Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-24

A very important session of the
Council Committee on Ordinances was
held at the City Hall, yesterday after
noon. The main subject up before the
body was the reimbursement of the rates
of wharfage. and there was a strong
delegation of river men present to look
after their interests. The river men
before the Committee were Captain
Henderson, Of the Pittsburg and Gin
cinnati Packet Line, Captain Booth,
Captain Thomas and Captain Kemple,
while Mayor Caldwell, Wharfmaster
Norrington and City Solicitor Boyce
were also in attendance.
The rates prescribed by the present
ordinance are by far the highest on the
river. and under the law as it stands
boat like the Virginia would have to
pay something like $3.50 for the privil-
eye Of landing and putting off pas
senger or a barrel OF apples. Since
the agitation of low wharfage, now
ever. the rules have been suspended,
generally speaking, ana an unohlclaI
reduction in rates has been made,
while some of the boatmen have not
been paying. hoping for an early
change in the rates. while others have
paid under protest. One suit was
brought by the wLarfmaster, to make
test of the law. and a judgment was
given against the city, before a JUS
tice. on the ground that the charges
imposed by the city We're excessive,
and the opinion was expressed by the
CITY Solicitor, yesterday, before the
Committee. that in case the case was
carried up to the Circuit Court, the
judgment of the Justice would very
probably be affirmed and the city be
thrown out.
When the session of yesterday was
opened Captain Henderson addressed
the Committee. explaining in detail the
late discOuraging features of attempts
to do business on Vie river, and con-
trasting the present condition with
those existing years ago, when the
present city ordinance was enacted.
He said the river men did not go to
the extreme Of asking for free wharf
age. but they did want a revision and
reduction of rates. He said that some
cities having the largest river business
were recognizing that the best policy
was to remove all restraints OF trade
i'm that line. and he instanced New
Orleans. which had totally abolished
wharfage and shipping rates which
brought into the city treasury the i'm
mense sum of 100000 year. He re-
ferred to the small size of the Wheel
ing wharf and recent entertainments
by railroads. and the generally indif-
ferent condition of the landing, while
he said of all the money collected from
the boats. less than 500 was annually
spent on the wharf. while the rest
went to fix up streets in remote sec
lions of the city. Captain Henderson's
remarks were listened to with close at
tentiOn.
The draft of the ordinance before the
Committee was then read. The sched-
ule provided a fee of SOC for boats OF
less than 100 tons for the first twenty
four hours. or any part thereof, and
25c for the second twenty-fOur hours.
or any part thereof; 75c and SOC for
boats between 100 and 200 tons SlOO
and 75c for boats between 200 and 300
tons: 81 % and 81 90 for boats between
500 and 400 tons. and ST. and $1.25
for boats larger than 400 tons. THESE
rates. while lower than the old schedule,
were still much higher than those of
other cities. and the discussion was re-
sumed by Captain Henderson and be-
came general. Captain Henderson
read a well-prepared article which is
to be submitted to the Congressional
Committee on Rivers and Harbors,
showing the difference in freight rates
between Wheeling and cities in the
South and West, by rail and by river,
and made a very interesting cOmpari-
son Of the benefits of cheap river trans
portation. City Solicitor BOyce follow
ed with a statement of the legal aspect
of the matter and his desire to see the
rates made as low as circumstances
would permit. and was followed by
Councilman Thomas Britt, who adyo-
Gated free wharfage and a small salary
for the wharfmaster to look after things
generally and keep the river front in
proper order He said that instead of
charging boats for coming to Wheeling,
it would be far better for the communi-
ty to pay them something to come.
After a great deal of talk, during
which all the rivermen and most of the
Councilmen and others present eX-
pressed their views, the schedule was
further reduced and simplified until it
now reads: All boats under 800 tons
soc. over 300 tons. $1.O0. This rate is
entirely satisfactory, and will be in
corporated in the measure.
The Committee recommended an or
dinance making general appropriations
for the months of April and May, and
then adjourned.
MRS. ELEANOR MAGEE.