The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-12
.GITIZGNS PROTEST.
Against the Unjust Action oi
the Legislature
ON ELECTRIC LIGHT BILL.
Ringing Resolutions Adopted by a
Large and Representative Meet
ing orLradIns Business Men.
Some Very Plain Talk.

Some Very Plain Talk.
The meeting Of citizens held in the P
lice Court room of the Public Buildir
last night to pass resolutions in favor
the passage Of the Electric Light bi
now pending at Charleston as original
presented was the largest and mo-
thoroughly representative gathering {
the people that has been held in a Ion
time. The meeting was for matte
that seemed to commend itself directl
10 the people, and they were there.
Among the more prominent faces il
the room were:
Augustus Pollack, Julius Pollock
Frank Cruise, Peter T. Farrell, Georg
r. Caldwell, Henry stamm, Hon. A. W
Campbell, @. 2. Brown, D. R. Brooke
James B. Taney, s. L. Brice, F. Happy
Anton Reymann, @. W. Seabright, A. 6
Hadlich, John H. Hall, Peter Delaplaine
Louis Colmar, John Koch, William
Ewing, O. F. Brandfass, Samuel Darrab
Henry Miller, A. B. Caldwell, Marcul
Baer, Fidelius RiesteT, William @
Handlan, James Bodley, NJ. ]. 0'Kane
The Mayor announced the object O
the meeting to formulate resolutions ex
pressing the sentiment OF the citizenG
in the matter OF electric lighting, to be
sent to Charleston to influence the Leg
islatuFa to act in accordance with thai
sentiment.
The Mayor announced that he had
been selected for Chairman by the com.
mittee, and on motion Of Mr.. HRdlich
the reporters present acted as secretar.
les.
The Mayor called for suggestions for
Vice Presidents, and the following were
ofFared and accepted:
Peter Delaplaine, NJ. J. 0'Kane, A. W.
Campbell, F. Happy, @. Hess, NJ. B.
Bailey, l. g. Dillon, Frank Cruise. al.
bert Hadlich, Wm. O. Handlap, ]. B.
fancy, F. Riesser, ]. N. Vance, Henry
stamm, ]. @. Divine, S. L. Brice, Geo.
K. Wheat, Anton Reymanu, Augustus
Pollock, VIM. Mccormick, Hon. Robert
q. Cochran, DR.. John A. Campbell, Col.
Thomas 0'Brien, Col. William Exley,
John Il. Hall, P. 3. Dobbins, Mortimer
Pollock, James McAdams, Wm. NJ.
Marsh, Charles W. Ftanzheim, Charles
R. Bshler, Thomas s. Riley and Aug
Warneke.
Mr.. VIM. G. Handlan moved that Col.
George B. Caldwell be asked TO address
he meeting,
The Mayor said the committee had
decided to ask Mr.. Hullihen Quarter to
open the meeting as President of the
Chamber OF Commerce. Mr.. Handlan
withdrew his motion and Mr.. Quarter
was invited to address the meeting. He
was not present and Mr.. Handlan re-
newed his motion, which was adopted.
Mr.. Caldwell said: 81 believe we can
all reCollect when gas in private houses
cost $3.50 @ thousand feet. We now
propose to ask for new and improved
kind Of light. Since then the city took
charge Of the light, aud we now pay
seventy.five cents per thousand. Those
who are in the Legislature opposing the
desire OF the people TO have the city fur.
nish electric lights are anxious to place
the light in the hands OF company
which will work for its own profit and
not for the profit of the people. We all
see the necessity for united action. We
see the corporation, with Its agents,
working against the bill, spnrred on by
private gain and private DESIRE"
He went on to speak OF tho various
used from time to time
against municipal electric lighting, such
as the income Of the gas works being
cut of, etc.
"The Wheeling Electrical Company
used the argument that the city should
not create monopoly for itself against
the company by building an electrical
plant. Now they object to the city com.
peting with them, but ask the Legisla.
ture TO create for them monopoly by
TO let the city compete with
them. do not think the city should
be hampered by an amendment to the
bill forcing the city to buy the Wheel
ing Electrical Company's plant, because
there arc various systems OF electric
lighting, and the system of the Wheel.
ing Electrical Company may not be the
kind that the City Council or the Trus.
tees maydeem the best. 1t is not right
to hamper the city by an amendment
that the city shall not sell electricity for
less than cost. For a short time, until
the business could be placed upon It's
feet and made successful, 1t might be
necessary for the light to be sold at q
figure a little below cost. In any event
the citizens are able TO take care Of theiI
own affairs in such a case"
Mr.. Caldwell in closing, moved that 6
committee of one from each ward be
appointed on resolutions. The following
were then named:
John ]. Kenney, First ward; G. A
Beuter, Second ward; George 3. Cald
well, Third ward; Peter Farrell, Fourth
ward; John Roemer, Fifth ward; FranH
Gruse, Sixth ward; Henry B. Miller
Seventh ward; August Schultze, Eighth
ward.
A telegram from Charleston Rnnounc
ing the amendment of Senator Whitaker
to the bill In the Senate was read by Mr.
James B. Taney. He then suggested
that the resolutions of the committee bt
sent to Charleston by telegraph. Carried
Mr.. Handlau moved that the Telegram
be referred to the committee; carried
Mr.. Tsney suggested that those who have
been using the light furnished by the
private corporation speak for publica
ton and let the people at Charleston
know how tits done. The Mayor ruleC
this out and called for Mr.. A. w. Camp
bell.
ing: ! was one Of those who believed
several years ago that 1t was not vel
TO grant any rights or privilege TO any
private lighting company, because
thought could discern in the future
Just what is now here. Some kinds ol
competition are good aud wholesome
but there is another that is not good
In 1850 We granted to a private CON
pany the privilege OF furnishing ligh
with the provision that at q certain tint
It should revert to the city. Even unde
these circumstances we were confronted
by very sorry spectacle. We had lonJ
arbitration and were threatened witt
litigation. Do you suppose that at an!