Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-13

the rules of the Board Of Public Works
be continued. All streets and alleys
should be very thoroughly put in good
condition, and such other work as is
possible should be ordered. The city
would be the better of it and the cost OF
it would be distributed among our peo-
pie and In good cause. Those fur
nished employment and given tickets to
hold, likewise the original ticket OF the
Ward Committee, that they are needy
and worthy of work and such assist
ance.
'"rhese tickets may be sold to all who
want work done, or who may desire to
help the needy or alleviate distress and
want. Many persons would desire to
have them and could make good use of
them. A great many people could find
a great many little jobs to have done. to
their own advantage, If appealed to in.
this way.
This is only crude idea Of the sys-
tenn. Cannot relief com mittee perfect
and improve it or formulate better
plan? Will not the Council take the
lead in some measures OF relief to those
deserving OF aid who only want employ
ment?
81 am Of the opinion that indis-
criminate charity is all wrong. There
should be system, and when
possible the parties soliciting aid should
earn what they get.
Gree soup houses tend to produce
Decentralization aud would invite class
of applicants not worthy The great
need is employment. We know and see
this fact every day."
Upon the conclusion Of the reading
Mr. Dobbins opened the debate. He
first called attention to the fact that the
Board of Commissioners was doing allin
its power to afford relief, and was at
present spending money at the rate OF
about twenty thousand dollars year to
alleviate distress. This was all the
Board could do. 1t had been max
ing a close investigation, through
special Committee, consisting
of Messrs. Bates and McGregor, and
that Committee would make report to
the Board to-day. Then the Board
would probably have some plan to pre-
sent 10 Council asking for work by the
two bodies jointly. Mr.. Dobbins then
advocated an immediate appropriation
by Council for the relief OF the destitute,
the money to expended upon public
works of some sort, such, for instance
as the opening of streets, grading OF
streets, cleaning of streets, ETC., and
said there would not be the slightest
trouble in procuring the cash and get
ting men to work IN very short time,
If a special session of Council was
called.
Mr.. Richards opposed hasty action,
and thought it would be best to wait
until the Council had heard from the
County Commissioners.
DR.. Caddle was very much In favor OF
speedy action, and advocated the call
ing OF a. special session of Council by
the Mayor.
Mr.. Halter also favored speedy action.
Two ks, which would elapse If the
policy Of delay was persisted in, was a
good while for little children to "sit in
the cold without food" II met man
tonight" said he, who actually cried
as he told me of his distress. He is
able to work, and therefore does not
come under the State law. but he hasn't
a pound of coal TO keep his children
warm and nothing in the house to eat"
Mr.. Richards said he didn't feel COM
petent to deal with the matter, and
wanted a mass meeting OF citizens
called for deliberation and the gather
ing of information. He thought that
persons active in charitable work would
DO present in large numbers
and would give much good advice
and furnish much information. lie
then sprung his motion for
a joint committee of sixteen, to be APP
pointed by the Mayor, to see about
mass meeting and to gather informa-
ton as to the distress in the var ious
wards, and after prolonged debate in
which Messrs. Dobbins, Otto, Paul,
Caddle, Halter and the Mayor took
part, the motion was adopted by vote
of two ayes and no noes.
The mass meeting idea was vigorously
denounced by memb ers after the meet
ing was over, as being productive OF de-
lay and diverse opinions, but no actual
relief, but when asked why they didn't
vote against it, members said they
"didn't like to openly oppose 1t"
Thus the matter stands, and the
Mayor will likely appoint his committee
OF sixteen to-day.