Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-16
Is THIS REFORM ?
A Query From Democrat, Addressed to
Council.
Tn fhs pT{lor nj Tho pe0isier.

A Query From Democrat, Addressed to
Council.
To bse Editor OF The Register:
SIR:-Permit the enquiry through your
columns, do reformers reformP Is the
anti-election reformer ever likely to carry
out his, pledges, after success has been
achieved through his promises to the
people?
This enquiry is prompted by the action
of the present Council, in the proposed or
dinance to abolish the Police and Fire
Board, snd place the control OF the police
in the hands of the standing Committee on
Police Of Council.
It cannot be forgotten that the main OBJ
lection to the ordinance establishing the
Police Board was the clause requir-
ing deputy sergeants to read and
write English, and forbiddiDg any member
of a liquor dealers family TO serve as
a deputy sergeant" The Democratic
party was 30 opposed 10 this clause that a
case was made up and carried before
Judge Jacobs to test its constitution
ality. because it made additional require
meDts for holding Office under the city
government, to tnose laid down IN the
charter and that portion OF the ordinance
was declared by him to be void and OF no
effect Within three months Of the install
lation of a Democratic Council we find Il
committee, composed OF four Democrats
and one Republican, presenting to Council
an ordinance contsining this unconstitu-
tiOnal requirement, and urging its passage.
"Osn such things be and not excite our
special wonder" What did the Republi-
cans when in power more than this, and
how vigorously did the Democrats de-
nounce them for so doing, and how urgent
ly we're foreigners and liquor dealers re-
auested to assist in turning the city gov
ernment over TO the Democracy 80 that
this insult and injustice could b. correct
ed. Will the Democratic majority In
Council pass this ordinance and insult
their constituents who sent them there?
Another striking instance of inconsistent
cy, ia the proposed appropriation OF w.
600 for strengthening CaldwelPs run. inns
question was su mitted by Republican
Council to the people at the last election
and was defeated by more than seven hun-
dred over the necessary negative vote. In
defiance of this expression OF opinion by
the people, Democratic Council ia hardly
warm in its place until leading Democrats
in that body are found log-rolling the same
measure through Council and proposing to
spend several hundred dollars of the ci'y's
money for special election, at which this
question can be again decided.
Is this good politics? Can we hope to
keen control of the city government II we
30 soon forget the Lesson Of the past year,
II the members think so, let them carry
out their proposed programme; bnt so sure
AZ the sun rises and sets, their day OF reek-
oning will come and they will be buried
under larger majority than the Repubii-
cans were last January. DEMOCRAT
ABig Fight over the River Sunday
The Bellaire Independent OF last evening
contained the following account OF little
scrap occurring over the river, Sunday af-
ternoop. between two Wheeling men:
"There was a prize fight at West Wheel
ing yesterday afternoon. The names oi
the parties could not be learned, but the
whole posse came from Wheeling. There
YVES crowd of fifty or more to witness the
fight. The principals fought fully half an
bour. and one of them was badly pum-
meled. while the other had discolored eyes
and spoiled nose. The larger OF the two
men was the worst used up. Some Of the
residents of West Wheeling telephoned to
Rridgsnort for officers but they did not re-
spond until after the belligerent gang mad
returned to Wheeling
Last evening the police said the men
were Anthony Conners and Tom Hill, and
H.. Connsrz had been clicked.