The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-23
Wheeling, January %.
SUPERINTENDENT CORnEorEp.

rhe Now Police and FirrTo0rd Ordinances
Misunderstood,
70 he Editor OftW HlsIigaoT,
SlR:-lt seems from an editorial sQuib
In the Register today that the editor has
not read the ordinance in relation 10 Pc.
lice and Fire Department. He says;
"There are educated Germans who have
lived in Wheeling twenty years, but the
press Of earning a Lying has kept them
from learning 10 read and write tho I'm.
glish language. Yet the new Fire and
Police Ordinance says all who are elligi.
ble to hold Office on the new committee
must read and write English"
Now, II the editor will, read the lrst sec.
lion OF the ordinance he will find the
qualifications Of the commissioners to be
that "suCh commissioners shall be Citi.
zels OF and residents In the Uity-and the
office OF any commissioner ahall be va.
Gated by his residence Ceasing 10 DO there.
in"
There is nothing in this Eoction nor
anywhere in the ordinance TO prevent any
German CitiZsn from serving Us u Com.
missioner on this Board, II he 30 desired
and is elected, even though he could not
read or even speak the English language.
There ia nothing In tho ordinance 10 pre-.
vent u German who is not u citizen
and who eau neither read nor write
English from serving in the Firo De.
partment. | for one have a high regard
for the Intelligence Of cur German citi.
2sns. They are all educated in their own
language when they come here. II re-.
luirea Ave years to gain citizenship and
by that time they can read and usually
can write English, and are better qualified
to hold office than anumb67 OF our officials
and politicians who are llghting the ordi.
nance for political effect,
In another Equib the editor speaks OF
the ordinance az putting a premium on
craftsmanship. Now, tho editor has but
little room to speak Of p%Rrtisanship in city
government, for his party has shown the
rankest partisanship that was ever shown
In this city in taking charge Of the Gas
Works-hrst eleCting a Solid Democratic
Board, who we're unable to agree on the
extent Of craftsmanship 10 be used; then
the more liberal one resigned, leaving two
partisans to rid tho Gas Office Of the only
Republican In 1t, while under the Rs.
publican board there were two Democrats
In the office, aud half the employees at the
works were Democratic.
The Democratic objection 10 this ordi.
nance Eeems to be that they aro unable,
under Its provisions, to run the Fro and
Police Departments IN The same partisan
spirit,
Tho editor and his party are trying 10
make political capital out Of the proyi.
sions OF the ordinance in relation 10 The
qualification Of the Deputy ~SergeAnts, and
to array tho liquor interest against 1t and
the Republican party. The fret gualifca,
ton Of Deputy Sergeant Is that he ahall be
able to read and write English. Now, we
certainly do not want an officer OF this
character who serves warrants, makes 70.
turns thereon and Is q guardian OF tho |
peace, who cannot read and write English,
whether no be foreign or native born,
The only disqualification mentioned in
the ordinance isthat "he shall not beinter-
ested'or engaged, either directly or indi.
In the keeping Of any saloon or
other place where intoxicating li0uor Is
This provision 10 certainly d good
one, as 1t carries ont moro fully the idea
or provision in section 70 Of the ordinance
In relation to the duties OF the Sergeant,
page. 1893 Of the ordinance book Of 1881,
which says:
III any sergeant shall loiter in or about
any coffee house, ordinary OF drinking
house or place oil resort during his hours
service, except when his presence il
actually required in the discharge OF his
he shall forfeit and pay 10 the city a
fine Of not less than one nor more than
twenty dollars for every such Offences" II
was wrong for a sergeant to loiter In or
about a coffee house under tho ordinance
passed by q Democratic Council, II was
also wrong for one engaged in the liquor
business to act as deputy sergeant.
One advantage Of this provision Is that
all coffee houses will he on an equal foot.
Ing and the police will not be Interested
10 favor one over another. CITIZEN.
VhsFIinu .I1ut1ru 90