Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-11
HOT IN THE COLLAR.

"a Voter Against the Last Loan" Talks
His Mind to the Board OFF. W.
Editor of The Register:
What's the matter with the B. Of P. W.. ?
When the Legislature established the
Board, it was given the care and manage,
ment OF the streets, alleys aud sewers Of
this city, subject to rules and Regulations,
drafted by it and approved by Counc l.:
These rules were of no force until approved
oy Council and at any time can be amend
ed by Council ga it sees proper to do, and
as amended or altered the Board is bound
to obey them. This provision of the Act
clearly shows that the Board was not in
tended TO be independent Of Council, but
on the contrary was bound to obey Couu'
ell as it's superior governing body. Rule
No 1, of the rules of the Board, originally
provided that the b. OF P W. should con-
tract for no work over $4,000. 10 amount
without consent Of Council, bat by some
means the additions TO the city's indt bted'
ness gradually amour ed TO 20 large sum
that Council was compelled to call halt
and ask the psople to vote loan to wipe
out the floating debt aud restore the city's
credit. This wGs twce refused by the
voters, and it was only after solemn
pledge made By Council that restraining
ordinance could be adopted and that never
again in any one year should the expend:'
lures OF any department OF the cltys gov
eminent exceed the amount appropriated
Tor that year, that, on third trial, was the
loan voted.
Council passed stringent restraining
ordinance, elected q new Board Of Public
Works. and at the commencement OF the
second year thereafter, the Finance Com
mi tee 10 making ts es,im stes tor the com
ing year, finds the Board tt Public Works
had contracted an Indebtedness Of several
thousand dollars in defiance OF it's authority.
When the Finance Committee, after
weeks of careful examination ot the oitys
financial condition and with &C eslre TO make
sure that the same insdvertsnce shall not
again occur on the part OF the b oil L. w.,
presents an ordinance to Council specify
inc what permanent improvements shall be
made on our streets during the coming
wear and providing q penalty should the
Clerk of the B. of P. W. draw any orders
on an exhausted fund, the member5 OF the
Board hold O star chamber session, call IN
the re orters AMI let their tongues loose
on the Finance Committee, the Council
and the citizens in general. Tney whine
sbou, ,heir honesty being imPngned,
,hrea en- c her to resign or tell the Council
N 90 to Hsdes, and claim that they will
spend the money for their department as
seems good to them. Has it come 70 this
that Council has no voice in the expenditure
Of the city's revenues on the streets and
alleys? That the body which ievies the
taxes is to be mere tool in the hands OF
the members Of Board who fill positions
Given to them by that body? This is tar
ahead o. anytking done by these mems
predecessors, who had the reputation O O
being the most reckless men who ever held
Office IN the city.
Why should Council not soy what streets
are 10 be paved and how the work shal d
done? For many years after 1857 the in
come of the city will be absorbed to
great extent in the payment of interest ant
eypense OF loans. Tbs year, with the sd
d;tion to the city's revenue from the ssl'
the Market street and Court House lois
a larger cum for street paving is available
than has been the case for years. ls !
unfair that Council should provide as near
" an eousl benefit to eli parts Of the ciI
as posslble9 Or is il to be the case tha
three men shall expend this money Wher
few citizens will get the most goo'
from itf .
TIA man up a tree the origina
estimate presented By the B. of 2. W
10 the Finance Committee. looks IS
"Csmpbelrs Alley" of blessed memory hs
come back in one hundred fold increase
force-to pave Main street from Fourth
Seventh, Chspline street rom Tenth
Eleventh, Eof street from Thirty-second
Thirty .pintn. condemn Hooks property
strsighten Eff street, pave cutters seve
feet side where thought necessary, tn
width being sufficisnt for carriage way
: all looks to gu outsider queer.
: Our people are taking deep interest
, this matter and are watching the sever
! members of Council more closely than ev'
before. They wish TO learn if threats
resign, appeals to party prejudice, erdea
ors to play on personal dislike to certain
our citizens, in short, if all the arts al
J, appliances which can bs usde ase OF
: the B of P. W, will succeed in defeatir
s an ordinance which provides more equ
and exact Justice to all parts Of our CT
!. than an7 one presented to Council Z
years. . :
A VorFR AGAINST TIE LAST LOAN
.-t.-A- "a o. :,
TIE AnarnnIn,n q, d. nopIs met Sund