Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-11-25
TIE CITIZENS MEETING AND WHAT
COME OF 1.-THE REGISTER On TIE
SITUATION.

The CITIZENS MEETING AND WHAT
COME OF 1.-THE REGISTER On THE
SITUATION.
Some thirty-iye or forty Of our prominent
citizens met at the court house last night
10 devise WAYS and means to get the city
cut Of herpresent financial difficulty, and, IT
ros,ib!e. keep her out The meeting was
one Of several already had, and proceedings
lsd 20 far progressed at former meeting
that the committee made lis report. This
report is quite extensive and complete and
vi! be found in full, together with the pro-
ceedings OF the meeting in detail on the
fourth page. After considerable discusslsn,
in which some feeling was manifested and
u good deal Of cross purpose developed,
motion prevailed to adjourn to meet next
Wednesday week, as it had grown late and
many gentlemen present not caring to vote
on so important a matter without better
Information aud more consideration,
This action was probably the
Eea thing they could do next to laying the
whole matter On the table and beginning
over again.
The REGISTER speaks thus emphs6caliy,
because the objects to be attained can only
be accomplished in one way. The objects
a,r to get the city out of debt aud to deep
her there after she is out. To do this a
oau must he negotiated to refund current
g;.us falling due, and TO fund the outstand-
- civ orders. Before loan can be made
q CiIizeus must grant the permission.
Tbs The CITIZENS will not do until they ara
:..ui. = -Ac municipal government will no.
a-a.u g, 'he citY into debt. Therefore, In
urirr to accomplish this essential council
rual ask he next Legislature to amend the
C;ys charter so as 10 make it misde-
mcanor for the city clerk to issue his order
on the CITY treasurer unless the funds oe
there to meet it. This is the only way.
The talk about q council passing an
ordinance TO restrain its necessities,
VIXEN at any moment, the neceS
ssry pressure is brought, it can annul
its own act is about as effective as to expect
mother not to give her babe milk when II
is hungry. Necessity knows no law. 1t IS
the absolute impossibility Of issuing an
order that will stop the mischief How will
this be done if council is not willing to ask
Ike Legislature? Then the citizens must
rise en- masse aud go to the Legislature
themselves for relief. When this is accom-
rKshed, estimates ofhow much money the city
needs TO extricate her from her difficulties
and refund her loans, then ask permission
from the citizens to borrow the aforesaid
amount and it (,he permission) will be
granted You.
Now you have good starting point. The
next thing tha! agiiated the meeting last
night, and is agi,ating the present council
very considerably, is to keep the Board OF
Public Works within its legal limit of ex'
perdi.Ure Nothing is palmer or easier II
council will only act sensibly and give the
Board reasonable power over its own duties.
Council ought not to hamper it BY unneces-
sary restrictions. The most liberal allow
ance possible ought to be allowed It oat OF
the city treasury. Give it say absolute con
troll ofthe eontiugen. fund, and make that
as large as possible.
Let council make theten cent appropriation
for paving new streets aud alleys and pass
it over to the credit of B. p. W. in such sums
as council may elect. When the appro
pirate revenue is all exhausted, work stops.
No more orders can be issued on the city
treasury because it is unlawful and punishs
be as misdereaner and resultantly nc
power can get the city into debt.
The question will..be asked: What IS the
city going to do in the meantime, that Is,
until the Legislature meets, and cOuleil, OF
the citizens, if council viii not, gets the
charter amended to sait the emergency
No doubt the City Water Board and the
Gas Trustees viii come to the ei!ys reiiei