Bennett the past two years,
YOU will find that during his present term he
will make better officer than he did the
fiHt. He is ineligible for q third term, you
know During the first term there Is always