The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-26
SOME MORE sfNoNa POINTS
Upon the Police and Fire Hoard, and tho
Registers Stand,
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Upon the Police and Fire Hoard, and tn,
RSElstsl's stand.
10 the Editor ofhe Mtsllgaor,
sIR:-The Regiaier persists in misrepre
senting the Police and Fire Department
ordinance and seeks to make political Ia
sue out Of 1t, Its friends deprecate the
idea that there is any politics in it, The
extremists OF the Democratic party IN
Council voted against 1t, but it's supporters
freely acknowledge that 1t could not have
been passed as party measure, II Is NOT
a Republican measure, but an enactment
approved, and in u good measure devised,
by the conservative Democrats Of Coun-
Gil. 1t never could have passed as party
scheme, aud the only object in represent.
ing 1t as such Is, to ALLEVIATE the Democrat
10 support COnscleutiously given It as a
neediul reform for the sake OF the public
good. The fact that II is non. partisan and
constructed as business measure, elimi-
mating politics from the Board, Is the sole
reason 1t Is opposed so violently by those
who care more for party than for right,
and subordinate all things to petty pollM.
cal considerations.
The Sunday Register asks why, II a
saloon.keeper Cannotbe policeman, there
Is anything TO prevent majority from
passing a lawthata saloon keeper shall not
hold any city office.
The impression sought to be conveyed
Is, that this ordinance renders a saloon.
keeper ineligible for election as police
man. Such is not the fact, The ordinance
merely provides that while a man Is n
policeman he shall not be peCunlarily in
terested In a saloon. He could be elected,
ia not ineligible, but alter election he
must 60 out oil the saloon business while
he 10 policeman. So the law declares a
lawyer shall not practice as a lawyer while
lie is q Judge. This ordinance is not aimed
At any class Of citizens. A saloon.keeper
may be o member OF the Police Board
undeEit, and still retain his saloon.
AS TO the provision that deputy ser.
geants must read and write, the provision
was found by the Committee, equally
composed Of Democrats and Republiuans,
In the Police Ordinance Of the Democratic
city OF Richmond, Virginia, and the Com
mittee adopted 1t.
1t makes the same requirement Of all,
not discriminating between an American,
trenChman, Italian, lrishnan or German.
II man cannot read and write he cannot
discharge properly the duties Of the office,
make returnsOn processes, keepauCh mem.
oranda, and read such documents and In.
structions as arc necessary.
The Register illogically inaists that be.
cause the law says the officers must bo 90.
leCted from the voters, all voters must be
eligible to all ofllCea unless the Legislature
passes an act enabling Council 10 say that
two Commissioners shall be Of opposite
politics to the other two.
II Council Is subject to the legislative
act as above, 30 Is the Legislature subject
to the State constitution. Yet the LesIs.
lature, although the constitution declares
that there shall be no qualification for
Office but to take the oath OF office, passed
the election law that one at least Of the
Election Commissioners ut each voting
precinct shall be Of opposite politics to the
other.two.
No one has ever questioned the validity
Of that law. Why should the Legislature
subject to the limitations Of the Consti.
tuition be able To do this and Council not
have power to pass a similar ordinance?
We can imagine no reason but the die.
tates ot extreme partisanship. Let us see
tonight in the City Council whether those
who have been 90 sollCitOus about the
Germans, will not at the dictates Of their
leaders, slayishly vote down gentleman
OF German family and OF their own party.
II they do not do 30 the writer will be.
lieye that their love for the Germans is
real and not hypocrisy.
It Is hoped that all the friends Of the
ordinance In the spirit in which II was
framed, will give us; by their votes In
Council a Board Of Commissioners de-
sirous Of carryingit out In the spirit and
letter, and that its execution will be en-
trusted To its friends, not to Its enemies,
the party extremists,
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