Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-11
THEY MUST PAY Up.
CITY EMPLOYEES TO BE MADE TO TOE THE
MARK ON DEBTS
The @Bankrup. Sale" "Chsap John" and ouss-
tonabls Auction Sales to Be Heavily Taxed,
Pool Sellers TO Pay License.

There was an important meeting Of
the Council Committee on Ordinance:
at the City Hall, last night, during
which several matters of considerable
public Importance were brought up fol
consideration, and all were referred &c
Council for favorable action by that
body.
The first matter taken up was q
petition from a number Of business
men in the retail trade, who complain
ed that some policemen and other city
employees were in the habit OF contract
ing bills and then refusing to pay them,
and asked that steps be taken TO dis
charge from city employ men who made
no effort to pay honest debts, but
sought shelter behind the law, which
prevents legal redress by way Of gar
nishee proceedings.
Quite long discussion ensued upon
this matter, during which City Solicitor
White explained that while the city
might be garnisheed, it could not be
compelled to answer, the Courts holding
it to be against public policy to permit
the mixing up Of public and private
matters, as would surely result from a
multitude of petty actions for debt on
the part of city employees, and that he
did not see how the City Council could
pass an enabling act by which creditors
could collect their debts.
The mem bers Of the Committee gen.
orally did not look with favor upon the
proposition to discharge men who didn't
paw up, as each case might require a
long investigation and take up much
time which. could better be used in the
public interests, and it was also pointed
out that a man might be in debt. and
still be perfectly honest and good OFF,
Ger.
After all the pros and cons had been
gone over resolution was adopted rec
ommending Council to pass resolution
instructing city officers TO answer garn-
ishees when called upon to do in a legal
way.
The next matter taken up was an or
dinance prepared at the instance Of the
old Council, and read first time in that
body, assessing license tax OF SIS per
day upon strangers coming here with
auctions OF silVer-ware, books, ETC., and
''cheap john" "cut-rate," bankrupt
and fire sales of clothing and other
merchandise, the ordinance having been
prepared at the instance OF business
men, who have suffered much in the
mast at the hands OF such sales and auc-
tions. Hon. F. B. Mcneil was present,
and urged the passage Of the measure,
uointing out that not only did business
men suffer by the competition OF men
who paid no taxes or fees or any sort
into the city treasury, but that the gen.
eral public were also sufferers, In that,
deceived by appearances, they were
induced to purchase, often at
exorbtent prices, very inferior
goods. Members of the Com
mittee spoke in the same strain, and
after full discussion the measure was
recommended for passage. 1t imposes
a license tax OF S25 per day, and imposes
a fine of S25 for the first violation of the
ordinance, and not less than $50 nor
more than 500 for the second and sub
sequent violations.
The Committee then took no the an
nual license ordinance, and discussed
various matters for quite awhile.
Among other. things the Committee
unanimously favored license on pool
sellers and book-makers, and Instructed
the Solicitor to incorporate such a
clause in the ordinance, making the
license S25 per annum for each place at
which pools are sold, licenses TO be not
transferable except at the pleasure Of
Council. At present there is no license
on booksellers.
The Solicitor was also instructed to
draw the annual tax ordinances, in the
usual form.