Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-14
A FREB-FOR- ALL EIGHT
IN COUNCIL OVER TaE GARBAGE CONTRACT,
LAST MIGHT,
And toe Health Committee Knocked Out in Two
Rounds-A Big Crowd at the Ring-S;de.
Personal Interests Paramo1nt-Charles
Becker Gets the Contract.

Becker 6e.S me contract
Long before the converting Of last
evenings session OF Council there were
surface indications that a concerted
effort was to be made by unsuccessful
garbage contract bidders and their
friends, in aud out OF Council, to upset
the report OF the Committee on Health,
recommending that the contract for the
two years from May st, be awarded 10
William Carney, and either give it TO
some one else, or have the whole matter
referred back TO the Committee.
There was quite a strong lobby OF
unsuccessful bidders in the Second
Branch when that body met, and they
manifested q lively interest when the
report of the Health Committee came
up. And what time there was.
When that portion OF the Committee
report, recommending that the garbage
contract be let 10 Mr.. Carney. and re-
citing the full list of tweDty-lour bids
received, had been read, with the &C
Comparing resolution letting the con-
tract, Mr.. Kennev said he would like TO
know how and why the Committee had
ignored the name OF Mr.. Becker, who
had worked for the Water Board for
years, and who was reliable and re-
spOnsible man.
Mr.. Cruise said be supposed Mr..
Kerney was looking out for the First
ward bidder The Committee recon-
mended a Sixth ward bidder, yet some
Of the people down his way wanted TO
know why others had been ignored,
as Mr. Becker had been.
Mr.. MllIigau moved TO substitute the
name Of Charles Becker for VIM. Car
ue7, and the sum OF $4,000 changed
for SIP. 100, Mr.. Becker's bid.
Mr. Zoeckler said Mr.. Becker was a
good man, and could give as good bond
as any one.
Mr. Cruise said the resolution was all
right, but 10 didn't answer the ques-
tions propounded by Mr.. Kenney and
himself. This was the time and place
for explanations. he knew Mr. Carney
TO be a good man, and one who would
40 the work, or if he didn't do it, coulo
be made to do 10. The same thing was
true of the bidders from the Sixth ward,
three in number.
Mr.. Delters, from the Committee,
made an explanation, saying Mr.. Car
ney had been picked on as thoroughly
reliable man, but the speaker thought
Messrs. Becker and Thomas Coffee were
just as good men.
Mr.. Keuney didn't think the Commit
tee had given due weight to the claims
of Mr.. Becker
Mr. Maxwell thought the report OF
the Committee was rather peculiar, and
that 10 would be good policy for Council
to give the contract to the lowest re-
liable bidder.
Mr.. Deiters said the Committee had
concluded the work couldn't be properly
done for the lowest bid, as it was
only few hundred dollars above the
present contract
Mr.. Burke moved to refer the whole
matter back 10 the Committee, saying
to Mr.. Kenney: eve have a bidder who
is just as good man as your man is. 4"
Mr.. Kenney couldn't see the use Of
referring back, and Mr. Milligan said
because the matter had been treated as a
farce for fifty years, was no reason
such treatment should be contipued.
The people have about concluded
Councllmen are a lot OF blockheads-
and l believe they're about right"
Mr.. Maxwell was opposed TO any
further reference, and recalled the fight
of six years ago, when the contract was
not let until July.
Mr.. wicker wanted TO go into the
matter, aud let every bidder have a
chance; and Mr.. Hamilton said the
matter had already been referred once
too often. The contract ought TO have
been awarded on the first bids.
Mr.. Cruise said Mr.. MaXwell's idea,
endorsed by Mr.. wicker, of giving
every bidder a chance, would make il
necessary TO commence with the very
lowest bidder, and at the same time TO
ignore a hard-Workiug Committee. He
thought the best and safest thing 10 do
would be 70 refer the matter back for
an explanation OF why they made a Sc
lection. He would ask for 90 more bids
under any consideration. He thought
the Committee was better able
TO deal with the matter than the aver
age member of Council.
Mr.. Milligan resented the idea that
the average member Of Council knew
nothing about il.
Mr.. Burke amended bis motion to re-
fer for new bids, so as TO make it sim
ply call for information as to why Mr..
Carney had been selected.
Mr.. Kenney again sounded the praises
oI Mr. Seeker as a good and reliable
man. Mr. Muligan made some strong
intimationS about certain members re-
signing. and then vote was had on
Mr.. Burke's motion TO refer, and IL was
lost, ayes s, noes is, the former Messrs.
Britt. Burke, Cruise, kreiter and
wicker.
Mr.. Maxwell then called for the pre-
vious question on the motion 20 insert
the anne Of Charles Becker, at Sl2, 100.
When Mr.. Gruse's name was called,
he said 20 vote for the previous Ques-
ton vas 70 make it impossible for any
member TO vote for any other man than
Becker. That was small, unjust, IN
fair sud wrong 10 the Committee.
lie voted no. Mr.. Hamilton said
he was in about the same frame of mind,
and also voted no. Mr. kenney said,
when his name was called, be intended
nothing in the way OF criticism OF the
Committee. Mr.. Maxwell said he stood
inst where Messrs. Cruise and Hamilton
stood. and with some more remarks be
voted no. Mr.. Milligan said be did not
want TO explain his vote and voted aye.
The vote stood ayes TO- noes IL, and the
malu question was not ordered.
NJ. Maxwell then moved 20 award