Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-29
An EFFORT THAT FAILED.
The Gas Board Requests the "Twi-
light" Committee
To Turn Over Papers in It's Posses
sion to the Board The Chairman
Refused Without Orders From
Council, and Council Tells tho
Committee to Do as It Pleases.


When all the business before Council
had been transacted, last night, DR..
Taylor arose in the Second Branch and
read a note from President Buchanan,
of the Board Of Gas Trustees, wherein
that gentleman requested the Doctor,
Chairman OF the Special Committee to
investigate the gas works, to turn over
TO the custody of the Board all letters,
papers, etc, in the possession OF the
Special Committee. Addressing Coun-
Gil, DR.. Taylor said the papers had been
given into the care and charge Of the
Committee by Council, when the au-
thority to make the investigation was
given, and he did not care TO make any
transfer of the papers without an ex-
preston of opinion or instructions
from Council He also said he had no
desire TO withhold anything, but pre-
ferred action in the direction stated.
Mr.. T. J. Britt said he did not under
stand the situation very well, but he
saw Mr.. George B. Caldwell in the au-
dience, and asked that the gentleman
be heard There was no objection, and
Mr. Caldwell said, in substance, that
his firm. Caldwell & Caldwell, as repre-
sentatives and advisors of Mr.. Henry
Floersheim, were DESTROYS of obtaining
all the light and all the information
possible upon the charge contained in
the report brought in by the Committee
of Council. They had an expert, Mr..
w. G. Wilkinson, at work upon the
matter, and the books and accounts in
the gas Office had been placed at his
| disposal for examination. In the pro-
! gress of the work, however, Mr.. Wiki
! inson had reed of additional data be-
lieved or thought TO be in the hands of
the Committee. This information was
/ in the form Of papers, contracts run
ming through a series of years, reports
made upon postal cards, letters, etc.
| Mr. Floersheim hadk kept no copies Of his
| letters and other communications, and
herce request had been made of the
| Gas Board to have the papers relating
! to the case and properly belonging in
the archives of the Board, returned to
! the custody of that body, that they
I might be looked at. and the note from
| Mr.. Buchanan to Dr.. Taylor was the re-
! suit. Proceeding with his remarks, Mr..
Caldwell said the only desire upon the
part of his client was to ascertain the
| exact and true facts, and if these facts
! left a balance due the city it would be
paid. The matter was not involved in
litigation and was not in Court; but
the gentlemen engaged upon it were
| simply endeavoring as business men to
| settle differences in a manner usual
| among business men. He simply de-
| sired a inspection of whatever had a
bearing upon the subject, as a matter
of right and simple justice, and could
see no possible objection to granting
the request. Mr. Caldwell was at some
pains to make his request perfectly
clear, both as to the specific request it
self and the end sought to be obtained.
In reply. DR.. Taylor said he did not
want to hold back or conceal anything,
and then Immediately proceeded to ar
que that he could not see what bearing
letters. postal cards, memoranda or
even a contract would have upon the
facts set forth in the books in the gas
! Office Some OF the matter in the pos
| session of the Committee had been pro-
| cured by it at great trouble, from the
| railroads and even from Pennsylvania.
and" he said, that is the property of
the Committee" He repeated that
there was no desire to hold matter
back. vet he would not give it up with
out orders from Council. and his gener-
al manner showed marked disposition
to hang on to things.
Answering DR.. Taylor, Mr.. Caldwell
reiterated his former statements that a
fair and honorable settlement was de-
sired by his client, and to obtain that
end and act fairly and justly to all
concerned everything which might be
of the smallest assistance ought to be
open for inspection. To hold back any
thing would be to act unfairly, and he
did not take it that the city desired to
do that He did not care to have the
documents returned permanently to
the Gas Board at this time. but desired
ar opportunity to inspect them and see
what bearing they had on the charges
against Mr.. Floersheim.
Mr.. Bender remarked that the other
side appeared to be trying to get hold
Of the city's evidence in advance, and
then Mr.. Fair moved that the Commit
tee turn over the papers or copies of
them. as it might see fit. This was
adopted. and its effect is to leave the
whole matter to the Committee to per-
nit an inspection or not, as it may see
fit.
As Chairman Taylor would not turn
them over before. it is safe to say he
will not do so now, although an inspec-
ton of the papers could certainly do no
harm even to the Committee. if they
have no bearing, as the Doctor claims
upon the point at issue.