Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-27

Secretary Garden, Of the Wheeling
Electoral Company, Brought Up
the Clause Giving the City the
Right to Sell Electricity, and
Heard Some Recent History, Told
in a Straightforward Manner.
The Commission Refused to Re-
consider the Section-The Board
of Public Safety Question, Leads
to Interesting Thiags-Mr. Tighe
Withdraws.
The City Charter Commission reas-
sembled last evening in the chamber Of
the First Branch Of Council, those pres
ent being Messts. Hazlett, O'Brien, Nc
Gregor, Hamilton, PAUL, Waterhouse,
Lu;z, Tighe and Klieves. Col. Miller
and Mr.. Davidson came in later. Sec
rotary Erskine was also present.
The first section read was Sec. At,
but before it was read Col. O'Brien went
back to Sec. 46, and moved to amend so
as TO make the salary Of the Treasurer
not TO exceed $4,000, 10 be fixed by Coun-
ell. The amendment brought on some
debate during which Col. O'Brien said
bhe offcerwouldh have to have two assist
ANS and give a bond OF $4,000, and tine
salary was inadequate. There was some
question as to whether the word sal
ary'' or compensation should be used,
and Mr.. Tighe moved that IL be salary !,
as he was opposed TO the fee system ana
said "compensa; ION might be interpret
ed 10 mean that he was 10 be pa4u ny
fees. MIR. Waterhouse suggested that Il
be compensation or salary but MI
McGregor said he was also opposed 10
fees. and Mr.. Warehouses; suggestion
left the door open.
In reply 10 lnis Col. O'Brien said that
the commission paid by the city for TAX
collections was not 10 be classed under
the fee system. He thought the matter
might be safely left to Council. II we
cannot, God help us
Mr.. Erskine said the fee system must
no. be COMPOUNDED with commissions
on collections of taxes. There was no
| connection between the TWO things, le-
gal or Otherwise.
Mr.. McGreg0r-With the word com
pensaion" in there, could Council give
he Collector a commission Of three or
ave per cent. on collections?
oIr. Erskine-Yes, certainly; but that
= would not be fees.
Mr.. McGregor-I don't care what you
call it, That is the system l am opposed
10.
Mr.. Davidson fel, the same a5ou, it as
M. NcGregor. He was opposed 10 a
commission. and thought 2 good man
could be found Tor the office on spe-
c.fc salary.
Col. O'Brien accepted the suggestion
If Mr.. Wa,elaouse, in the form OF an
amendment. and j, was adopted so as 10
/ make he section read salary or compen-
Secretary Garden. Of the Wheeling
Electrical Company, was then sTah'eu
the privilege of the floor on Sec. 20, in
w3fcb Council IS given the right 10 sell
water gas and electricity, BON wlthln
( NJ without .he city. Mr.. Garden sald
the electric portion of the proposed
measure was covered By the act OF the
! legislature now in force, by the terms OF
which the city could sell electricity elmer
after IT had bought Out the electrical
/ CcmDanv or wi,hou. that. if the Compa-
nv refused 10 sell He said his Com
/ p ny was now and always had been Will
/ ing 10 sell. al a fair price but !. Wcliu
not be fair to have the city, under the
new charter. enter the field in competl-
lion with his Company, since the city
might sell a. any price, whether II MADE
money or not, for the purpose OF break
ing the Company down. He said his
Company had in times pas, had hard
time. but now was doing well. He
thought the charter ought 10 conform
to The existing State law.
This brought Col O'Brien to his feet,
He began with the statement that If ne
loved anything it was fair play. but ne
wanted 10 say. before Mr.. Garden LETT
tha the city mad, in It's endeayors
lsrore the Legislature, met with The
persistent and heartless opposition OF
The Wheeling Electrical Company.
That Company. also, had did all 1t
could to break down the city gas works,
by giving to customers of the city and
selling electricity just below the cost OF
gas.
Mr.. Garden said his Company had done
nothing Of the sort.
Col. O'Brien-I do not charge yoC, as
an Official Of the Company, Withholding
that. but your people did Il.
NIr. Gsrden-If any one did that, they
I - ,o1r
Col O'Brien said that in addition to
what he had said. city official had, for
consideration. sold out the city by put
bling an exclusive clause in the ordinan-
ce and before he had left the city ne
said he hoped TO be forgiven. but that he
had given the thing away because the
Wheeling Electrical Company had been
ungrsteful. Further than that, the in
fuential end Of the Wheeling Electrical
Company had done all that 1t could to
kill and had killed the Edison Light,
Heat and Power Company. He thought
the city could go On and sell electricity
and he Wheeling Electrical Company
would be powerless to prevent it.
Mr. Garden said his Company had not
done that, either. If any one did II. 1t
was as an individual.
To this Col. O'Brien responded that
Or. Hazlett, the Chairman, was a stock
holder in the Edison Company, and was
quiet and modest gentleman of some
business experience and good sound
memory. and he would agree to what
the speaker had said.
The Chair-Yes, I guess I'll have to
cOrrOborate that
Mr.. Garden again disclaimed any such
action by his Company as a Company.