The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-08
SINGING THEIR OWN PRAISE.

The Mayor has already been driven
under. cover in the discussion of the
new charter, and failing to find any
thing further to criticise he devotes
a column of supposed Exposition Of
the Charter" to a defense Of the city
administration and eulogy of the
commissioners. Modesty prevents
him from praising his own depart.
ment, but the other three rcommis.
sioners re.stronglys: praised.
He.devotes also some space to critt.
cism OF the West VFglnian. OF
course the city hall crowd can never
forgive The West virginian for the
Exposition Of the Salary Grappers."
In his article this morning he is
forced to admit that the water com.
misstoner's job is consolidated with
the street commissioners work. saw
ing the salary Of one OF these. commits
sioners.
He is also forced to admit, and he
does in his article this morning. that
the city will save the salary OF the
treasurer, that office being consoli-
dated with that of the commissioner
Of finance, where 1t should have been
In the first place. saving the people
the extra salary OF $500 per year.
Another good thing that has been
shown as the result OF The West Wiz.
ginian's publicity is the fact that the
commissioners now claim that they
work eight hours a day when a few
months ago they, themselves, an
nounced the four.hour system. They
have been driven into this by public
condemnation and are not entitled TO
any credit for at this late day. One
Of the commissioners. soon after he
went into office, told how he to
his private office where he draws more
money than the city pays him, and
spent the first hours Of the morning.
from I o'clock to 10, when he was re-
freshed and felt like doing work, and
then going to the city hall. That left
two hours of the morning fer the city's
work and he also gave two hours Of
the afternoon to the city, making four
hours in all. That one thing has done
as much as any other to discredit this
commission and the entire city admin
istration In the eyes OF the taxpayers
who we're being made to pay for this
time that was being devoted to pri-
vate business. The Mayor says: MT.
Barns gives his full time, during
working hours from a. m. to 5 p. m.
to the discharge OF his official duties"
Since when has he been deroting this
much. time to the city? Was 1t not
MIR. Barnes who gave out the state.
ment that he gave the city only four
hours Of his service and that he wGat
TO the telephone Office at o'clock IN
the morning and stayed there till 10?
Does Mayor Bowen think he now de.
serves any credit for being shamed
into giving the city the time he is
paid for?
The Mayor also laments the fact
that Tho West Virginian killed the
iniquitous water ordinance with a re
cali" The West Virginian made no
use Of the recall at that time nor since.
Tho editorrot The West Virginian did
advocate referendum vote on the
water ordinance that was planned te
impose an additional water tax Of S15,.
900 per year on the people OF Fair.
mont, and he at his own personal ex-
pense prepared and had printed these
referendum petitions, and was tnstru-
mental In having them circulated. and
in this way the people were saved an
unjust water tax on a plant they own
and which IS showing q nice profit
each year. It was believed that the
people had a right to vote on this
ordinance II they wanted that priv
lege, which the old charter gave them.
The petitions we're tiled with suffi.