Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-23
IMPORTANT MEETING
Vi the Council Committee on Police,
Held Last Evening.

VI tu0 U0unCll U0mmlLlee on F0llCt,
Held Last Evening.
The Recommendation That the
Police Force Be Increased by Six
Members Stands, and the Esti-
mate is S31, 81O-The Question OF
What to Do With City Prisoners
Laid Over Until the Next Meeting.
A Proposition in Writing from
Sheriff Richards, in Which He
Makes a Guarantee.
The Council Committee on Police
held long and important session last
evening, before the meeting of Coun-
Gil. There was very full representa-
ton, including Chief Bennett and the
superintendent of the City Prison. No
bills were audited
The question of an increase in the
police force first came up, and was
discussed by the members of the Com
mlttee, the consensus of opinion being
that nine additional officers were de-
5lrable, but that six were probably as
many as the Committee could obtain.
Incidentally it was observed that as
six members of the Police Committee
were also on the Committee on
Finance, the department should, all
other things being even, stand a very
good chance of getting whatever was
settled upon
Chief Bennett was asked for his
ideas in wanting nine additional men,
bers CT the force, and in reply stated
that he wished to put an additional
man on at night in the Third ward,
and in addition put on new shift OF
officers, going on duty at ten o'clock
at night and remaining on duty until
ten O'Clock in the morning. That, he
said, would bridge over the present
interval from 5 to 8 a. M, when there
were no officers on duty, and would
also give sixteen officers on beats from
8 to 10 a. M, thirty-two from Z TO 10
p. M, and eight from to 8 a. m. With
six additional officers he could do bet
ter than he was able to do now, but
he wished to give the public the SER
vice to which it was entitled, and
which it had the right to expect.
The Committee decided to stand by
it's recommendation Of six additional
men.
The workhouse question then came
up, and the following proposition. ad-
dressed to the Committee by Sheriff
Richards, was read:
Gil of the City of Wheeling. w Va
"GentleTnen:-At your request here.
with submit proposition TO take ana
keep in the Ohio county Jail male prison
ers sentenced from your city Police Court
at the rate of SOC per day for each male
prisoner for each and every day ne IS
confined in said Jail | Will Turther agree
keeping male prisoners more than. $4,000
for any one year that this proposed con-
tract may exist, no matter If the NUMBER
of prisoners confined in Jail would al the
rate proposed exceed in the aggregate
the proposed maximum amount of $1,000
This guarantees an absolute saving to the
city of Wheeling of Sl12.33 from the
amount expended by 1t the last year for
the maintenance of the workhouse, and
provides a clean and proper place of de-
tention for city prisoners, winch Is IN
which has cost $11233 more to maintain
the last year than IS possible under the
proposed contract. even If more prisoners
were confined.
"A fair and proper estimate Of the
probable cost per year to the city of main
tanning prisoners at the jail at the pro-
posed rate. would he very much less than
the maximum amount permitted under
this proposed contract. In fact the total
cost per year would not exceed one-half
committee was introduced and main
tainedl
But without regard to what system
might be employed In sentencing prison
ers. under this proposed contract. the city
must save at least S71233 per year. and at
the same time obtain better service.
Respectfully submitted.
HI c. RICHARDS,
SHERIFF of Ohio County, w. Va"
In connection with this, statement
was read from the Superintendent of
the City Prison, from which the fol-
lowing items of credit between Febru-
airy /, 1895. and March 2, 1898, are
taken:
Stone delivered to Board of Public
Works, zoos loads, value $3.50 SO;
stone on hand, 1925; work done load
ing stone, 1894 work done at City
Hall S435: grading, $105; repairs to
crematory road, s120; grading Chap
line street, $88; repairs at crematory,
So: total work done for three years,
1920, for which the prison has never
obtained any credit.
After a general discussion of the
subject, the whole matter was laid
on the table until the next meeting.
Later Sheriff Richards appeared before
the Committee but reserved his re-
marks until the next meeting. when
the workhouse question will be ex-
haustively considered and some defl-
mite conclusion arrived at.
The meeting adjourned Just before
Council was called to order.