Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-05
SOME CoGENT REASONS.
Why Many Thinking People are Opposed
to the Proposed Charter.

Why Many Thinking People are Opposed
to the Proposed Charter.
A prominent business man. who takes a
keen and intelligent interest in all local
public questions. made some very interest
ing criticisms of the much-talked-of city
charter last evening. His points are so
weighty and well put that they are here
reported. He said:
II am opposed to a reduction in the num-
Der of Councilmen and the concentration
of Council into one branch. This dis
eliminates against the more populous
wards and does not preclude the POSSIBLE
ity of one ward controlling the actions of
Council. This reduction in the number of
Councilmen is return TO the state OF
affairs abandoned over thirty years ago.
From 1906 to 1896 our city Council was
composed Of eight members and from
1896 to 1868 we had one branch of from
twelve to twenty-four members. In 1863
the State OF West Virginia amended the
charter whereby Council was divided into
two branches and the representation or
one. at least. was based upon the popula-
ton of the wards. The wisdom of thus
dividing Council has often demonstrated
itself and hasty action of one branch has
frequently been rectified by the other. The
Intervention of the First Branch in the
matter of submitting the charter to vote
of the people has saved the city much an
noyance and expense.
THE civil service idea is to embrace the
departments of police. firemen and labor
ers only, and requires no examination of
clerks and accountants who handle funds,
etc.
1T is an actual fact that fraud and
Matchmaking have been perpetrated
far more extensively and successfully in
cities having police boards than in those
i'm which the Chief of Police is elected by
the popular vote. In my opinion ii is
safer to leave this official responsible to
the citizens of his community than to
subject him to the dictations of a boss.
Section 81 reads: Council shall have
authority to have all work done under the
direction and control of the city officials
without the Intervention of contractors
or middle men. What better opportunity
can be afforded an INSCRIPTIONS official
for jobbery and theft. without any pro-
vision for furnishing his misdoings?
I'm reference to franchises. Council has
all the powers no wthat are proposed in
the new charter, but is forced by the new
charter to tax new enterprises even If, in
its judgment, this tax would be discrim-
mating and unjust.
These are some of my objections to the
new charter. If there is an occasion for
a new charter. of which am not aware.
hax
this. the measure is not economical. for
aside from the expense that would be in
CURED by a special election, an entire re-
vision of all city ordinances would be nee
essary To this comes the cost of lobby
ing the charter through the Legislature.
which is by no means inexpensive. This
means total expense TO the city of pos
siby four or five TO ten thouand dollars;
and for all this we are to receive an inn
perfect charter; a more limited represen-
tation of the people in the city govern
ment an increased number of officials.
with either salary unlimited or where
salary is named. 1t is higher than at pres
ent. ] will only mention that of the city
treasurer. with possible income of 5000
more than three times as much as that of
tHe St'tc II Vd9uiSi' hiOie IMAM t"'NS a
much as that of a Judge of the Supreme
Court, and ALMOST twice as much as the
salary of the Governor of our State.
"In conclusion. | am convinced that the
new charter would bring about boss rule,
and ! am opposed to this Capitalization Of
power; it is not in conformity with my
views of Il republican form OF govern
ment. but approaches the imperial system
of Europe which our forefathers have
discarded long ago in search of more lib
eral and freer institutions"