The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-03-24
A Little Charter Primer
What is the Paull-LaFlam charter,

Wheeling exercised by the City
Council Board of Control
of Police. with a number of additional powers
Is the a
upon the opera
uOn of the commission depres citizens
recy officers performing
and the elements
bad or corrupt rob
necessary generally waste public moneys
What check is provided he commission. any?
Only the of recall Of a popular
Is this a sufficient
No the damage has been
done and then can only be invoked proper
hasty as well as
against dishonest important meas
ures must be given long
Of the kind Under the commission
morning of most drastic character
ernoon Citizens need not have notice
hasty and illconsdered action away
Why may be easily used?
Because this charter requires petition signed by
TWO nouSan citizens This commission will have in
and paying of from employees 1t will have the
spending of over s6oOOOOO annually
could be induced petition for recall when
they know that they opposition and
ooyons of all this of active political thousand
audor
an appontee by the commission days
os Drought on sisns to take OF their
is finally ordered opposition must each obtain petos
signed by one thousand signatures
political machine controlling either indirectly fully one
nn OF all the voters in the city Under these
as check action practically
How does this commission propose.to work?
Each of the five department and in that depa
ment he is to be the sole head.
Does this arbitrary action Of individual co
missoners?
Yes each commissioner the undlted head Of his
wi" concede to the commissioners
other departments power appointment of making on,
and OF buying supplies a to himself
Does this honesty and economy in public bu
" ' "
every commissioner will do the ~, IT.,
own department
missioner may be bibed wberc ,Iree con o III y one com
self Under contracts are let without
the Board of Control Of three eh a
the knowledge and
CITY Council OF over forty members plans plan which
gives paFpncy to the largest spend
" ' anu
Does this charter employees and does it
take the city ut Of politics. ~
does not Every city position simply at the
n commissioner at the head of his
ter says that the commission service system but
1t not required to do and will entirely upon individual
commissioners how city employees to submit 10
their wishes and to engage in politics account
Does protect city employees arbitrary acon
a commissioner? " '' A'uon
$ no appeal from the decision o, co,.,
he discharges emroye II he mstreas him or
cuts his salary the present charter %
empoye appeal appeal the head of his de-
Under the proposed new charter 10
has nd ~
What are the provisions salary services Of commits
salary commissioners is to be $500 90 per Yea, an, tho
commissioner is required the work and sepa
rate himself from all other employment
Is this a good provision?
position paying 900 10 DER Yea, for which
man must be candidate going through campaigns east every
yars Is hardly equal In value to private paying
SoVOVo 10 SzOV0
successful professional indus
u plants officials In banks and
eliminated from consideration this pov
sion Men who
men Who advanced in life active business or
and untred only Will DO candidate for
commissioners This provision election 10 office ~
such the late Mayor Schmidt The the BOARD
Of Control the men who have rom
time 10 time served the city
sion with the men poso
to get and this provision get tho services Of
the best and most experienced Wheeling
DO the trainers this people can be trusted
Apparently not because they take people
power OF directly ri
wards Auditor Treasurer and chief
Of Police Under THIS provision
particular
that any candidate Will receive particular NJ
service u astocraic All
particular "a
commissioner Of safety
partnlent minister
~
DID 10 vote n tunl.a