Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-05
STARTING EARLY.
Heavy Assessments Made by the City
Republican Committee.
Everybody Drawing Pay From the
Present Reform" Administration
Will Have to Come Down With
One Months Salary for the Good
Of the Cause-Meeting Said to
Have Been Held Last Sunday.

The Republican City Hall crowd APP
pear to scent danger ahead OF them,
and have determined to buy their way
to victory, at the next city election, IN
the good old way, if money can posi-
bly, do the business.
Steps already taken will, if persisted
in, result in the accumulation of fund
Of anywhere from six to ten thousand
dollars by next January, and such por-
ton Of the cash as is not lost i'll
transitu will be applied where it will
do the most good in quenching the rag
ing thirst which prevails in campaign
times, in colonizing voters in doubtful
wards, as was done in the Fifth at the
last election, in fixing the floating
vote" and generally in making such
arrangements as shall result in carry
ing the city of Wheeling for the g. o. p.
The big local bosses and the Repub-
lican city Executive Committee met
last Sunday, as nearly as can be ascer-
tanned, although the exact day is I'M
material. and after general consider
alton of the situation, it was solemnly
resolved that the outlook was dark, and
that prompt and summary action was
necessary if the present Office holders
at fat salaries were to hold their jobs
This conclusion arrived at, the question
of ways and means came up, and it was
decided that the good old way of max
ing the rank and file holding down la
borers, and other small jobs, defray
do, although the big officials would
necessarily have to contribute some
thing. The matter was discussed in all
its bearings, and finally it was deter
mined to assess everybody drawing a
salary or wages from the city treasury
one full months pay, divided into eight
monthly payments, running from May
until January, in order to make it as
easy as possible. At this rate, the
pay forty dollars each, the firemen
sixty dollars, policemen siXty-five,
street hands and gas works employees
an average months pay, water works
men. ditto, and officials in and out of
the building the same. Assuming there
are twenty men under the Water Board,
thirty under the Gas Board, thirty five
in the police department, thirty-three
firemen, thirty under the Board of Pub
lie Work and thirty miscellaneous men,
the total would be one hundred and
seventy-eight and at an average CT
fifty dollars each, the sum would be
IS, 900. which it will be admitted will
make very handsome campaign fund,
providing one thousand dollars to each
of the wards, with about another thous-
and in reserve for extras and Incl
dentals.
The news of the assessment was
broken gently to some of the minor en-
ployes during he present week, anil
there was holy kick. At least one
man swore he wouldn't pay it, the Reg
lister having ois name, but his friends
advised him to give up the first III
stallment or two and thus hold on to
his job until he could get something
else to do. Others are making wry
faces. and say they simply can't stand
the drain thus made upon them. But,
all the same. they will either have to
pay or get out, for the machine is once
more in operation.