Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-04-05
New Town Council Meets.


The recently-elected town council met
last Monday evening and assumed charge
of corporation affairs for the ensuing year.
The old council held brief meeting pre-
viously and them adjourned sine die,
transferring the reins of authority to its
successor. The new members were in
their places, as follows: Mayor, J. L.
Waldeck; recorder. James S. Rightstine
councilmen. S. ]. Hodges, ]. K. Show, c.
N. Whiting, R. 6. Miller aud R. N. Mad
dex
In assuming his duties, Mayor Waldeck
said that he wanted to open this meeting
and every meeting OF council with prayer,
and he ttereupon offered a fervent petit
ton for wisdom and guidance as public
official. He then made an address in
which he announced his principles and
outlined his policies. We regret that We
have not space TO reproduce his remarks
in full. He said that he had no axe to
grind. and no interest to serve save the
interest of the people, and he meant to
stand for town governmentfounded upon
Justice to all. He said he did not wish to
follow in the footsteps OF certain men
who had outlived their usefulness as pub
lie officials. He called attention TO the
condition OF the streets after two years OF
neglect, and urged immediate activity in
restoring them to satisfactory order. He
said that he meant TO see to it that the
town clock is kept running and in good
order, and recommended that electric
lights be placed so that the people can
tell the time by night as we'll as by day.
He recommended that important corpora
ton work be done by contract, and ia
vored continuance of the plan under
which the tax collector and the town ser
geant are now employed. He urged tull
cooperation with the fire company, which
should be encouraged in its work.
"PIans and policies amount TO nothing
if there are no funds to carry them out.
II is we'll known that the retiring council
has left the treasury almost entirely empty.
In the published estimates the council
provided for S400 for taking up bonds
$3.50 was to be spent on the streets, and
about $50 was so used; $3.50 was to be
devoted to repair the market-house build
ing, and am reliably informed that il
cost not less than $500. The law dis
tinctly says that money raised for spe-
cific purpose cannot be diverted from that
purpose, yet in the face OF this they lifted
81 400 OF bonds. There is now left two
courses OF action; to float bonds by hold
ing special election, 10 borrow money.
favor the latter course. have vision
OF an improved, clean and sanitary Shep-
herdstown. Let US have the co-opera-
ton that is needed 10 make the vision
reality"
The mayor announced the following
standing committees:
Accounts and Finance-Hodges, Show
and Miller.
Streets and Alleys-Miller, Hodges and
Whiting.
Cisterns and Town Run-Show, Mad
dex and Rightstine.
Nuisances and Fire-Maddex, Whiting
and Show.
Petitions and Observation-Disclosures
slime, Maddox and Hodges.
Electric Lights and WatGr-Whlting,
Rightstine and Miller.
c. n. Whiting was elected treasurer,
his bond being fixed at 81 900. The
empty treasury was subject for discus
sion, and the finance committee was in
structed TO find means by which 1000
could be borrowed to meet the current
expenses OF the corporation until the taxes
are due again. The regular meeting time
for the council was fixed for the second
Tuesday OF each month. The council
adjournedto meet on April 10th at Bop. m.
BY the financial statement OF the cor
poration Of Shepherdstown published
elsewhere in this paper, it will be seen
that the retiring town council leaves in
the treasury the sum OF S54. IS, and there
is not dollar OF unsolicited taxes 10 be
added TO this sum, Collector J. F. Wal
deck having cleaned up his book and
made settlement in full with the old coun-
ell. The incoming council, thus being
without funds TO pay current expenses,