Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-21
BOLD BAD BREAK Of
THE |NTtIt|GENCER
CHARGES OF ENTR AyAGANCE
WITHOUT ANY FOUNDATION
IN FACT.
THE POLICE APPROPRIATIONS
Have been Wisely and Judiciously
Expended-A Legacy Left by the
Late Lamented Republican Conn
cfi-An Oversight Tn the Annual
Estimate-The high Dudgeon" of
Engineer Lohse.

The eagerness of the Intelllgencer to
twist figures and distort facts for partisan
pohieal advantage. was again in evidence
yesterday morning. In an article under
sensational headlines. in which the police
department Is charged with misappropria-
ton and extravaganza. Assertions reck-
iessiy made In the srtiele betray a lack
of knowledge upon the subject. and are
tantsmount to n confession OF indiffer-
ence as to the facts. The Intelligencer.s
position upon any municipal matter in
which politics ia involved. Is the very
antithesis OF fairness.
The Republican organ Is In high rlee
over the fact that s2a. les 10 OF the Sss. oooeo
appropriated for the police department
has already been expended, and the re-
mainder is not sufficient to meet the sal
aries for the remainder of the fiscal year
The Inteiligencer has had knowledge of
the expenditures under the department
from week TO week. and has never found
an Item sufficient to justify howl of
extravaganza which the organ is only too
eager TO make. Because. forsooth, the
department is Democratic, the fact which
II has apparently just discovered is proof
conclusive of extravaganza and broken
promises OF reform! To be fair. the In
telligencer must furnish facts and ns-
ures TO subStantiate its charges.
The public has not forgotten the legacy
of s254l25 which the late Republican
Council bequeathed to It's successor. That
sum represented its efforts to keep the
police expenditures within the sppropri-
atoms for the department The old Coun-
oil adj fi.ro he fare nd
they drew salaries for several months.
No provision has been made for their pay
ment and as a result the present Council
was forced to ask not only a larger appro
priation for the ordinary expenses OF the
department, but was also compelled TO
provide for full months salaries,
amounting to s2.5t1.25 out of this years
appropriation. Perhaps the Intelligencer
win understand why the appropriation is
larger this year than before.
When the estimate of the police depart
ment was prepared, the Republican City
Clerk stated that 5000 would be sufh-
cient to provide for the deficiency. This
ate into the department funds to the
extent of s5sl25
The estimate for Clerk WORKS salary
was made s2a75, the same as II appeared
In the annual report of the city clerk,
when It should have been SO.
Add to these figures 81. 200 for the lookup
keepers, which by an oversight was not
placed in the estimated expenditures, and
the total will be In excess of the probable
shortage In addition to all this bills
amounting to $475 approximately, con-
tracted under Clemans's administration.
were paid out of the 1901 appropriation.
There has been no extravaganza.
Chief RITES administration has been
not only economical and prudent. but has
been one of the most efficient and salts
factory In the history of the city.
Mayor Sweeney and Chief Ritz stated
last night that the deficit at the end of
the year will not exceed 81 200, for which
the oversight Is responsible, and this
may be cut down by the use of $40 APP
propriated for contingent expenses, which
has not been spent. and probably will not
be.
There was no padding in the estimate OF
the police department, and It has kept
within its appropriations.
The InteIligencer also states that City
Engineer Lohse was in high dudgeon"
because the police committee asked Archi-
tect Faris to prepare plans for the new
workhouse. and resented 1t by absenting
himself from the meeting of the commit
tee. Here is what Mr.. Lohse himself says
about the matter:
II was surprised at the statement In the
Intelligencer. I was not present Mt the
meeting because ] was not invited to at
tend. The subcommittee could not re-
nor. ,non NV MANS because they had not
seen them. l have been asked to attend
the meeting Of the subcommittee Tonight
and will do So"
The subcommittee was called to meet
last night, but failed to secure quorum
Mr.. Lohse was present,