The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-21
ITS WORK ENDED,
The City Charter Subcommittee
Practically Completes
THE WORK OF FRAMING CHARTER
For the city-Arser Ono More Meeting the
Charter viii he Handed Over TO tho
General Committee aud to Council for
Approval and AdoptIon-Isoar,l or Con.
troll AMI BoNr,l ofPublic Safety ProvId.
ell for-chief OF Police 10 he Appointed.

The subcommittee on the new city
charter about finished Its labors last
night at meeting that consumed con-
siderable time. but not minute OF 1t
was wasted. II was s o'clock when the
members got down to business, and In
the absence Of Chairman Miller. Mr..
Hamilton moved that DR.. HRZlctt act
In that capacity, which he did until Col.
Miller arrived later.
The first matter taken up was COM
municatlOn from the West Virginia
Humane Society, accompanied by copy
OF mn ordinance passed by the Omaha
council. making It unlawful for children
under fifteen years OF age to be on the
streets. alleys or public places after .
p. H., from March to September !, and
after 5 o'clock from September 10
March l. The communication was sub
mitted by DR.. HaZlctt with u request
from the society that the committee
embody a clause In the new charter
that would grant the council the power
to pass similar ordinance This was
done by unanimous vote. The men,
bers or the committee agreed that the
object was worthy one and would re-
suit In much good II such an ordinance
WINS enforced
The question OF the board OF control
again came up and the decision OF the
last melting was sustained, In effect that
the board would not be authorized to
start new work of improvement that
would exceed an outlay OF 1000 without
the sanction OF council. and thaeno i'm
provemcnts should be made that would
be OF Individual profit to any OF the
members OF the board, each OF whom
Will be required TO give bond of Sl0, 900,
Upon motion Of Mr.. Hamilton, 1t was
decided to appoint board of public
safety OF three members, appointed by
council. to have control OF the police
lire and health departments OF the city.
This board will nave the appolntIne
power OF the chief of police. the chief
OF the fire department and health officer,
such appointments to be made every two
years and confirmed by council. The
subordinate officers OF these depart
msnts will be appointed by their chiefs
ms at present. but the appointments
shall De confirmed by the board and In
turn by council. Tho. board OF public
safety will be appointed every two yea r.
but there Is no restriction as to the num-
Der or terms a man may serve on the
board. clause was also inserted gIv>
ing council power to adopt civil service
In the police and fire departments.
This brought the committee to the city
collectors office, and after due ConsId-
Grafton II was decided to let 1t stand as
at present. he being elected by council
and to be paid n percentage OF the COL
lectlonS II was thought at first that
1t would be betctr to pay him n salary.
but after considering the question from
various points OF view. the committee,
decided that the present system Is better
The assessor and his salary and duties
WIS the next matter of business and II
was finally laid on the table until the
next meeting.
The clerk OF council will after the
new charter has been adopted. be COM
mittec clerk and clerk Of the police
court.
Additions 10 the city made by, private
parties will have to be submitted to the
board OF control and council with plata
Of the property so that the grades may
be established before they are author
lied.
a member Of council having my In
tcreSt at stake, financial or otherwise,
In any question before that body, win
not be allowed TO vote on Il and he Is
ALSO dcbarred from holding any other
public office.
All bonds Issued must hear the sig
natures OF the mayor and city auditor.
The most important decision OF the
committee at last nights meeting, ono
that viii no doubt be commended By
citizens generally was It's action In re-
gard to the granting of franchises. The
new clarter Will demand a fair percent
nge OF the gross earnings OF all fran
chiscs granted by the city, in the future
and In Ordcr that such matters may not
be "rnIlrOaded" through without due
consideration 1t was decided thut Nil ap-
plIcatIOns for franchises shall be held
over and he published at least three
months after their prcsentmcnt to coun-
ell before they are acted upon.
No franchise shall be renewed prior to
a limited time before the expiration NC
the old one, ouch limit TO be fixed b;'
council. ~" KRIS
Council Is empowered under the new
charter to grant llccnsesEto stationary
engineers; to sell water, gas, electric
light and other commodities 10 sur
rounding towing, also to condemn prop,
crty utsde OF the city limits for Its use
ms cemeteries. water works or other
PURPOSES
This about finished the business be.
fore the committee and upon motion 1t
adjourned to meet again August ., when
II will 20 over the work as completed
and consider any other matters that
may prcgent themselves to the commit
ter. This win probably be the Inst
meeting Of the subcommittee md the
new charter az formed Will be handed
OVER to tho general committee and then
to council for IT. considerations.
The full membership OF the sub-cnm-
mttcc consisting OF McsMrs. Miller,
IIllta, Hamilton, IlaHlrttt l!Odley nn'i
Attorney lsrskinc were prcsGnt'at Iast
nights meeting. N
Children Cry for