Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-22

done 30. unquestionably their defense II
this time would net Be 30 utterly sround-
less. when they assure US that acting
upon the advice Of competent counsel
they determined TO strike at the root Of
the condition.
g. The question: Of revenue. In your
Reply you make the assertion that "the
Police department was last year required
to produce s7.e00 from fines and fees in
police court, requirement surely not cal-
culated to improve the moral welfare OF
the city, Permit us to call your atten-
ton specially to the strong words used,
required and requirement" Now we
submit such Is not the financial s'policy'' of
the city. There is no such requirement.
Never has been.
At the beginning of each fiscal year the
Joint Standing Committee on Finance is
IN the habit of estimating the probable re-
venues of the city. 1t makes up that es-
innate from the income from various
sources Of revenue during previous years.
The matter of fines and fees is not RE-
quired" fixed amount as you would have us
believe. Furthermore, these fines and fees
are not devoted to the regular running ex-
penses of the city. They do not go to the
expenses of the police department; neither
are they included in the estimated running
expenses of any other department They
are, by act of the Legislature turned over
to the Board of Public Works for inn
provements. Members of Council, whom
we have advised with-and we have con-
suited leading members of the Joint Stand
ing Committee on Finance-repudiate the
idea that the eity's policy is to raise re-
veues from offenders of the class of
which" we complain" much less that sit
is part of the present financial structure
of the CITY," as you assert. And knowing
what you do now, since your Reply was
printed, we prophesy you would not again
fall into any such blunders at the expense
of our city's reputation, both abroad and
at hcme.
In conclusion, we would remind you that,
on entering upon the duties of your re-
spective offices, the way was clear for
practical reform in this matter of the SLOT
machine. Ex-Mayor Butts had stopped
them as one of his last official acts Why
were they ever allowed to return again?
Not only have they returned, but, as your
recent raid for revenue proves, they have
returned in greatly increased numbers.
Furthermore machines OF another class,
exhibiting the most obscene pictures. have
come in very recently, which are violations
of section 5 of Offences" which provides
that it is unlawful for any person to pub
licly exhibit any indecent painting, engrav-
ing, print, sculpture, picture or represen-
tation within this city," And yet the vio
lation of this ordinance is permitted daily
by the operation of these obscene slot ma
chimes Has this law been declared un-
constitutional also?
Once more, therefore, we call upon you
to perform your duties in the matter COM
planned of in our former petition. We
came to you, then with one prayer only,
viz, that you enforce the law for the
suppression of all slot machines in our
city," and that you take measures forth
with for granting the prayer of this petit
tion." Our appeal is not that of few min
listers only, inexperienced. as you sug-
gest, Gin the matter of enforcement of the
laws against offenders;" but the appeal
comes from over 100 reputable citizens
among them leading lawyers, physicians,
bankers, merchants and tradesmen in
every ward in the city. That is fact
which you seem to loose sight of. But
these layman are not to be counted out in
any such way They, together with US, be-
lieve this ordinance can and should be en-
forced. They together with us, are as
much convinced of your respective duties
in that direction as they were before your
Reply" was published. Nothing in that
Reply relieves either of you in the pre-
misses. Your duty is plainly marked out.
1t is not merely theoretical" as you
would have the public believe. 1t is entire
~ practical, and all we ask is that you
make offenders against the law recognize
it's practically.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
FEDERATION OF CHURCHES.