The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-21
STRONG OPPOSITION
To the Paying of the Final sloo, 600
to the W. B. g Zoo.
A VERY ANIMATED DISCUSSION
On tho Subject before the Board of
Commissioners Finance Committee
Ycsterday.--F. p. Mcneil and an
Ohio Sian the Professors.

Pursuant to it's adjournment on for
lner day, the finance committee of the
Board CT County Commissioners met at
Ga. m. yesterday to consider the request
of the Wheeling Bridge and Terminal
Company that the remaining 500, 900 Of
the county's subscription OF 100000 to
the capital stock OF the company be
paid over, inasmuch as it was alleged
that all the conditions precedent to tho
final payment had been filled by the
company.
1t was known that there would be
opposition to the payment, and the
meeting was looked forward to with
much interest. The session lasted till
5p. M, with recess OF an hour and n
half for dinner, and it was lively
throughout and exciting at times.i lNO
action was taken, but the COMMITTEES
adjourned to meet September and
have more light" shed on the ques-
ton.
The members Of the commission,
Messrs. .AIcGregor, Cruise, Hall, Koch
and Mckinley, were all present. The
Terminal company was represented by
Mr.. Job Abbott, General Manager Eayrs
and Mr. W. P. Hubbard. Mr.. II. NJ.
Russell, Col. Sutherland, OF Ohio, and
number OF spectators were also on hand,
whiie Prosecuting Attorney Howard
was there in his capacity OF legal adj
wiser Of the board.
Mr. Russell opened the proceedings
with protest against the payment OF
the money.
MIR. RussEIL's OPPOSITION.
He said he was here representing Mr..
F. p. Mcneil, citizen and taxpayer Of
Ohio county. He claimed that all the
provisions OF the ordinance making the
subscription OF 500, UOO 10 the stock Of
the Wheeling Bridge and Terminal
Railway Company had not been COM
piled with. 1t was stipulated in that
ordinance that the last 100000 OF the
subscription should be paid when"
new railroad" was completed ready for
the cars from the west end OF the bridge
to Conversion, in the State OF Ohio,
and this had not been done. The ordi-
nance also restricted charges by the
company for handling cars to g per car,
and this had been violated. He read so
much OF the ordinance as bore on these
two points The Wheeling & Lake
Eric Railroad, he said, was not "a new
railroad" within the meaning OF the
ordinance. At the time the ordinance
was passed that road had been chart
cred, extending from Toledo to q point
on the Ohio river opposite Wheel
ing, and the line was then
constructed to Conversion. 1t was
not the railroad, not such railroad, as
was meant by the ordinance and under
stood by the public. The W. & L. L.
did not fill the provisions OF the ordi.
nance. 1t ran from Toledo to Steuben-
vile, and had only switch to the
bridge. Wheeling was not its terminus,
as it was intended and specified in the
ordinance it should be OF the road to be
built Besides this, the traffic agree
ment between the Terminal company
and the W. & L. L. company was only
temporary affair. liable to be changed
or abandoned from year TO year. 1t
was not in any sense permanent, and in
year from now might not exist and
the county would have no railroad con-
Meeting the bridge and Bowerston, and
it would have no remedy for that state
of affairs. 1t was the duty OF the COM
missioners to guard the county's inter
est, and while the remedy was still in
its hands compel the observation OF
every feature OF the contract.
Mr.. Russellthen dwelt Mt some length
on the restriction OF charges for hand
ling cars by the Terminal company to
81, and declared that the Wheeling 4
Lake Erie, Baltimore & Ohio, Cleveland
& Pittsburgh and other railroads were
charged 81, 81 for shifting and 50 toll
Tor crossing the bridge. This was in d.
rect violation OF the letter and spirit OF
this provision of the ordinance. The
words terminal system" he construed
to mean both the bridge and its ter:
minals, and it was the intent and pur-
pose Of the ordinance to restrict to g
tho charge for use Of bridge, tunnels
and all the other tracks OF the COM
pany.
Mr.. Hubbard interrupted to ask Mr..
Russell whether the shippers OF freight
or the railroad companies paid this
charge.
Mr.. Russell said it did not matter
who paid the charge primarily, the
railroad company would increase its
rates Just that much and tho shipper
must eventually pay.
Mr.. Hubbard said he asked this ques.
ton to develop who Mr.. Russe:ls client
really was,
Mr.. Russell warmly retorted that he
came here Us reputable lawyer,
representing u reputable client, a citi.
zen and taxpayer OF Ohio county, and
ho had right to respectful hearing
on n question in which every citizen is
interested, and without his honesty Of
purpose being questioned.
Mr.. Hubbard thought Mr.. Mcneil
could throw II good deal OF light on the
matter OF who Mr.. Russell appeared for
in reality, and he asked that that gen
tlcmnn DO sent for.
Mr. Russell-Do you mean to inSinu-
ate that l do not represent Mr.. Nc
Nell2
Mr.. Hubbard-Not at all; | had no
such intention.
Mr. Mcneil was not sent for, and after
some desultory talk the committee took
a recess for dinner, to reassemble at $50
p. IN.
col. suTuERIAND's PROTEST.
When the commissioners reassem-
bled Col. L. W. Sutherland, of Smith
field, Ohio, who also opposed the pay
ing Of the remaining 800, 900, addressed