The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-03-24
CHARTER DEFECTS
PEOPLE DENIED THE RIGHT TO
VOTE FOR CITY OFFICIALS.
Attorney Henry A. Nolte Points Out
Some OF the Many Weaknesses in
the Psullla Fran Charter.

To the Editor OF The Intelligencer.
Sir:-lt Is a well settled fact, and
all students of history will agree.
that the mos. perfect form of govern
mcnt Known To mankind IS the abso-
lutte monarcnical form OF government
wnen Ia Just and wise ruler sets upon
the throne. OF course. Il must be re-
me .Ibercd- that his will is the law
While nc Is a great power for good.
lie is equally as great a power for evil.
and ms subjects are subjected to his
IDEAS ct right ana wrong. Therefore.
/ shall conclude that the commission
form 30 government, no doubht, all
things being equal. and the commits
si"n'rs elected being all men Of high
Integrity and well equipped and fit
tel for the various departments to
which hey would he assigned an 4
further inspired for the public well
fare. " would he an Improvement over
our present form OF government. But
on the other hand. should these COM
missioners elected by the people not
he n such a character. then what
would BE- tho protection that the citi-
zens wcuio have under the proposed
commission form of government
The first danger In looking over the
charter. which appeals to me is. thai
u:der sec. = Of the proposed new
commission form OF government q
SAYS that sal officers shall be nom
inp"G and elected at large Said Of
ficsrs 'hail qualify and their term "
ofn"" shall he Tor four years" ~
cOrTsr with certain exceptions there
30. In Sec. s. each person who de-
sires to he a commissioner shall at
Least "a days prior 90 the primary.
execute and Me with the auditor 4
stat-'ncnt ~ his candidacy. and un-
der tic same sectipn tho form 81 the
ballot Is given as follows
For Mayor
vote FOR oncl
~ tNs me 81 candidatel
For Commissioner
Vote for fourt
.--- tS-me ~ candidate,
Vow. suppose man familiar With
fnan val institutions aud conditions
wa.;c b" - candidate for commission
o. -upposs one ~ the candidates
had been familiar with police and ire
duties. md suppose further that an
other vas familiar with SUPERVISING
tho construction. repair and uaintefi-
Hr.c ~ tf.'"ts. alleys. sewers. bridges.
&C. md 90 o. through. the four com
miesiorcrs az large are elected by the
pcuT'' Who ls 90 determine which
comm SOONER shall Doe 10 the head of
Tho department ~ finance. the depart
mont ~ Fnf"t the department az i'm
pr0 crnsuts. and the departuys NJ ~
ufIIfi'e' Which ono ~ tho four com
'uis-irusra elected shall bc 10 the head
~ uc depa-i nent ~ finance. uhirn
ur. .. 40 -s.. commissioner shall be 20
tHr Do ad ~ the department % fifefy.
Hni wl" Is fr ds frrminf DE- 90 ilt
Tho 'uunIsainners thrmacItss who
thHH determine The people have nn
voice .n determining who shnI. br 90
ih. nv 0f these departments
IH. 'Dmrieaiuuers thsmsrItcs may
ffrfn.inr that fha man who is n-
n.'i.r with t.an,is1 Affairs and who
'uin probably make an efficient .f-
h'"r fhr apartment ~ finance
would lo u.1 cd 600 the head Of tho
Oh. rIf mon. of public safety. whore ha
v'II1 900 large measure be incf
N.f"n' url tht .ift would NOT eff Tho
uifnf best e~orte What would b.
ffr rrfuif Tho recall might Do. in
'"kc' fhe ,itt might ls placed at a
ItfFc sNlrner because or the commits .
'I"ncr4 Themselves hiunderine in OBJ
"l'ciion of tho man Tor the head of
thr Usrti, uiar department
in "th"r words. there appears o. DO
Iona. which could bo best Illustrated
rF'abI} rt inE Mr. Wigcarre
H-d IN" buggy morse and " good ]
'"rk mule. and D., making WRONG /
.'.'ffl'n Do places the mule before |
lNa .n, busy and Dis horse before |