Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-22

Tuesday morning the Intelligence
discovered that a greater than proper
tomato sum of the police appropriation
for 1901 has been expended. The Re-
publican organ frothed az the mouth n
its madness over this situation. IL was
Indignant Because the department is
nader Democratic control it charged
rank mismanasement and extraya-
cance. All this was done without any
Investigation OF causes. During the
DAY it is presumed that somebody bor-
rowed the ear OF the reporter long
enough 10 whisper that mistake had
boon made.
At any rate, Couneilmen conyersant
with the situation ridiculed the publica-
lion. a graceful apology from the In
,elligencer would have been in order,
but apology is a word not found in the
Intelligencer lexicon. "A lie well
stuck to is as good rs the truth is an
axiom in the Fourteenth street sane
tum.
A search was instituted with view
TO making specific allegations to sub
slant ate charge sof wastefulness. The
expenditures of the department were
scanned carefully, and everything was
found 10 be regular. The discovery was
made, however, that roll top desk had
been purchased. A roll top desk. All,
here was a glorious opportunity to wax
wrothy. What right has the police Of
flee to have a roll top desk? Roll top
desks are for j. Pierpont Morgans and
John d. Rockefellers. II the police
have any writing to do, and can't find
a board why don't they use the floor?
The idea Of taking men from the. mills
and factories. and putting them in Of
fees with roll top desks Shameiul
waste. Wanton extravaganza!
The roll top desk cost the depart
ment SIS. 1t wasn't considered wise by
the Intelligencer man to tell how mueh
money had been squandered on this
useless CD ornament, so 1t was referred
TO indefinitely as AN expensive roll top
desk"
The Intelligencer says the Mayor
ALSO discovered that the $4,000 in the
ESTIMATES FOR THE EXTRA Pc
LICE EMPLOYED DURING THE
LAST MONTH OF THE FISCAL YEAR
or 1901 was insufficient. the expendi-
ture having been $4,000. or $500 in ex-
cess of what had been estimated
The Intelligencer man probably took
a Red Raven split the next day.
The VIGOROUSLY incompetent Repub-
lican Council was mismanaging the az
fairs Of the city during the last month
OF the fiscal year 1900 and there was
no s., 900 spent for special police. Sure
ly the Intelligencer does not intend to
accuse It's own party Of spending that
sum for special police in one month
The fact is that the situation is about as
clear as mud to the Fourteenth street
organ.
Not a word would have been publish
ed about this 81, 900 if the lntelligencer
had known that it was a portion of the
debt legacy of the old Council to the
new-a deficit which had to be paid
out of the police department appropria-
ton for 1901.
Wednesdays Intelligencer article on
the subject refers to rank mismanage-
ment," extravaganza etc. and adds
that its revelations created sensa-
ton" Possibly a sensation of mirth.
The very acme of absurdity is reached
when the Intelligencer charges extrava-
gance because there will be deficit in
the police fund, and in the same article
says "the carrying over of orders is an
expected annual occurrence, and what
is lost at the beginning is made up at
its close at the expense of the next en-
suing year"
This is good Republican precedent
If the Democrats do what the Intent
gencer charges, they will at most be
s!Mply conforming to fashion set by
the Republicans
The mountain labored, and brought