The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-05
TURNED DOWN.
Cliief Of polisc VIII Not he Elected
by the People II
CHARTER sun. COMMITTEE


n meeting IN the committee room OF the
city building. The members present
wcro Chairman flazlctt and MCssrs.
Miller, Bodley, PAUL and Lutz.' Tho
feature OF the meeting was tho effort
made by Mr.. Dodlcy, OF tho trades os-
scmbly, to have the section OF the now
charter, which was being considered by
sections, relating to the ciccthu,of the
city chief OF police changed y That the
chief ahall be continued 10 be elected
directly BY The people. Mr., Bodlcy was
unsupported In this position by any
other member OF tho subcommittee
and In consequence he was unsuccess-
tul In his efforts. Until he was lustruct-
ed by the trades assembly 70 vote
against this feature of the charter Mr..
Bodley had favored the appointment
OF the chief OF police by the board, and
defended his advocacy OF that meas
ure recently ut a meeting OF the az
sembly.
At the last meeting Of the suh.com-
mlttce. amendments or additions to
the charter as then read by Mr.. Frs
kline. were proposed. These additions
were read and formally adopted at
last nights meeting. II was suggested
that the city solicitor be given power
10 institute suit on behalf OF tho people
against the city authorities In. the event
OF tho latter passing legislation in vio-
lntlon OF powers granted by charter or
ordinance. The matter was passed
over, however. without action. In the
course OF the discussion Il was brought
out that Ohio solicitors are given this
power by a general law. The recent
troubles In Martins Ferry were referred
TO and that seemed 10 he a pretty good
argument against the adoption OF such
u provision in thu new Wheeling char
ter.
Meetings OF council are to be held
monthly, but when u press OF business
makes 1t necessary meetings can be
held ~b!-mon,hly.
The bond OF the assessor was placed
at $4,000 and his salary will be fixed
by council between 5000 and $1,000 n
nually. Mr.. PAUL was OF the opinion
that 1000 20 81. 500 would be better and
Dr.. IIazlett suggested $1,000 to $500
l6 to /.
The sections relating TO the board OF
control were passed without much dis
cusslon and nc amendments. The clerk
OF the board OF control Is to be ap-
pointed by the board and council can
approve or reject the appointment.
The section relating to the board OF
public safety was then read. Ii fixes
the membership OF the board at three,
selected FOR a term OF two years, their
salaries to be fixed by council; the
board to have control OF the police. fire
md health departments.
Mr.. Badley-1 o that the sections
Is to the board Of public safety be
stricken out.
This was n bombshell in the commit
tees camp. particularly Us MIR. Bodley
had been In favor OF the board OF con-
troll plan quite recently. His Instruc-
lions from the trades assembly. how
ever. left him no other line OF action
than to oppose what he had before ia
vorcd.
Mr.. Bodley favored his motion. after
II had been seconded by Colonel Miller.
In u short speech, the only argument
Of which was that the precedent had
been established by which the chief OF
police is elected BY the people.
Dr.. Hazlett remarked that expert
ence had taught something. This city
has had n trying experience on one or
TWO occasions with chiefs OF police.
which he said 1t was not necessary to
p~artlcularlze. Three or four had been
compelled to resign for their Improper
conduct in administering the affairs OF
the department. AS at present legiSla-
ted for the responsibility OF the chief
OF police Is NIL, said the doctor. The
people elect him and he Is responsible
only to the p~coplc-not at all. He ia
vored the department OF public safety.
Then the chief Of police. as well as the
chief OF the fire department and the
health officer, would be responsible TO
the board. By this plan the chief could
be suspended or removed at any time
and the affairs OF the city held much
more securely. BY the plan now In
force 1t Is we'll known how the office
Of the chief OF police Is conducted. how
tho chief secures his election and the
means By which he Is elected. The
new plan would institute a reform
where reform IL needed.
Mr.. Bodley again presented his only
argument-prccedent.
DR.. Hazlett-lf we were to observe
precedent we would want no new char
ter.
Mr.. Bodlcy-The only question Is, Is
this plan to improve matters?
MIR. Lutz-How can we control the
police department when the chief Is
elected by a direct vote.
Mr.. B~odley--Just as we have always
done.
MIR, Paull-He has never been con-
trolled.
In the discussion that followed Mr..
Bodley claimed that an inefficient chief
of police can be made to resign.
The Sunday saloon was discussed in
this connection and Mr.. Rolley said
many good people favored a half-opcn
saloon on the first day Of the week.
Mr.. PAUL said he knew OF several
saloonists who would GLADLY close IN
Sunday, but did not because their
nelghbnring competitors were open.
The motion 10 strike out the section
referring u the board OF public safety
was then put to n vote and resulted ms
follows:
Ayc--BodIey.
No--T.utz. PAUL, IIaalcts.
Mr.. Bodley then moved that the chief.
OF police BIZ elected by II vote OF the
people direct.
Mr.. Paull-Show me an argument for
that, outside OF precedent and | VIII
vote for II.
Mr.. Miller claimed that with a board
OF public safety the laws would not be
better enforced. No law that Is against
public sentiment will be enforced In
any event, he elnimcd.
In opposition to the %colonel's stand,
DR.. ~llazlctt called attention to the en-
forcement, In New York city, Of the
RuInes Inv, which has been the means
OF closing ull the saloons OF the metrop-.
oils on the Sabbath.
Mr.. Miller--How "a 1t done?
DR.. LIN zlett-By Roosevelt. q
The discussion then vcrScd to the
mode of governing New York city, It
being stated that the laws are made
by committees OF the state Legislature,
most OF whom are from tina cotintrv