Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-05
Mr.. Bodley-Who IS it controlled by?
Mr.. Panll-RY Council.

Mr.. Bodley-Who IS it controlled by?
Mr.. Paull-By Council.
Mr.. Bod!ey-This new thing viii be
only an experiment.
Mr. Lutz-How would you control a
Chief of Police elected by the people?
Mr.. Bodiey-How is he controlled
now?
Mr.. Paull-He never has been con-
trolled.
Mr.. Bodley-He never has been con-
trol.ed? How did it come that several
of them have been asked to resign?
Couldn't they be asked to do that again?
That system could be pursued in the
future.
DR.. Hazlett-Charges must be made
now.
Mr.. Bodley-Yes, and why not con-
tinue to do it? You talk about saloons
being open on Sunday. l am opposed
to their being open, personally, but a
good many people are in favor Of it, and
they are very good people, too.
Mr.. Paull-Question.
Mr.. BOdley-I want to explain that
am not opposed to so much OF the sec
ton as refers TO the Chief of the Fire
Department and Health officer. That
would have to come in in some other
shape.
The question was put and lost ayes 1,
noes 4.
Mr.. Bodley-I now move that the sec
ton be so changed as to elect the Chief
of Police by the people, taking It out CT
the control OF the board.
Mr.. Pauil-If you wculd show me an
argument l might be with you.
Mr. E-dley-YCur only argument is
that the present system don't work.
Mr.. Paull-And the other has worked
fer twenty years in the Fire Department.
Mr. Miller-The Board system nigh.
degenerate into ring, and il would do
little coed. Take the Gas Board, at
present. The CcunciimCn from the diff
fer5nt wards pract.a.ly dictate the 2p-
pOinjment of officers under the Board.
There is a danger. Faults can be found
with any system.
Mr.. Paull-There is nothing perfect
this SIDE Of heaven.
Mr.. Miner-YOu say the law would be
better enforced. Thai does not follow.
Laws will not be enforced which are
Objectionable 10 The masses OF the peo-
PIE.
Dr.. Fhzlett-The Raines law has clos
ed the saloons in New York
Mr. Miller-How was that accomplish
el.
DR.. Hazlect-Thrcugh Rcg5ve.t.
Mr.. M.ner-No. They had a police
board in New York long before the
Raine5 law. legislative cCnuCi did it,
and ne, Mr.. Roswell.
DR.. Hazlett-But it was in direct an
tagonism 10 the popular will, and it is
enforced.
MIR. Miller-And the people haven't
had chance 10 vote CT il, and when
They do they viii overturn it.
Dr. Hazlett-Well, l don't know about
that.
Mr.. Ersk,ne-There is in New York
a strong tendency 10 municipal con-
troll by the Legislature, but there is net
q scintilla o. that here or in contempla-
ton here. We have home rule, and our
selection Of officers IS wholly by tha
people. s. The Chief of Police S
TO administer the law. Many people
don't care about the law, # it is not en-
forced. They are in favor Of the law,
but againsc It's enforcement as has been
well said. People who don't want 10
have to live up to the law C-a't try 10
nave it repealed, but they blunt the
whole moral sanss of the people by hay
ing \ nal administration of it, The
Chief OF Police deals with the law break
ing. AS rule, the poor, frail women,
who have no votes, have the hardest
time. and the cause Is, that if you punish
voter he will resist it n the future,
and thus the fact Of his b-ing voter
makes him an enginry for evil and
tends TO make officials wink at violations
of the law. = All attempts 70
prevent the execution Of the law ought
10 be discouraged, and attempts against
i made through the Legislature. Do
not leave the temptation before an Of
fcer 10 be easy on this man and hard
On that That is the way | feel about
1t.
Mr.. Miller-The more boards the more
ring RUE, and the more corruption.
That is the reason l favored combining
all .he departments under two Boards
rather than have a separate board for
each. I think boards are just as la
bic net 10 enforce the law as any elect
i've officer.
MI Erskine-The people will get bet
Re. service from appointive than from
elective officers.
Mr. Bodley's motion to strike out was
then puf and lost. ayes /, noes 3, and
The Committee continued its revision.