The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-02-23

In the Capital City OF State like
West Virginia, there is but one depart
ment we can point to with pride, and
that is our fire department. Under the
supervision of Captain Rand, our fire de-
partment is not only an efficient one,
but is an example of what the other de-
partmcnts could be made if we had ca
pable men at the head. Our fire fighters
are we'll trained and we'll organized
force. The entire department shows the
effects of systematic organization. The
men are always neat and clean; every
detail in and about the department
shows that the strictest attention has
been paid to duty by the officers in
charge and the men on the force. Every
man knows his duty and does his work,
and everything moves like clock work.
Our police department could be the
same. The personality of the rank and
file of the police force is just good
as that of the fire department, and with
the same efficient management, would
become source of pride to the citizens
of our city. The ma jority Of the police
the force are good men, and under
different conditions would make excel
lent officers; but under the present
management, to do their duty means
discharge from the force. But take the
same force we nave now and put man
like Captain Rand at the head OF it and
see what Il change it would make. In
less than twenty hours there wouldn't be
a den or dive left in our city; You would
see system and team work. the men
would be trained and disciplined. Don't
let us criticisc the force when they are
not to blame. The men are expected to
do what their chief says, and to obey
the orders of their superior officers.
Inc same thin" applies the street
department. In our present street COM
missioner we nave man who is either
incompetent or is Il man who shrks his
duty and responsibility. In the street
department we have an efficient OFFICER.
ard that is our pawn" Inspector. Cal
Anderson. 1t seems that the entire re-
sponsibility OF the street commissioner
rests on Cal Anderson Then, if Mr.
Anderson is shouldcring the responsible
tiles and doing the work, why shouldn't
he draw the salary? These incompetent
men ut the head of these important de
partmcntS were appointed by our board
OF Affairs for services rendered during
the campaign. Instead of our Board
picking experienced men and. if posi-
bic. sccuriu" experts for these important
offices, they were handed TO ward poll
ticians. Just so long as the ward poll
ticians are rewarded with Offices paving
fat salaries. just long will the depart
mcnts suffer and the taxpayers be taxed
to pay lot of inefficient officials and
have their hard earned dollars squan-
dcrcd and wasted
But how can we expect anything else
from our present Board of Affairs? We
elected ward politicians to the highest
offices in our city: men who do not
rcalizc the responsibility attached to
their Office and take no pride i'm making
OUR city the best governed and managed
city in the state. Self.ntercst is placed
above their civic pride. and they use the
offices To further their political ambi
tons and for personal gain The fire
department is a fair example of what
our other departments would he under
the same efficient management. There
are good men in Charleston that could
handle these various departments and
make them 4 credit to our city. but these
men are not ward hcclcrS and stealers
hence will not he appointed by the Board
OF Affairs. We must pull together and
change the personality of our Board of
Affairs in the coming election Then.
and not until then. will we get relief
from the present grating. incompetent
system Of city government