The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-19

to De 49,. assessed on orulnalioo
was discussed at some length.
Finally DIR. Baird moved that the ordi-
nabce be amended 10 correspond with
that of last year, which read as follows:
Upon license to keep an ordinary,
a tax of two hundred and fifty dollars
If the annual rental value OF such ordi-
nary, hotel, or tavern does not exceed
two hundred dollars. But if the rental
value thereof shall exceed two hum
bred dollars, tax of ten per
cent in addition on the excess of such
rental value over two hundred dollars,
and any license granted after the first of
June, 1866, shall pay proportionate tax
Tor the remainder of the license year and
no transfer OF any license shall be permit
ted. The discussion continued, in which
Mr.. Schambra thought it very strange
that Mr.. Hall in the 18th hour should
object to the old method of assessing the
license, when he had acquiesed in it for
several years past.
Mr.. Hall replied tlat "whIle wise men
changed their opinions, fools never did"
His attention had probably never been
called to the matter, and now that it had,
he wished to do justice, and he could
see no Justice in assessing the
st. James or Mcclure House six or
seven hundred dollars Tor their bars
when saloon that did twice or three
times the business should be charged only
three hundred dollars.
Messrs. Stone, Egerter, Blair and Wal.
lace expressed their views, the latter
taking the ground that he was rather in
favor of an increase, than reduction, IN
the license, and that if it was raised 10
$500 year the cry would be ''still they
come" Members having exhausted their
privilege of debate, the question was
called on DR.. Baird's motion by ayes and
noes, and resulted in being carried by 10
ayes to 4 noes.
An additional amendment was offered
by DIR. Baird that the "1st of june be
stricken out and the .'1st of July" be in.
serted when licenses shall be granted at
proportionate rates.
In explanation of his motion DR.. Baird
stated that he had been reliably informed
that there was an organized effort on
foot, by interested parties, to prevent ap-
plications for licenses until after the pre-
sent date June 1st) claiming thereby
that the city's treasury was
in such an exhausted condition
that Council would be compelled to &C
cede to their terms. Furthermore, that
petition had been put in circulation
am ng themselves by the whisky men,
which bound them to cling together in
the movement under forfeiture Of
twenty-five dollars. Some of the mem
bers doubted the story, while others were
much surprised and indignant that, il
true, such a high.handed proceeding
should be undertaken 10 brow-beat and
intimidate Council.
A good deal of feeling was manifested
bv members at this juncture, and Mr..
Wallace moved that the license should
be the same as for the whole year no
matter when it was issued. This motion
was lost.
DIR. Baird's amendment was then put
and carried.
That part Of the ordinance assessing
a license on coffee houses was next taken
up as received from the Second Branch
and read the first and second time. On
the third reading it was amended by
striking out $3.50 and inserting $500 and
also amended so that the time for apple
cations should read to July the first in
stead of June the first,
A further amendment prevailed that that
part which read, "And all ordinances
which conflict with the above, are hereby
repealed" be stricken out, on the ground
that no ordinance existed which could
conflict with 1t.
The ordinance was then put on its
final passage, and passed as amended. 1t
was then sent to the Second Branch for
its concurrence.
The report of the committee on Fire
Department wa. read and concurred In,
with the exception of the resolution in
relation to purcL asing horse for the
the Atlantic engine, which was laid on
the table
The mayor commenced to read a peti.
tion from NJ. Curran, when it was dis
covered that he had not signed it. A
motion was offered To- lay it on the table
Carried.
The resolution offered TO authorize the
Street Commissioner to compel citizens
on Twenty-frst and Twenty-second
streets, to tap the sewers near by, to con-
vey the waste water away, was con-
Cured in.
The resolution IN relation to compel.
ling the proper parties to remove the
Washington Hall ruins, was read, and
after much discussion motion prevailed
to refer the matter TO the City Solicitor.
with instructions to report to Council
what authority the city may have in this
and similar cases.
The license ordinance having been re-
ceived from the Second Branch, and il
having adhered to its original action, q
motion prevailed that this Branch adhere
to its action. The ordinance was then re-
turned to the Second Branch.
There being no further business on the
table, this Branch adjourned.