Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-22

now at the City Hall cannot run the
city on less than $4O0, 900 per year,
with nothing to show for it? They
have spent much money in the last
three years-about 81. 100, 900, In fact
and yet our streets are in bad cOndi-
ton, and are not kept even respecta-
bly, clean, our engine houses are falling
apart, the City Hall is disgrace to
the. city, the markets are neglected
everything, in fact, is running down at
the heel and yet the cry is Tor still
more money" and ''if you don't pass
this refunding ordinance we will in
crease licenses or taxes, or Go some
thing really desperate!" Let any citi-
zen stop and ask what tangible i'm
provement the city has given us with
in these three years Of Republican
rule, during which there was to be
general revision of methods and sys-
TENS and genuine reform. He will be
puzzled, indeed, to find anything ex-
cept the few squares of paving annual
ly laid out of the ten-cent levy. Yet
much more than a million dollars has
gone into the City Hall rat-hole, in
these three years, and the cry is that
of the horse leech: more! More!"
Seriously, it is time to call halt.
The times are not such that public
money should be wasted and the pub
lie burdens increased. 1t is rather a
season for close economy, for debt
paying, for the careful application of
business methods in administrative
circles, and for something approach
ing common sense in Council. The
people will lay this refunding foolish
ness on the shelf Saturday, and by
their vote will make it understood at
the City Hall that at least until times
improve the present revenues must be
made to do, and not only that, but a
better general use must be made OF
the public funds in the future.
Let us examine a few things occur
ring the past two years. will go no
further back than January. 1896, when
there was a balance over and above
everything, of about $4,000. The re-
ceipts for 1896 were S3}2,350.35, or a
practical total of $500 900. This sum
was not only spent, but $4,000 more,
rep1e scented by outstanding orders. At
the outset of the present year, every
available dollar was appr opria-ed, after
the estimated receipts had been marked
up to the limit. Since then two supple
mental appropriations, aggregating
about 81, 900 or $4,000, have been
made, and the stone bridge balance
money has been blown IN, ana the item
included in the refundlag ordinance,
and still times are hard AMI money
scarce at the City Hal, ard the $4,000
of orders now admitted 20 be cur, will
be Incl eased to $35 COO before six
months are up, 70 say nothing of the
gas deficit and the stone bridge balance.
By June next, under Z continuance Of
the present system of mierlanagemen.
and extravaganza, the floating debt cf
the City Hall wi be close o 500 900
it is now confessediy over $4,000. And
yet these gentlemen be ruformersi
Heaven save the mark.
Mark The predi ton: The appropr'
ations olready made for this year will
never De realized from receipts. and tie
result will be mo'e out3toni,ng orders
after the first of JalIa:y. Another
twelve months o. 'rtfo. II " an. &C are
undone; and yet ths people are gravely
asked 20 vote to Stop paying Ine public
debt, saddle themselves with an admit
tedly costly refucGlng ordin ice which
throttles the city for thirty-four years
and give up the cash now being paid
upon the public Ub'igttichs to be dis
bursed where it Will do lie most COOL
to political party and advance The
personal interests Of a few ambitions
The PEOPLE will never dc IT,
ANTI LOAN.