Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-05

a MOClOn by N. 6OQISy I'd OO
Amend as to Make the Election
by the PeopleVoted Down.
Last evenings session of the sub-com-
mictee of the City Charter Commission,
called for the purpose of further reyis-
ing Mr.. Erskine's preliminary draft OF
the work so far done by the Committee,
evolved a decidedly interesting discus
sion upon the subject Of how the Chief
of Police should be selected under the
proposed new law.
The matter came up in the shape of
motion by Mr.. Bodley, the representa-
tive of the Trades Assembly, to strike
out a section providing for Beard OF
Public Safety, which should, among
o.oer things. nominate a Chief OF Police
10 Council for confirmation, and 10 wAich
Roard the Chief ard his subordlnates
should be directly responsible. MT.
Bodley's motion reflects the sentiment
of rhe Trades Assembly, which desires
TO perpeuate the present method OF Sc
lecting a Chief by vote Of the people
with its well-known and inherent OBJ
stacles in the way of enforcement of the
laws which are enacted by Council. The
subcommittee refused by most decl-
sive vo.e 10 adopt the molten, even after
it was modified by Mr.. Bodley, and the
section will remain as originally
drafted.
After the committee had gotten down
to business Mir. Erskine proceeded with
his reading Of the draf, Of the charter
features which were discussed a. some
length being whether the City Solicitor
should have authority to institute ac-
lions against city officials violating the
laws of the city, which was decided in
the negative; what salary limits should
be fixed for the city assessor, this being
settled at not less than $500 or mora
than $1,000; and hat the Board Of Con-
troll. having charge of water, gas ana
electric lights, should have general
Clerk. at a salary 10 be fixed by Council,
with the necessary su5Crdinates in each
department.
This brought gihe reading down to the
clauses relating TO ne Beard of Public
Safety. which is charged with the admin
is,rat.cl of the fire. police and health
departments. and which shall nominate
chiefs Of those Departments TO Council,
to be confirmed by that body. When
the reading had been concluded. Mr..
Boiley. as the representative of the
Trades Assembly. said:
Now. I move 10 strike out the whole
of that section, for the reason that the
Chief Of Police is elected by the Board
and confirmed by Council. / am OPP
posed to That. As far as the Chief Of
the Fire Department. aud the Health
Officer are concerned, | would rather
that Council would elect. but I am On
posed to tha. manner Of electing the
Chief OF Police"
Mr.. Paull-Why do you oppose the
one and not the others?
Mr.. BOdleyLT will admit that one Is
as Important as the other. hut we have
been elec.ing the Chief Of Police for
years, and it has given general satisfac-
ton. The system NAV nave imDerfec-
tons. bu. so may the Other. In Louis
VILE the Board system works bad. and
7 was told the other day that the Board
was the most corrupt thing they ever had
in the city. but. of course, that does not
condemn the system. There are a good
many things in that section that could
remain. and which must remain in the
charter. in some form. Council con
provide fer the duties If the Health Off
Ger and Of tho Chief Of the Fire Depart
ment in another form. If You would
elect the Board bv the people do not
know that 7 would have so much o0jec-
ton. hut hare YOU create p Board by
Council and then he BOARD elects Chief
who is onnrove9 Nv Council
Or. Hazlett-We learn some things
by experience.
Mr.. Rcdley-No doubt.
Er. Hazlett-We have had some very
trying experiences with Chiefs of Po-
lice in times past It IS not necessary
to go INTO details. Some OF them have
been compelled to resign for imnroDer
conduct in Office. The responsibility
az the Office at present is nil The peo-
pla elect the officer and he is only re-
snonsible to the people, and that IS no
rasDonsihiIitv at all. You have reduced
vour legislative branch. and I am cad
- know that YOU are in favor Of that.
Your representatives VIII probably be
very different from what they have
been. Your representatives wi! be
carefully selected and they will he as
careful. I presume, 10 elect Chief cf
the Fire Department or any other Pc
sition or as they would be in the adj
ministraticn Of the finances Of the city,
or ANYTHING pertaining to It. BY this
change all these officers are maze SUD
iect TO the supervision and direct con-
troll Of the Council. and they will DO
their work better than where there is
No resDc1abi%ty. | cannot for the
life Of me. see what objection there can
he if YOU are in favor Of a smaller
Corrci' and think that better work
will he done by that body. You believe
IN that. and vet YOU take away one OF
The most important functions Of me
council You know how Chiefs OF Pc
Zee conduct the Office, how they are
elected. and by what means ana 9e'
YOU oppose a change ,,,
Mr. Bodley-I dOl's see why you
,,3Iye comparison between smaller
Council and my opposition to the ap-
80, ar Of the Chief Of Police. There
~ - ,a,,er been any complaint about the
D~esen- system CT e,ecting the Cn'ei l
po,ico 7 don't say, however, that the
nresent system is perfect
p NJ M Haz,e.t-As to my comparison, |
81 q L