Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-06

ed he would be doing a good thing for
the city OF Wheeling. He could not see
that the rights Of the people were in
any way abridged He had made it a
rule when he found the bad elements
srrayed on one side Of a question, to get
on the other side. Every gambler, every
Sunday seller and every brothel keeper
was opposed TO the appointment of 4
Chief Of Police, and he was going 10
take the other side.
Mr.. Davidson said he was not in touch
with the classes described. He did be-
lieve. however. that the Chief could be
controlled by other means. He I'D not
know that the worst classes Of our peo-
pie were opposed TO the appointment,
but he did know that a great many peo-
pie were opposed to that feature, and he
felt that that opposition would kill the
measure.
Col. O'Brien said he made the motion
10 strike out because he wanted the
measure approved by the people, and he
feared it would not be if the Chief was
appointed He did not know that ther9
was any opposition other than that OF
the Trades Assembly. He did not know
that gamblers, saloonists or Sunday
drinkers were opposed 10 the appoint
ment OF the Chief. Mr.. Hamilton ap~
peared to have a monopoly of that
knowledge. He wanted the measure APP
proved, and he wanted it in such shape
that the Trades Assembly delegates
would come back and stay to the end.
lie was just as ready to trust the peO-
pie as he was any Board.
Mr.. Klevis said the gentleman on the
other side had laid great stress on the
fact that the Mayor could suspend
Chief of Police. He had known three
Chiefs of Police who ought to have heen
suspended, but only one Of them was IL
yited to step out.
Mir. McGregor asked whether Col
OBren or Mr.. Davidson knew OF any
city Of 10000 who elected a Chief Of
Police by vote of the people. The gen
tlemen said they did not.
The question was then put on COL
OBren's motion. and it was lost ayes,
Messrs. O'Brien, Miller and Davidson
8. Noes. Messrs. Bodley, klievis,
Waterhouse, Hamilton, McGregor ana
Hazlett-6.
Mr.. Davidson moved to amend by
striking out the whole section, but tlere
was no second. The section was then
formally approved, without further ae-
bate. and with no votes in the negative.
Other sections were then taken up,
discussed and formally adopted. Mr.. Nc
Gregcr offered a resolution directing the
attorney to draft plan for securing free
Transportation over bridges across he
river. within the city, which resolution
was laid on the table for the present
In Sec. 81 provision was made for
the regulation Of parades. The clVli
service features were then read and,
during the consideration of The subject.
Mr.. Ersline took occasion 20 say that
he had. from the first, taken occasion
TO advocate the submission Of this feat
ure. as well as the method Of electing
q Chief of Police. 10 lhs people, but from
one cause or another, his stand had new
err been made public through the papers.
Gel. O'Brien favored the submission
Of the two matters separately and there
was a long discussion Of the legal diftl-
culties in The way Of this, and as to
whether the vote by the people should be
before or after action by the Legisla-
ture. Col. O'Brien moved that the two
points-that is, the civil service feature
end whether the Chief OF Police should
be appointed or elected, be submitted 20
The people as separate propositions.
aside from the main portion Of the char,
Ter. and it was adopted, this election to
be before the charter gCss to the Legis-
Iature. There is al present no provis.
ion of law for elections by the people
of the city, aside from the regular char,
Ter elections and elections upon loans,
but it is thought Council can order q
special election with entire propriety.
II was half-past eleven o'clock when
the Commission adjourned wiJhou!
having completed the work.