The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-26
SHERIFF A 7. SWEENEY MAKES
KNOWN HIS OPPOSITION TO
~cREATER WHEELING
CHARTER
SAYS THERE CAN Be NO ExrRAV.
AGANCE UNDER SYSTEM OF
MONTHLY BALANCE SHEETS.
AMENDED CHARTER OF HIGHER
VALUE TO COMMUNITY THAN
"cREATER WHEELING
CHARrER."

Probably no man in Wheeling Is
better advised as to city governmental
Affairs than Sheriff Andrew T. Swee-
ney. who served as assistant city
clerk. i've terms as chief executive OF
the city and is now a member OF the
FIRST Branch OF council representing
the Island or Seventh ward. sheriff
sweeney has always bee a student
OF city affairs and Is considered an
authority on questions OF finances. be-
ing one OF h active members OF the
finance committee. To a reporter
he made a carefully considered state
ment outlining his views on the com
ing charter election and showing
clearly why the amended charter"
should be chosen over the Greater
Wheeling Charter"
Opposes City Manager Scheme.
/ Sheriff Sweeney said: Il am frank
in admitting my opposition to the
Greater Wheeling charter and hope
that II will be defeated at Thursdays
election. The amended charter has
every qualification essential TO good
government and with a smaller city
council. which II provides. our gov
eminent will be as lear ideal as pos.
sible. A proper consideration Of pres.
ent city affairs will convince the most
skeptical that under the present sys-
TEN OF balance sheets furnished
monthly by the city auditor, there can
be no great extravaganza.
My first real experience in the
study OF city conditions and finances
began in November. 1893. when as
sistant city clerk. | have been inter
ested since and preserved a file of
annual city statements and from time
TO time made comparative exhibits OF
receipts and expenditures over the %
intervening years.
When elected mayor and after a
study of the then existing conditions.
in annual messages a recommends.
ton was made for revision OF charter
and refund OF Indebtedness. The lat
ter provision did not secure the ap-
proval OF our citizens. presumably
because the average rate of interest
was to be reduced approximately Ia
per cent and there was sufficient per
sonal interest existing to defeat the
proposition.
The result of efforts in the direc-
: ton of charter revision resulted In
the appointment by council of a COM
- va CAt III " YAH NaAh
60 which was added the president
! OF the Second branch and the mayor.
This committee after almost one
years careful and conscientious con-
sideration produced a charter which
was first submitted TO the voters.
ratified by them and sem TO the legis-
lature. The charter was drawn with
a view to conducting the AFFAIRS OF
the city along the lines of any cor
poration. providing a council-the
board OF directors. and a board OF
control-the executive committee.
This charter contained some pro-
visions which invited opposition on
the part of some special interests
and. politicians. and was rejected by
the legislature. brought back. re-
vamped so as to remove the objec-
tons and passed. The designation
Greater Wheeling charter sounds
well but this is no new idea and re-
calls the instance several years ago
when a committee of Fulton city
councilmen conferred with n commit
tee Of our council with a view to an
nexing Fulton TO Wheeling. After
many conferences it was suggested
that as a simple matter of business a
statement should be made showing
the present and prospective state OF
Fulton. The result proved that the
annexation would result in higher cost
to Fulton aud add additional expense
to Wheeling. ] cannot conceive how
II could be otherwise in the event our
] corporate lines were extended to en-
brace the sparsely settled territory
which would need to be equipped -
fully as our thickly settled sections.
Studied Charter Carefully.
The proposed Greater Wheeling
charter has had my careful consider
alton because I have realized II TO be
the product OF men OF great ability
I and highest character. but am appre-
hensive. indeed convinced. that their
conclusions were made from state
ments OF theoretical conditions fur
nished them: because anyone who
will analyze the operations OF the city
under present conditions and compare
the tax levy and operating costs Of
] the city OF Wheeling with those Of
cities Of like character. will admit
there Is no extravaganza In the
Wheeling city government. The coun-
ell for the past four years has been
furnished M each month with a full
detailed statement showing appropri-
ations. the expenditures 20 date. what
II any unpaid items exist and the bal
ance available AZ date OF statement
also a detail OF the expenditures OF
the several departments.
Can Be No E-Stravsaance.
ITO my mind there can be 1.-THE or
no evasion Of the law or gross unau.
thorized expenditure 81 the peoples
money where there e. this monthly
balance sheet and the councilmen pre-
serve a fle Of them. checking each
month against the other.
Amended Charter Ideal
The proposed Greater Wheeling
charter seems 90 me p document we'll
intended but more open 10 attack by
persons Who would desire to serve
selfish personal aims. han the ola
original charter or the present one.
10 appeals 20 me AZ one which takes.
from our citizens their right 10 decid.
N they desire 10 invite outside com
munitics 10 join them.
- do not believe the amended city.
charter BE- perfect but 7 esteem 20 to.
be- ~ much higher value 10 the com
munity Than the Greater Wheeling.
one. am convinced the present sys-
tenn Of monthly statements. added TO.
q rfFuroH council wU1 as uan~fv nr