The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-20

citizens appointed to formulate n new
charter for the city was called to meet
at 7:3O last evening, but It was nearly
$3.50 before n quorum was present. Then
the chairman, DR.. Hazlctt, Col. o'Brlen.
Mr.. j. A. Miller. Mr.. Jacob Britt, Mr..
Alfred PAUL. Mr.. A. r. Campbell. Mr.
NJ. Il. Tighe. Mr.. Thomas Dawson and
Clerk Charles Henning were on hand.
There was considerable delay In get
ting down to business. after the minutes
OF the last meeting and the resolution of
authority passed by the city council
| had been read. Mr.. PAUL moved that
q subcommittee OF three or five mem
bers be named to go ahead and make
draft OF charter, and empowered to
employ lawyer to assist II needed.
MIR. Miller said his original idea was
| that sixteen members were too many,
but council had again referred 10 the
same general committee the whole mat
ter He thought, therefore, that II n
! sub committee were appointed II should
| be required that II should report to the
| main committee from time to time, aud
| not wait until the work was done. He
was afraid some section of the COM
mIttee would be ignored In choosing
the subcommittee.
| Mr. PAUL and Mr.. Dawson offered
! suggestions TO get rid Of the dlillcnlty
| suggested, both favorinG the naming OF
one from each section.
Col. O'Brlen favored the sub-com-
mIttee idea. He thought the commit
tee should include n competent attor-
| ney, who should be constantly present
and be adequately compensated,
Mr.. Britt took the same view. II"
| thought, also. that Mr.. Miller'S idea OF
having the subcommittee report back
10 the main committee as often as pos
slble was wise one.
Mr.. Miller thought the councils mem
bers should have the greatest influence
on the committee. The real worl; would
| in the end really come down to one man,
anyhow. When the constitution OF
West Virginia was reshaped, the work
was largely done by two or three men.
Col. O'ErIen said he thought Col. MIL
Ter had effectively disposed OF his first
argument by his second. II one man
was to do the work he did not see how
all the elements could be represented In
that one fellow.
Mr.. Miller moved to amend the motion
for n subcommittee by making the
| number eight.
Mr.. PAUL suggested that this would
be all right II three members were made
a quorum.
Mr.. Miller said there was man
named Napoleon once. who named
| number OF wise men to make code,
and after It was made he swept 1t all
| aside and made one OF his own, and II
was good code.
Chairman Hnzlett-Hc Is dead now.
MIR. MIller-Yes; but the code still
lives.
Mr.. Tlehe favored cutting down the
| number OF committeeman for active
work. Mr.. Britt moved that the sub
committee number five, with the chair
| man added. The amendments were all
accepted and the motion for sub-com-
mittee OF six. including the chairman,
was adopted.
Mr.. Britt. from the first branch, Mr..
| Hamilton. from the second, MIR. Nc
Gregor, at large. and George Lutz. OF
tho Builders Exchange, were suggest
cd, but DR.. HaZlett ignored all the sug-
Eestions after consulting with members
and appointed the committee as fol-
lows:
\. c. Hamilton. second branch. A. c.
Pahll, first branch. George LutZ, build
ers'SXchangc. j. a. Miller, at large. r.
Robertson. trades assembly, DR.. Haz-
lett. chamber of commerce.
Col. O'Brien offered the following:
Resolved, That In the opinion OF this
hcommittee the mayor should have
authority to supervise generally the
different departments
Resolved, That all present boards DO
abolished and that board OF control
be provided for. which shall have
charge OF all affairs now managed by
the existing boards.
Resolved. That provision be made BY
which all moneys collected for all pur-
poses shall he deposited In n dcposItary
or deposttarics to be designated by
council, and shall be drawn out only on
warrant drawn by the city clerk or
treasurer.
Col. ,o'Brien supported his resolution
with some explanations, especially
dwelling on the way three different
boards will sometimes dig up the streets
was the more forcible because every
body present had seen the same sort OF
thing happen.
Mr.. Campbell agreed with what Col.
O'Brien had said. and suggested also
the ida of having two boards. one TO
make contracts and appointments and
another TO approve or reject them; or
in lieu OF this that the mayor have the
final power Of approval or rejection.
Col o'Brien said he did not offer his
suggestions for debate. They would
require much consideration by the sub.
committee and It's attorney, and he
merely desired that they be referred
10 the subcommittee
Mr.. Tighc said his class Oaborlng
pcople) did not approve or any extern
sion OF the power OF boards. They
thought the final power should rest with
the people.
Col oBricn said he was not here rs
representative OF any class. but he
90 fnr M n tnlFn
all but its proper power from the city
council ard return It to the people
Mr.. Tighc said this met his hearty
approval. Mr.. Campbell said there
ought to be one auditor for oil funds,
and for all the boards. He knew Sc.
nothing wrong In any OF the offices now,
but the system was all wrong. This
Iden II carried out would prevent mis-
takes, such ms the duplicating OF bills.
Thcsc. he feared, were likely 20 hap
pen no things now are.
Col. O'3ricn explained the system In
Use by the state government of West
virginia, which he thought could he
well adapted to city use. He said that
IL mndc frnud impossible. Certain men
had undertaken TO take advantage Of
tho state, by getting n private interest
on public funds, bit John S. Burdettc
had his head chopped OF for that very
reason, and that scheme had never
been undertaken since.
sir. Campbell made some very forci-
bio remarks in support 81 the idea OF
one auditor for all departments
Mr. Dawson spoke Of the need Of re-
form In the matter Of street grades and
tho like, Grade records are not kept
Nv the city on correct system. There
ought TO be some why to keep all the
rcrorhs Of Ern1eF, and all surveys made