Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-11-01
DANIEL AND THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKS.
some Point of Interest Considered from
Several Standpoints.
IN "a Ella At IA Raninisr

with each other about spending, and 1t
would also have led TO the virtGal abolition
Of those Two Boards and a return to the old
system, The system which developed mis-
use and ~absconding of funds at a cost of
thousands of dollars to this city.
AT this same meeting an ordinance, pre-
pared by the city solicitor, which isintended
to practically abolish the Board of Public
Works, was waiting an opportunity to be
presented. This ordinance is one of the
most remarkable documents ever presented
to Council: remarkable for what it con-
tains. and what is hidden down in its belly,
and also remarkable for its glariug defcien-
cies. As Il was not presented it is but fair
to wait until it is before criticising it.
Council also adopted a resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Legislation to re-
po,t what amendments experience had
shown 10 be necessary to the act of estab-
ing the Boards.
These several acts Of the Council show
that the members are uneasy about the con-
dition in which they have placed the city
financially. The efforts Of many of the
members 20 mislead the people by blaming
the Ciiy'S present financial troubles On the
Board Of Public Works has proven a failure.
The people have a least learned that the
Bosrd of Public Works has not control Of
the C::ys treasury, but that it is uuder the
Councils control entirely, and the e~xpeudi,
trre Of money could at any time have been
stopped T. he Council had so wished.
Some members Of the Council, who are
now acting The par, of watch-dogs Of the
treasury, have been The most active and per-
sistent solicitors for work to be done in
their wards that the Board of Public Works
has had 10 Cou.cud with. and their present
anxiety 70 plsce the control of work back
into tie hands .. the Council IS owing to
their wishes lot having been graGied.
Chipping the boards will not prove to the
people that the Council is competent to
rro,ije means for the present debt of the
city. Placing all the avenues under the
Councils control and compelling all the
ooarts 10 20 10 it Tor all expenditures by
Item will only result in an appeal to the
people to vote another loan in less than five
years.
Tie recommendations of the City SoIici-
tor 20 deprive the people Of half their repre-
sentation in the Council to increase their
burdens by adding 70 their water and gas
bulls. to give to the Mayor and himself al
most absolute control Of the citys affairs,
although approved by tie Mayor, do not
seem to De popular measures, nor do they
suggest any way out OF the present trouble.
The income of the city is about $4,000
and her expenditures in all her departments
Of her government except her streets and
aiIevS) amount to $4,000. In this $780,
: included $50 from Scales, Nharves,
Markets and lines and costs in Police Court,
which BY ordinance are set aside to form a
fund for jhe payment oE conhnge"t "rpcH-
SOS Of the street department and and c"H
hs o~apij~i 10 uo ofLst propose. Ii this
$25Ov0 is deducted from the Sij0,OO0, it
win leave a deGciencr Of $50, coo in the ex-
pcuiiturcs oC the city Tor the other depart
men's. Can ills sum De provided and a
sum also provided for the streets and alleys
and 10. aid to the peoples burdens? We
venture 10 suggest & plan By which it can
be done. lie, the Water Board and Gas
Works, each, pay into the City Treasury,
fifteen thousand dollars ont of their yearly
profits At present prices for water and gas.
This will cover the deficiency of 10000 |
and provide $l0,00O for repair and, i'm
proycment to streets and alleys. Add this
to contingent fund ($2j, 900 and the ten
cent levy Sl6, OOO, and there will be SOL. |
O0O each gear Cor the repair and improve.
ment Of the streets and alleys. A sum
amply Sufficient Cor that purro~e until the
capita, sni List loans are paid.
Oar tay }c,;e5 are made so late in the
wear taat tie greater past Of the revenues
from each year, lev are collected and
spept, :" lie following year. This viii est
allie ais Covuc,, o. C.. before January l. !
}-~i. % pass an ordinance fixing the
amcrn' 70 &c. auproPg,a;ed for streets and
alleys in 49,. ,lElEa above suggestion is
adapted. T. viii De ~iouVO). This sum is
for Improvements made b. contract. To
guard the contract system lie, the Committee
on Ordinances obey the order given it, some
time ago. AMI repor, an ordinance declaring
that no money will oc paid on contracts
made or accom-, o; the streets and alleys
unless sa;i contracts have been submitted
20, and approved by Council. If this be
done the Council, the Boari and the people
will know exactly what to expect in the
vav Of work on the streets and q check car
at all times be put on The ci,y's indebted.
ness.
II the experience OF Council suggests tea :
majority Of it, members that the Board's ,
should &c Committees of Council, the Leg ,
~islatUre should be asked to amend the act.
creating the Boards, 20 that members of
Council will e eligible as members of the
Boards. 1t would he unfair TO appoint
committees Of ciuzeGs to attend 70 business
Of the city, as ordered to do by
Council and give the members of
those committees no. opportunity to
explain or defend their conduct when as
sailed by some member of Council.
One or two things are certain as fate.
One is that the people viii vote no loan I'M
til satisfied that the citys affairs are ar
ranged so that the necessity for another
win not arise for years. Another is, that
our citizens viii not tolerate any increase Of