The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-10-30

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societies Of the city, had expressly,
endorsed, after mature conside rations
a non-partisan charter providing for
only three commissioners instead Of
four. .,.-..-t.-,. z. -
While we believe that commits
sion form Of government properly en-.
forced would be far better than the
old system, and since the City Of
Fairmont represents in population
and property value avery large part.
of the County Zof Marion; we. most.
en1phatically condemn the commits
.sioners Of said city for failing to.
carry out thelprovisions Of said char
ter, and especially do we censure.
them for making all appointments
upon a. strictly partisan basis when
the charter plainly says that the OBJ
.iect and aims of the charter is to
procure an efficient administration
Is.free from partisan distinction or
,cso1{r61D A. 4 I N y.
DOUBLE SALARIES DENOUNCED
we further condemn part OF said
commissioners for holding other posi-
fio1is, and drawing. other salaries,
for services not rendered the city in
plain violation of the letter and spir-
1t of the law, which provides that
the Commissioners shall hold no. 9TH
err office or position in conflict with
their duties to the city. We further
condemn the city commissioners for
removing triedTandie efficient employees
of the, city who bear written testimo!
malls from a city commissioner as to
reliability and efficiency, for : the
sole purpose of&paying petty political
debts at the expense Of the tax pay
ers Of the city, which wanton disre-
gard for the law, so plainly express
ed that none can misunderstood it,
has already placed the city water
works plant in great danger of total
destruction, and threatened the city
with water 'famine-the> complete
loss Of the water supply having been
threatened on account of an accident
caused by ineficiency OF careless
ness, or both.
WAsTEFUL EXTRAVAGANCE 4
j We condemn them further for
maintaining a small army Of useless
at the city hall and retain:
ing upon the pay roll of the city
more policemen than. are necessary
TO protect the people and their prop
srty and to preserve good order with
IN the city. We condemn them for
more than doubling the salary Of the
city solicitor, although his duties
since the city has been dry are reduc-
ed many fold, and for doubling the
salary of the city physician in face
of' the fact that the city owes about
100000 of floating Indebtedness,
and is unable to meet its current or.
iers for running expenses. We hold
that. no good business man, IN his
own private business, would so in
crease salaries, andSpay useless EN-.
p1oyes, if he was losing money, and
we contend that such action in pub
lie officials needs the severest con-
iemnatiqn7 Of the tax payers. We
further condemn the city commits |
;ioners for a plain violation of the
law in appointing a nonresident OF
The city to assess the property, when
The law plainly says that the, assessor
shall be a voter within the city lin
its.
We most earnestly condemn these
officials for this reckless and whole
ale extravaganza at the expense OF
he tax payers, and pledge that the
aominees Of this convention this day
selected to represent this county in
he legislature, twill support ANY
or change in the charter
If the City Of Fairmont that will
make such reckless :and total disre-
Eard for the enforcement of the law
impossible. We would request of
Them to use3their influence and best
4fforts to seeGre{f for. the Cityaof FAIR
mont the best possible form Of city
government, free from partian con-
tention or control, at the smallest
possible cost to the tax payers, by
which all htea voters and property
owners, taxpayers and rent payers
alike. will 4 be given an opportunity
to obtain representation and vote in
the city administration.
We want to register upon the
minds of every voter, in the county
cur Just censnre and condemnation
Of the city administration Of Fair
mont and denounce it as being the
most fragrant violation of law,%writ-
zen in the plainest and most under
standable English language, that has
ever, at this, or any other time in the
history Of municipal affairs, been
brought to the attention of en- out.
ragged public, and as being absolutely
foreign to. and out of sympathy with,
the good intentions Of the honest cit
liens of Fairmont, who, believing
they deserved it, demanded "a change
in their form 81! government
COUNTY COURT CENSURED.
j. We condemn the County Court Of
Marion county for the reckless and
eytrayapant exnenditureE of the peo.