Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-28
A HOT TIM r
over the Liquor Licenses-Charge
Against City OnicerS-Talk andSotes
Consistent and Inconsistent.

There was merry hell in our Branch to
night" was the remark of member OF the
First Branch OF Council last night The
remark contained much more truth thar
poetry or refinement. and when the mem
Der continued: There will be a racket
when the record is known" his remark
was equally true. The racket was already
had in the Branch, and was over the liquor
licenses. y whole raft of them had been
received from down stairs and most of them
granted. Messrs. Criswell. Simpson, Viii,
son and WOlyingtOn asked, in the begin
ming. To be recorded as voting no on all
licenses and they consistently adhered to
this course throughout. When the appli-
cation Of Henry Bauer came up, Uncle
John Boring hOisted his temperance ban.
ner and made Il speech against the grant
ing of the license. lie said Bauer kept q
dlSurderly house, and the Branch By vote
of to Is refused the license.
About this time Mr. John Armstrong, OF
the lower branch, came up with list OF
the indictments aud confessions before the
Circuit Court. He had q consultation with
Mr.. CriSwcu. and the latter, with Mr..
Simpson, kept his eye on the list during
the remainder of the session.
Presently Henry Lehnert's name was
reached, and Mr.. Simpson immediately an
who confessed judgment.
Mr. Butterield, who had been on the
Grand Jury, told that beyond q
doubt Henry's indictment was q
put up job and that he confessed judg
ment rather THAI employ lawyer and
bother about the courts. Other members
testified 10 llenry'S good character ami to
the orderly condition Of his house. Mr.
MyleS made telling speech showing how
sueaking indictments were often made, but
in spite of all OF this, the branch refused
to grant the license, NJ. Hall turning the
scale by voting no.
An interesting scene occurred during this
discussion. Mr.. Wilson had the floor and
said about this: Every Offerse against the
laws of the State is an Oitense against the
city law. But the city don't get them
They know when and where TO get them
and they take care not TO have them ar
rested twice during the same year, virtu
ally making the charge that saloon OtienscS
were COnnived at.
Mayor Egerter-"I am very sorry the
gentleman from the First ward has taken
occasion to charsS the city government
with lack OF duty"
Mr.. Wilson, hoiiy-"Mr. Mayor. my ac
ton needs no apology. What [ say | am
ready to stand by, and what | have said
every body knows.
The Mayor shrugged his shoulders and
proceeded with the next license. Presently
came that OF Frank J. Lutz. and NJ. Simp
son made the announcement that he had
confessed before the court Mr.. CriSweli
said policeman had come To him recently
and said Lutz kepta most disorderly house
and he lthe Otiicerl feared a murder OF
other CriuR would be committed there
ON this, the Branch refused TO grant the
license. The ayes and noes were demanded
and the vote was as follows:
Ayes--Butterfeld Miller, Myles and
Schultz.
Noes Boring. Criswell. Fritz, Hall. Hull
McAdams, Simpson, Wilson and Woling
tom.
\ few more licenses were granted and
Mr.. Hall asked to be excused, on account
OF severe headache. Mr.. Wilson also
asked to be excused, and the mayor said h.
felt called upon, under the circumstances
TO refuse all such requests. Mr.. Wilson
moved Mr.. Hail BE- excused. but Mr.. But.
tertield objected, saying he wanted every
nan to vote, so no excuses were given.
Presently Mr.. CriSwell came to the front
again with his confession list and Messrs.
Buttsrfeld and MyleS grew very indignant
the former saying he was not disposed "a
anchor his faith on John Armstrong; list
and the latter that We had our own Munich.
pal Court for such cases. Mr.. Hall made
the point that unless the keeper of coffee,
house were twice indicted the ordinance
did not compel the Council to take cogniz
ance of il, and not even then, unless re
ported by the clerk, and the license was
granted. After that every thing ran
smoothly along.
In the Second Branch everything wen
along without interruption. A test case
was made of William Enters license, but
it went through. John Armstrong alone
voting no