Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-02
CITY COLLECTORS OFFICE.
A Reflection Upon the system Which
Makes Party Bosses and Squanders
the Cffy,s Revenues

Makes Party Bosses and Squanders
the Cfty's Revenues.
To the Editor of the Register.
In all this political hullabaloo,
arising out of hot campaign, there
are, perhaps, some important things
lost sight of by the quiet non bipartisan
voter. i shall refer only to one. Your
readers can draw differences which
must imply that under the present I'M
healthy and uneconomic condition of
city and county affairs, that there must
be others, which are bound to grow
and become worse and worse, If the
ballot box does not set its seal of con-
demnation upon it. | refer TO the sit
uation in the City Collectors office.
What have we there? Simply an Of
fetal head. whose position, so far as
observation can detect, is that of sin
ecure. In other words, Mr.. James X
Hall receives several thousand dollars
per annum which might be saved to
the taxpayers OF this city, or diverted
TO repairing the streets and alleys, If
the office of the chief were abolished
and the collection of the city taxes left
to the efficient force OF subordinates
who now run the Office.
The time was wheE the City Collec-
tors whole attention was needed to
look after the collection of the taxes
both under Democratic and Repubh-
can administrations, but under Mr..
Halls regime he has shown that ne
can be absent from his post for months
at a time upon political jaunts. either
to advance his own political aspira-
tons or those of the party he repre-
seEts. The collectors Office apparently
gives him no concern. and he gives II
little attention. If Mr.. Hall can do
this without detriment to the inter
tests OF the taxpayers of the city, then
why is the City Council SO regardless
OF the economic needs OF the city?
'Our fathers have been wanting to fast
en- the loan of half a million dollars
upon the city, on the plea that there
are not revenues enough to pay the
city's debts Is it any wonder the reve-
nues are short, if thousands OF dollars
annually are squandered on offices for
which there is no need?
In speaking OF Mr.. Hall. thu sub
seriber does so impersonally; he does
not wish TO convey the idea that he Is
rejecting upon the Incumbent 1t is
upon the system which permits such
things to exist. Surely it is patent to
all eyes that instead of the city receiv-
ing a quid pro quo for the money she
pays Mr.. Hall for his alleged services
in the city collectors office, she is pay
ing him for the hardest and most ar
dent steadfast political work which he
can do for himself and his party. If
any citizen doubts the truth of this
statement, just let him follow MIR
Halls tracks since his return from the
interior of the State. II he be not a
political boss, lord-high- executioner,
etc, ETC., who is? 1t is the same thing,
only on a smaller scale, which pre-
walls in New York. Philadelphia and
Chicago, and which the citizens OF
those cities are so bitterly protesting
against, and which the taxpayers OF
this town are now threatened
But you say What are we going to do
about it," Well, the answer to that
is, can a river rise higher than its
source? If the people of this town are
satisfied to pay thousands of dollars
to an officer whose time is largely la
ken up with the duties of party boss,
then that is their business; if they are
not, then they know the remedy; but
If they do not enforce the remedy, then
they should not complain as they see
the system spreading, and the Office
holding trust acquiring such vice
like grip upon them that it will be i'm
possible shortly to shake it off.
A SUFFERING TAXPAYER.
Wheeling, Nov /.