Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-23
CHARGES OF BRIBERY.
A SENSATIONAL ARRAY At THE CITY
HALL, LAST NIGHT
One Of the Committee Rooms the Scene Of Angry Con-
tentOn, Which eliminates in Blows The
Cause Of the Trouble.

The reporters will get first class item
out of the City Hall some Of these fine
DAYS, unless the the bellicOse disposition
of some of the members of Council can
he brought under control and their appe-
tite for gore appeased outside the limits Of
the building. Last night there was
lively racket in one of the committee
rooms, in which a charge of attempted
bribery was openly made by a member
of Council, and out of this
charge grew a sensational and
spirited quarrel, which eliminated IN
blows. To give our readers proper idea
OF the origin of the row it will be necessary
to 20 back few days and catch the Incl
dents which led to the trouble as they were
enacted.
For two weeks past the Council Com
mittee on Health has had an advertisement
in the city newspapers calling Tor pro
pOsals for the construction OF hrepr0ol
building to shelter the new gar
haze crematOry on the summit of Wheel
ing hill. In response to this advertise
ment three bids were handed in, one by
Charles Miller, a member OF the Second
Branch of Council, one by Louis HartOng,
and one by Charles :. Rca, n mechanical
engineer, of Pittsburg. The bids closed at
noon on the 18th, Friday, and that even
iny the Committee on Health WAS called
to upen them, and recommend the lowest
and best to Council. Early Friday even
ing James NJ. Todd, h. r. GalligIn, and
Charles Miller We're sitting IN the outer
Office of the Board of Public Works, when
Mr.. Rca came in. \ general
conversation ensued. After time Rea
expressed desire TO obtain the contract,
when Galligan, who is noted for his prac
teal Jokes, with view to having 1
little fun at Rea's expense, asked him
How much is there in this thing for
u.s." referring to Miller and himself.
Rea S;ud:-
"IIow much do you WANT
ooh, | don't know, replied Galllgan
| what is the amount Of your bid!'
Rea, not knowing that Miller had bid
in, blurted ont:
mine hundred and fifty dollars
Galligan saw that Rea had given him
selfaway, hut said, to carry out the
joke
"YOu ought to give more than that.
Just then the telephone rang i'll the in
side office, and Barney went over, Miller
following him. The two were in the room
but moment, when Rea, who had been
left alone, Todd going out some moments
before, also stepped in, and the converse
ton was renewed, Barney saying, ''Oh,
guess twenty-five dollars will do us.
Rea Said something about changing his
! bid, but Galligan told him that he couldn't
do that, and made come remark about
throwing Rea out of the window for the
suggestion. The chairman of the com
mittee, Mr.. George h. Caldwell, Dr.
Garrison and reporter then came up
| stairs. and the crowd i'll the
Board of Public Works office
adjourned to committee room.
: No other committeeman appeared, how,
ever, and after waiting half IN hour or sc
the chairman adjourned the meeting until
last night.
The twenty-five dollar incident was talked
over about the City Hall the next day
Saturday and there was good deal o
fun had ut Mr. Rea = expense, but no one
for moment thought it would be reverted
to again.
Last night, shortly before : o'clock, the
members of the Health Committee and
others interested again gathered i'll the
committee room, there being present, When
the bOdyi was called to order Chair
man Caldwell, and Messrs. Miller, Brice
Buchanan, MyleS and Schultz, of the Com
Emittee; Clerk Gllligan, Health Officer &. l.
Garrison, DIR. George Baird, Mr.. Rea, Mr.
Louis HartOnS, and 4 brace of reporters
The chairman announced that there were
three bids for the construction O
the building, hut before they
were opened Mr.. Miller asked leave
to withdraw his bid, saying he would give
reason later in the session. The leave
asked was granted, and the remaining bids
were read, Mr.. Rea offering to construct an
iron building 5OND feet and ~ feet high
for $3.50. the work To be done by Carroll x
Co, of Pittsburgh, and Ia he completed
within thirty days, while Mr.. HartOng Of
fered 20 construct q building of the same
dimensions, partially of wood, for the sum
of 1915.
When the bid of Mr.. Rea had been
read Mr.. Miller took the floor and said
he would not vote for Carroll Il Co. under
any consideration, for their agent had
tried to bribe him. He had been offered
twenty-five dollars for his vote, "and
that villain, pointing to Mr.. Rea) had
the audacity TO do itr'
Mr.. Real did not do it.
Mr.. Miller-You did, and can prove it
by Barney Galligan.
Mr.. Rea-UpOn my honor did not
Mr.. Miller-Iou're liar! YOu fol-
lowed me down stairs the other evening,
and offered us twenty-five dollars apiece.
Mr.. Realm sorry this misunderstand-
ing has occurred. l did not attempt to
bribe any one.
Mr.. Miller-Iou did, You scoundreli !
tried to get away from you.
Mr.. SchultZe-l move to reject the bid.
The Chair told Mr.. Rea he could make
an explanation before the motion WAS put,
and ut this invitation Rea made n state
ment in which he acknowledged he
had said that if he got the contract there
would be twenty-five dollars "apiece" in
it, but said the remark was made in fun.
He had come to Wheeling AZ an honorable
man, and had no intention OF offering q
bride at any time.
Mr.. Miller here broke in, and the quar-
rel between him and Rea was resumed.