Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-20

The City Charter Commission con-
vened last evening in the chamber Of the
First Branch OF Council. for the pur-
pcse of receiving the report OF the
subcommittee and celebrating upon
the same. Those present were Cnalr-
man Hazle.t and Messrs. Miller, Bodiey'
r,shs Davidson. Hamilton, PAUL, Lutz'
/ O'Brgen. Kiieves and Attorney hrSAIhe'
The meeting was called 10 oFuet :,
few minutes after eight O'Clock. AItel
! ne minutes OF the meeting OF August
IAN had been read, Col. Miller, chairman
n the subcommittee, reported tha'
since the last session the draft OF the
charter had been printed ana was III
shape 10 ne voted upon.
Mr.. PAUL. moved that discussion De
confined TO such portions as were read
during the session. In explanation ne
said he did nos desire TO see a discussion
Of the whole document when perhaps
only one half OF it could be covered oy
reading at one session.
Il was agreed that the document be
read by sections and discussed as read,
ana this was the order.
Mr.. Ersklne did &c reading, pre-
facing il. however, with statement
that some errors. e;c.. had been pointed
out 10 him, and he would like TO refer
70 them as they were met. This was
agreed to. and 1t was also agreed mat
sections should be adopted or rejected
as read, in regular order.
hoA Z
Tishe moved to strike out lines IA 10
lis. which read: Put no person. al
though in other respects duly qualified,
shall be entitled 10 vots' al any such
election If Re shall have failed TO pay
d. the capi;at!on tax lawfully .-ssed upon
him for the benefit OF said city during
.the year preceding the election"
In explaining his motion. Mr.. Tighe
said ha was opposed to DISTINGUISHING
any vO.er for any reason. II some way
could be found 10 collect the tax without
DISTINGUISHING the voter. he might favor
II. but he did not want 10 see the clause
retained. although il was in the present
charter. with citation TO the constitu-
ton Ct the United States. Further. he
said the retention Of such q clause
would open up The evil of candidates or
political organizations paying The poll
tax OF dalinquents IN bulk for the pur-
pose Of securing thcir votes. That was
q great evil, and in other cities it had
turned out tina, way. Il ought not TO
be nat a msa with money and unscru-
puIous enough to us5 Il in that manner,
should De given an opportunity by the
charter 10 corrupt voters. He questioned
The COnstitutiOuality OF such clause,
in addition 20 all other considerations.
Attorney Erskine said me citation in
the present charter TO the constitution
referred 10 the word white" Another
provision Of the constitution was thai
no Board of Registration should ever be
established. FOR should any one Be de-
pr,ved OF his vote because his name was
not borne upon any poll list. He thought
Il might be proper 20 omit the pro-
vision.
Col. O'Brien said that no matter now
often a man might pay the poll taxes Of
another, he still though, ,haj when 9.
man went into a voting booth, where he
was alone with his God, he would vote
his honest sentiments. He totally dis
/ agreed with Mr Tighe.
Mr. Tighe. q reply, said he knew
what mad been the experience in the
past. He quoted section a of the con-
stitution OF he United States, and then
proceeding said no man had more re-
spect for wOrkinEmen than himself, yet
they were subject TO fr2ildes, Ike
other people and men sometimes made
victims Of others, and were both plaus-
i5ie and Inscriptions enough to buy
others without it appearing that they
had been sold.
Mr.. Erskine, in reply TO a statement
by Col. Miller, said the cons.itutiOnality
! OF The clause in controversy was an
/ open question, and as such was a mat
ter in controversy.
Mr.. Hamilton did not see why a poll
tax only should be required TO be paid.
and suggested that ell other taxea
should be included. He made a motion
to hat effect, which Col. OBrien sec
onded, saying he would vote for it in
that form.
Mr.. Davidson said II nigh; be well 10
require that taxes Of some sort should
have been paid within year.
Mr.. Erskine made quite an explana-
ton, saying he was uncertain as 20
whether or no, such provision would
be haid 10 be unconstitutional. lie said
be d.d no, be~eve that any one could be
certain as % the action of a Court On
that question.
Col O'Drien suggested another
| amendment which pu, all taxes on the
same basis. and said lie thought a man
who would not pay his taxes ought TO
be disfranch.Sed. II was the only
means Of keeping up government. aud
was right which he Believed govern
menj had.
Mr.. Tighe replied, and said Col.
/ O'B-ien's amendment still left il open
I 20 d.sfranchise a voter. and the right of
/ the city 10 Go that was at ,eas. doubt
flu
Col O'Bgien then suggested a read
/ ing: IF ne shall have failed TO pay the
I cCpjtatiOn tax and all other taxes" but
Mr.. H3mi!ton'S amendment as second
/ ed By Co. O'Br.en. was then put. The
result was doubtful. and Col. O'Brien
| called fer a division. Before It was
taken, Col. Miller thought the matter
w8s not in proper shape There was
some further discussion, during which
Il was explained that the effect Of the
amendment would not be to disfran
chise but simply TO place all taxes on the
same basis. Then Col. O'Brien said ii Mr.
Hamilton would withdraw his motion
he would withdraw the second. and he
would support Mr. Tighe's motion to
strike It all out, and this was the final
result. The reading then proceeded.
In Sec. 5, relating to the formation Of
| Cnnncil- Mr. Tighe moved 70 strike ont