Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-29

Mr. WHITAKER knows this is grossly
false. So great was the interest Of the
people Of Wheeling in having the bill
passed that they held mass meeting al
the City Hall aud appointed commit
tee to 90 to Charleston and impress upon
the Legislature the importance OF the
passage Of the bill which was 10 eman-
cipate the city from the thraldOm Of the
electric lighting monopoly and redeem
the clty's revenues. That meeting was
participated in by the members OF
Council, the Chamber OF Com
merce and every public spirited
citizen and had the sympathy Of every
body except those engaged in the light
ing monopoly ana a few interested
friends such as Mr.. WHITAKER. Strange
as it may seem, Mr.. WHITAKER actually
takes the very condition OF things
which have resulted from the control
OF this monopoly, which has caused
the revenues Of the city from the gas
works to remain almost stationary for
wears through inroa9s made by the
/ electric light corporation, and uses this
fact actually as a vindication Of his be-
trayal Of the people into the hands Of
the monopoly. He says:
The financial condition of the city could
not and would not warrant the eXpendl-
/ ture necessary for the completion OF such
a plant as was designed, the erect OF when
has been to destroy the revenue Of Sz0,OOO
10 SO. 600 annually received from the City
Gas Works in addition 70 the Tree lgnJ-
ing Of our streets at the expense or the
gas consumer, and instead of the imposi-
ton of large and growing deficiency In
the city revenues, growing out OF the ope'
rarions of the Electric Light Plant, which
from its inception has been credited with
being q cause Of great expense and loss 10
the city, until the pressing necessity OF
the situation has driven the municipal
authorities 70 seriously consider the I'M
position of a special and direct tax for
street lighting purposes.
And all this is true simply because,
by WHIrAKER's aid, the present electric
lighting monopoly has through the
general change from gas 10 electricity,
largely usurped the functions Of the city,
which before furnished all It's citizens
with light, and has practically taken
the city's lighting revenues and trans
fsrred them 20 It's own pockets, leaving
the city with half used gas plant and
an electric street lighting plant on its
hands which are in very truth, as
WHITAKER says, white elephant, "
though not for reasons which vindicate
WHITAKER, as he would have us be-
lieve, but for reasons which severely
condemn him as a betrayer OF the tax
pavers' interests to further the ends Of
a private monopoly. Mr.. WHITAKER
knows the proposed electric plant to
manufacture and sell electric light to
the city 1Coltld not hare cost the tdrDdy-
crs an additional cent, but would have
paid for itself over and over again
through its own revenues, which are
now diverted to a private corporation,
which gives such dear as we'll as poor
service that many establishments such
as the Mcclure House, for instance,
have found IL cheaper and best TO put
In their own electric light plants which
they would never have done had the
CITY been allowed to furnish cleo
trio light to the people at cost as 1t did
gas.
As a result Of Mr.. WmTAKEE's be-
travail OF the tax payers Of Wheeling in
the interest of the electric light mono
Doly. the revenues Of the gas Office have
not increased Of late as they should,
and the tax payers must be called upon
10 meet the growing annual deficiency
by transfer of funds from taxes.
Whereas, had the city been permitted
to manufacture and sell electri-
light as it does gas not only would the
new plant have cost not one cent to the
taxpayers. it paying for itself, but the
revenues from this source would have
greatly increased, while the peo-
ple would have secured much
better light at first cost, for the
city would have to pay no big dividends
70 stockholders. Twist and befOg his
action on this Wheeling Electric Light
bill as he may, Mr.. WHITAKER cannot
make IL anything but gross and indie
fsnsible betrayal Of the people OF
Wheeling in the interest Of private
corporation. And for this reason alone
Mr.. WHITAKER ought to be overwhelm-
inglv defeated. Indeed, after his cold
blooded betrayal OF them it requires an
astonishing amount Of efrontery aud
implicit belief in the peoples supposed
forgetfulness for Mr.. WHITAKER TO ask
them TO vote for him again.
Ina clumsy effort TO explain, or rath-
er TO beiog, his vote against the bill
In relation to the payment Of laborer's
wages in any other than lawful money,
which is splendid measure intended
TO do away with the infamous company
store-order or ''pluck-me" store system,
Mr. WHITAKER says be voted aye on
every amendment to perfect the bill,
and falling to adopt, for the same res'
son. could not support the bill as drawn. y
Now. Mr. WHITAKER voted for amend
ments to render the bill iROperdttUC
| by the Insertion OF this qualifying