Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-11-28
A Few Remarks
CONTINUED FROM IND PAGE.

CONTINUED FROM
afford to pay part of that profit to the man or men who
make the sale possible for them That is what bribery is
and why it u.s. Bribery is not the result Of the political
party SYSTEM but IS merely part Of business men private
profit will last long private profit in public bust
lasts, and under it's baneu influence the righteous
are tempted and fall the good and reformers Of to-
day become the crooks OF tomorrow The only possible
good that from the nonpartizan plan the es
Enlistment Of genuine majority rule (Which does
obtain, and shaking DID, uhthinkng fogies from
their old party shackes. But the principles which
theoretically behind existing political parties must event
uay be accepted again in municipal Enthusiastically
whether not there shall be private profit in public in
dustries
Election officers should not be appointed at the sole
discretion Of the Commission that would tend newt
ably to ring rule again. but the fairness and honesty Of
elections should be guaranteed by the presence of cleo
ton officials at every precinct satisfactory to the cand
dates themselves. This change has already been made
in the charter It is not good that the commissioners
should determine their positions To allow them
do so, under the impression that water will find it's
lever" and that every commissioner will sink quite
naturally into the position for which he is best fitted
turn back upon experience 1t is easily possible for
majority of the commission to for unwelcome fellow
member into department for which he is not fitted when
he could have made good in another Department. for which
he may have been the intended candidate Besides the
peopl should be allowed to pass upon the fitness Of the
various candidates for the various Offices and not be
PEELED to trust to luck commission preudices politics.
This is very serious objection.
No objection be raised to the commission appoint
ing its subordinate officers for the commission is held
sponsbe to the public and any set of commissioners should
have something of free rein to work out their own
policies.
Restricting the political activity of city employees
would seem hardship and unAmercan, but such grave
abuses have grown under the present SYSTEM by which
officials perpetuate themselves in Office by compelling city
employees to work for them and contribute to their
paign expenses that almost step in prevention
. justifable.
Salaries perhaps too large. With a mayor at
$1,000 and four commissioners at $4,000 each would
that the city would not lack for capable officials
Certainly the working class MEMBERS whom the workers
will ultimately elect will not complain since their average
is about 5000 The that businessman Off
cal will be deprived of his regular of income by
of being prohibited from Hactivey engaging in
any other than city work. does not hold good for the
age business does not receive his chief compensation
salary but business profits and earnings invest
ments. No merchant elected to the commission would
close his store and capitalist elected would dispose of
his investments Their regular income would come right
along they did have to appear at the city building
at stated intervals They go to ball games now work
ing hours. t.
Secret meetings Of the commission should be prohibit
ed Every citizen of Wheeling should have right to be
present at every meeting and the quarters grow too
small to accommodate the crowds then the quarters should
be enlarged.
The initiative, referendum and recall comprising the
direct legislation feature, excellent although there
flaw, DOUBTLESS unntentona which leave the auditor the
sole judge of whether recall petition to recall himself
has sufficient signatures. The initiative and referendum
could be made better perhaps by adding provision for
simply initiative whereby to 10 per cent would be suf
cient to hang up projected piece Of legislation until the
next regular election We must not have to depend too
much upon the direct legislation feature for has ten
dency toward cumbersOmeness and tresomeness and
should rather arrange that will hang the heads
of elected officials and spur them into action which
will make direct legislation unnecessary. :
Giving the commissioners the right to grant fran
chises utterly bad franchise is the most important
thing community give. It is surely Of sufficient i'm
portance to justify a referendum.
The provision for public ownership is fairly good but
it should be made stronger that the people could work
out their problems they to the without having
to wait for special act of the legislature.