The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-25

Tle general committee on the new
city charter met In the first branch
council chamber last evening, aud took
up the new charter by sections as sub
mItted By the subcommittee The
following members OF the general COM
mlttce werc present:
Builders Exchangc-GcOrgc ". Luts,
| Bernard kilcveR
Chamber OF commercials. a. W.
lIazlc;t. Colonel Thomas ODrlcn.
Ohio Valley Trades Asscmbly-M. f..
TIghc.
At largc-lI. p, McGregor and Colo.
ncr Jerry Miller.
Councll-rhomas DavIss1n. Alfred
PAUL, n. C. Hamilton. Edward Bod
ley and John WatcrhOusc.
The committee again took up the
sections. beginning ut section twenty
nine, which had been reached when
the committee adjourned last Saturday
night.
In section 90. which provides for L.
| censCs, bicycles were added.
Section 30. regulating auction sales.
was adopted without change.
Section 81. covering licenses to ga
| looms. hotelSplaCcS of amuscmcnts, etc,
was taken up, and passed without ac-
ton.
Section o., requires licenses for all
stationary engineers. Colonel O'BrIen
said he had been informed that its
passage would work great hardship
II was stated that the section had
been put In at the suggestion OF the
stationary engineers association. 1t
was said that many small establish
ments would be unable to comply with
the provisions Of the sections. The Sec
ton was adopted.
Section 30, provides for punishment
OF persons falling TO take out city IL
censes: adopted.
Section 81 gives authority to open
streets. alleys. etc; adopted.
Section 81, giving authority 10 con-
denim private property for municipal
purposes, was amended So as 10 In
Clude condemnation for the laying OF
compressed air pipes.
Section 20 provides for submission OF
plats Of additions 10 the city 10 coun-
Gil for approval and for appropriate
penalties. Its phrascolOEy was slight
ly changed without making change
In effect. Fifteen minutes were wasted
In doing nothing. practically.
Section 81 providing FOR the laying Of
sidewalks, Curhs, and for paving by
property owners rs well as for n Spe-
citl tax. was read. II was adopted
without change, except in phraseology.
Section 3S,providlng for power to pre-
vent erection OF frame buildings more
, la, 20, fn,t In, hat ~
Section 30. providing fO- submission
o: plans fer buildings to the board Of
public safety, was adopted.
At this point Mr.. Tighe. OF the trades
| assembly. a member Of the committee.
addressed the committee. lie and his
colleague had certain sections 10 in
| trOduCc In which labOr's interests
should be protected. He read the sec
tions.
The first gives council authority 10
do all municipal, work under control Of
city officials without the intervention
OF contractors Or middlcmcn.
The second makes eight hours a le-
gal days work In municipal employ
ment.
The third provides that resident tax
payers shall be given the preference in
municipal employment
The fourth provides for the granting
OF all municipal franchises only after
vote OF the people On IT,
The fifth provides for municipal ow-
| nnrship of water works. gas and cleo
trio plants.
Colonel Miller moved that these pro-
visions he added to the charter, but
| they were taken up separately and
passed. This action does not enact the
| law. but gives council power TO enact
an ordinance In accordance. The eight
| hour day Is made mandatory in plants
| In continuous operation. Mr.. Erskine
Is to reconstruct the several sections
| and present them at n future meeting
The section providing for the granting
OF franchises only by direct vote Of
the people. was discussed Mr.. Nc
| GreGOr suggested that many small
| franchises are granted and that II
| would be too expensive to have cleo
tons. Colonel O'Brien said he knew OF
| two franchises Corruptly obtained
| through the inStrumHHtIlity Of COM
mttee clerk here In Wheeling, and h,
| favored stringent reEulat IrTs In the
giving OF franchises. The section was
laid over until the sections In the char
ter relating to franchises Is reached
| Section 20. providing for the election
| by the people Of mayor, auditor and
| assessor every four years. was discuss
ed. Mr.. TiEhc objected IL tn" length
cncd term OF the city officials. lie NOV
ed that the term be two instead OF four
years. Colonel O'Bricn seconded his
motion. Mr.. righc supported his mo.
ton. Colonel Miller claimed some of
| the officials would not become cilici-
ent until two years. The matter had
| been discussed In detail In the sub
| committee. Colonel O'Gricn favored
the four years term for all with the
| possible exception of the mayor. Mr..
Tighc said capable man can take
| holI Of any office with efficiency at the
start. The proposed change, he said.
| Is radical and Is not supported by good
reasons He also objected 10 one as
SCISSOR instead Of two. liz would not
| knock a man out If cmp yment If il
is possible. Mrssrs. Hamilton and
| IutZ favored one assessor. The uucs-
ton was then put IN the TIghc motion
| lowering the term of office to two
| years, was taken up. but Mr.. LUZ
| proposed an amendment. lowering the
| term If the mayor only, which WAS
| lost. The Tighc motion was tlmn put
and lost, Mr.. TiIh" being the only man
voting FOR IT,
Section Il. providing for the election
| OF board Of control. composed of
| three members. was next taken up.
| Colonel O'lIrlcn moved that the term
be made four years, instead Of six
years. Mr.. TiGhc seconded the motion.
| II was lost, by Il vote of I To !. Colonel
| Miller wanted the board made nom
| PARTISAN. II possible. Colonel OBrlrn
did not H." bow this COnld be done.