Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-02-27


Last Moment.
To say that the report Of the special
Council Committee to investigate the
conduct Of the gas works lost much of
its importance and weight in the eyes
of the general public owing to the
secret nature Of the work done by the
Committee, is to state the exact and
generally recognized truth.
That some Irregularities we're found
by the Committee surprised no one; it
would have been surprising had none
been found
That the Committee found anything
of a dishonest or rascally nature no
one believes. The gentlemen who have
composed the Boards of Gas Trustees
during the period embraced in the
special committees secret enquiry are
all men of the highest standing in this
community, and the same may be said
with truth OF their stats of officials.
In their private lives and in their bus
mess careers, they have been found
honest, conscientious, tair-dealing and
industrious, and it is but common JUS
tice to presume that in official capaci-
ties they have not been otherwise.
They were refused the public oppor-
tunity to face their accusers, something
guaranteed the most hardened Grim
inal by the laws of the State. yet have
been pilloried in an Official report OF
an official body as rascals-this being
fair int " citation of the intent that
report as de. The public upon retlec-
tion Will be slow to believe these gentle
men guilty. 1t will be rather inclined to
suspend judgment, or to dismiss the
report as one improperly born into the
world and as showing. at the most, a
cumbersome and Indifferent method of
conducting public business. errors of
individuals or instances of careless
ness or unsOUnd judgment. The report
illustrates the necessity for different
method of running the important busl-
ness departments of the city. and makes
patent the need for q more thorough
supervision of books and accounts. but
It hardly warrants anything further
unless il be a conclusion that the pres
ent Board of Trustees merit something
more than a rebuke for failing TO obey
the recent resolution of Council in
Structin') hem i'm so many words to de-
post an moneys received in bank and
pay out money only by check properly
signed. II was this failure to comply
with resolution passed by Council
at the recommendation of the investi-
eating committee which incensed the
committee TO the point of incOrpOrat-
ing in its report a resolution recon-
mending Council to accept the resigna-
ton of the present gas office force.
which recommendation created such a
row among the Republicans in and ont
Of Council that the report in this par
ticular was amended so as to read:
I'VE recommend that the above be
complied with" instead Of: eve rec
Ommend that Council accept their resig-
nations as it stood originally. This
action shows the perfect willingness
OF Council to malign. incriminate and
punish some gentleman alleged to he
guilty Of wrong while. protecting 9th
ers known to be guilty of a fragrant
violation of the very recent and per-
fectly clear mandate of Council. SO
much for the Councilmaniac pretense
of a fair and full investigation and i'm
partial Justice
Mr. Z. Buckman was elected a men,
her of the Board of Gas Trustees in
December. 1898. was reelected once.
and is at present member of the
Board When called upon by Regis
ter reporter. he expressed himself free
~ regarding the report of the special
committee and Mr.. Robinson:
Their attempt to fasten responsible
ity upon the Board. 7 regard rs an in
famous piece of business" he said ut
would appear that the committee con-
siders it the duty of members of the
Board 10 do the work of the Secretary,
and all for the princely salary Of 800
q year The committee finds alleCod
clerical errors. Assuming their state
ment TO be correct. is it proper to hold
the Board responsible We employ a
Secretary 1T a salary of 81 400. to al
tend TO the books in the Office. He
gives bond i'm the sum of 10000. and is
presumably man Of integrity and hon.
esty of character. We have no reason
to suspect any inaccuracies. and if we
have. the monthly report of the auditor
employed by the Board. shows that
the accounts are i'm proper shape. That
is what Mr. Brock was employed for.