Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-18
SHOWING IT THROUGH.
THR REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN COUNCIL
AND THB GBRRYNANDBR ORDINANCE.
The Measure Still Pending in The First Branch
How It Was Advanced Last Night
Democrats Protest

Democrats POtst.
The Second Branch Wa called to order
shortly after eight o'clock, Oh motion of
Mr.. Cruise. President Gillslsnd was in
the chair, and seventeen members answered
to their names. President Gilleland very
promptly ordered the reading Of the call,
with the names Of the siguers, ss printed
in the SUNDAY REGISTER, and then Mr..
Allison moved to dispense with the read
ing Of the minutes. Mr.. Cruise called for
the ayes and nays, whereupon Mr.. Allison
attempted to withdraw his motion, bat the
Presiding Officer wonld rot permit it.
Tho motion to dispense was loet, ayeJ II,
noes Z, and the minutes were read. They
covered about sixtean pages, and the read
ing took half au hoar. When the job was
concluded, Mr.. Allison took decided ex-
ception to certain portions OF the record,
and the pr, par corrections were made.
Mr.. Caldwell moved the adoption Of the
amendment, end on that motion moved
for the previous question. The ayes and
NAYS were demanded and the call ordered.
When Mr.. Gruse's name was reached, the
following interesting debate occurred:
Mr.. GIuss-Wm you allow me q mo-
msDt for explanation?
The President-No, sir; not on q vote On
the previous question.
Mr.. Gruse-Al right, sir.
The p~reviOos question was ordered, ayes
Is, noes 8. TEE main question wss then
put, ,he ayes snd nays demanded and or
de,ed, and the minutes adopted, ayes 10,
noes s. Mr.. Cruise said, when his name
was callei:
Il vote no., because tie minutes don't
show the facts"
Mr.. Maxwell moved the ordinance re-
districting the city be taken up. Tn
syes and NAYS were ordered, and the ordi'
nance taken up by a vote Of: ayes 10,
noes 3.
The ordinances was then read by its title
for final passage, bat before the roll Was
called Mr.. Gruss took the floor and said
the action of the majority in passing the
ordinance reminded him of the ste ward re-
fsrrsd to in Scripture. That gentleman was
afraid that when the reckoning day came he
would be dismissed, and accordingly took
meansto make himselfseCure. This was the
case with the majority of this Council, but
the means adopted to make Themselves
solid were far from being creditable They
had q wholeto ONE fear of the wrath 10 come;
they had reason to fear the taxpayers. II
Council had made q proper record Tor u
self there We uld have been no necessity for
a measure such as was being rushed
through here under heavy pressure. EIpe-
cially did he fear for the future IS Iepects
members from the First and Sixth wards,
who were voting away their birthrlgat-
reducing their own representation IN
| Councillor a mess Of pottage.
Mr.. Allison felt called upon to defend the
action of the majority. He said, referring
to Mr.. Cruise
when the Devil was sick, the Devil a monk
would be,
When the Devil was well, a Devil a monk was
he
at is 80 with Mr.. Cruise, who, IS Presi-
dent of the Board Of Commissioners,
Mr.. Gruse-Mr. President, l rise to q
point OF order.
Mr.. President-1State the point.
Mr.. Gruse-The gentleman IS becoming
personal.
Mr.. Allison-Wall, you have besn per-
sonal towards this majority.
Mr.. Gruse-I never mentioned a name.
Mr.. Allison-Well, Tl go on and refer
to the President OF the Board, without
mentioning his name.
Mr.. Allison then launched into q long
draw.out apology for and defenfe OF the
ordinance, in the course Of which he con-
tended the enumeration was q fair one, and
all that could be asked for by anyone.
Mr.. Wheat made an addition to this
apology and defense, aud then Mr.. Young
took the floor and charged directly that
| the motive for the pending ordinance was
| not a proper one, bat it was born Of political
necessity, that the Republicans might per
~pstuate their hold upOr the spoils Of office,
and place or retain certain interested par
| ties in soft places.
The vote was then taken and the ordl.
nance passed, ayes Is. Eoss S-a strict
party vote.
Mr.. Cruise then offered the following
protest:
1--WE the undersigned members of the
Second Branch of Council Of the city Of
Wheeling, do hereby protest against an
ordinance entitled An ordinance to amend
and re-oIdAin an ordinance in relation to
the division of the city of Wheeling into
wards, and the number and the apportion-
ment OF members of the Council Of the said
city, passed November %, 1888, and we
demand to have this protest and our rea-
sons therefor entered upon the journal.
"Our reasons for this protest are: That
the Council has no authority or jurl5dlc'
ton to pass such ordinance; that this Couu-
Gil has no authority to make, as by the
said ordinance is proposed, any re'appor-
tionment, and particularly such as is pro-
posed by the said ordinance; that this
Council has not the jurisdiction and su-
rhority to change the wards OF the city OF
Wheeling, IS is proposed by the said ordi-
nance; that the said ordinance and the
passage of it is q usurpstion upon the part
of the majority of this Council who voted
therefor, and upon the part Of this Council
which attempts to pass the same; that
the said ordinance was introduced and
acted upon to the injury of the
public Of the city Of Wheeling; that 1t
is unjust to and an injury to the people
and citizens of the First ward of said city;
that it is unjust and an Injury TO the citi-
zsns and residents Of the Sixth ward of the
said city; that it was introduced, voted
upon and brought to its present condition,
not only contrary TO law, and without su-
thoriky of law, but as 8 party measure,
and for party purposes and in order there
by to aid the dominant party III the said
Council to perpetuate its power in the city
government of this city, after the next
| election of the Council of said city.