Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-15


or which have otner means Of maintenance
sufficient to provide actual necessities"
It was held yesterday by competent
legal opinion that this ordinance would
not stand for a moment against any de-
mand by any person in want, and that
IL did not contain the spirit OF Section
Of Chapter 46 Of the Code above quoted.
1t was further held that the Board had
under the State law the most ample
authority to alleviate all immediate dis
tress through the Overseers OF the poor,
leaving the Council, if the emergency
was sufficient, to provide such public
work as might be sufficient to enable
those in INDECENT circumstances and
able to LABOR, to pull through the winter
or until times were better. This matter
will likely be thoroughly considered by
the Board to-day, and appropriate action
taken.
OF course, the object Of the Board of
Commissioners in adopting the ordi-
nance limiting the giving Of relief, 10
the manner shown in Section 3, was TO
disburse what poor funds the Board
would have in the ordinary course Of
events TO the best advantage, and also to
prevent possible imposition. But there
seemed to be distinct public opinion
yesterday, that while this discrImina-
ton would, perhaps, be all right in or
binary times, 1t was not the proper
thing in the present emergency, and
that a more liberal spirit should prevail.
1t was also pointed out that the Board
would not be hampered for money In
extending aid as provided for in Chap.
forty-six Of the Code, because a simple
order to the Sheriff would provide what
funds might be needed, and that next
year an increase in the county levy Of
say five cent cents on the hundred dol
lars would make things even again. 1t
was also cited that the Board could
strain 3 point upon occasion, an In
stance being the appropriation OF ten
thousand dollars for the Cumberland
road, the expenditure OF which might
have been enjoined.
Upon the point Of ways and means on
the part of the city, it was suggested to
Chairman Maxwell, OF the Finance
Committee, last night, and he acqui-
esced in it, that it now being within
two weeks of the end OF the year, the
city could lay aside current bills pay
able and scrape up quite an amount OF
money from the several de-
partments, enough, indeed, to
carry reasonable amount Of
relief work through to January
l, when the funds of 1894 would be-
come available for appropriation to
continue the work. o. course, there
has been no critical examination of de-
partment balances, to see what odds
and ends will be left over, but it is
likely couple of thousand dollars
could be raised In this manner, which
would give employment to very
considerable number Of men
for two weeks. 1t was also
suggested at the City Hall, last
night, that the balance of uDexpended
money in the contingent fund Of the B.
2. w. might be used at once for work
in cleaning the streets, and that a call
by the Board for say one hundred men,
next Monday morning, to clean streets
would at once test the matter Of how
many idle men wanting work there are
in town, result in having the streets
cleaned up and aid in keeping the wolf
from many doors. This last suggestion
might be very good test Of the actual
situation.