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

No lily Charter COMMISSION Ultl
again last night in the chamber of the
FRS, Branch of Council. Those pres
ent were Chairman Hazlett and Messrs.
O'Brien, Miller, McGregor, Davidson,
Hamilton, Klievis, Bailey, w. j., and
BCdley, Edward
As soon as the meeting was called TO
order Mr. W. J. Bodley, the remaining
delegate from the Trades Assembly, ten
dered his resignation as a member Of
the Commission. In explanation of his
action, Mr.. Bodley stated that the body
ne had in part represented had with
drawn its membership on the Commits
sion. and he felt in duty bound to obey.
The resignation was accepted.
The Comm .ssiOn then took up several
sections. amendments TO W hich had
been heretofore referred TO Mr.. Erskine
TO be put in proper shape. Such a sec
lion was No. %, and the proposition be-
fore the house was TO so amend as 10
give the city exclusive jurisdiction for
The punishment of leWd, 2scivious and
indecent conduct. Mr. Ershne said he
did not think such an amendment would
have the effect desired, as the general
State lew, giving Justices jurisdiction
over houses Oe i'll fame, would stlll be
in effect until repealed by another gen
eral statute
Col. O'Brien was very much in favor
Of inserting the word exclusive ii for
no other purpose, 10 indicate 10 the
Legislature the great desira0illty OF
such a change in the law as would take
the houses of i'll fame out Of the clutches
Of Justices Of the Peace, who bounded
this class OF women for no other purpose
than the extOrting Of fees. They 90
not seek TO eradicate the crime, to close
ND these houses. or 10 mitigate the evil
but their sole purpose is a merciless,
heartless and systematic piiing up OF
fees" The Colonel continued at some
length. narradng his long experience
on grand juries, and said he was con-
WINGED that if the people could De n
formed Of the facts as they were known
TO the grand juror, officers Of the city ana
newspauer men, the public would be
aroused and demand a total reform.
He thought no more oppOrtune moment
could ever come for a movement in THIS
direction. and he was very strongly in
favor OF some movement, which would
result in a change in the general law
SO as to cover the point 2t issue anu
strike down sw.-m Of D!ackna.lers.
If necessary. he would be very wiling
TO 90 10 Charleston as one Of a com
mi-rea of citizens TO appeal 10 me Legs
Isure. and he would tell that LeglSla-
tI,ro some facts he had no, cared TO tell
here. .,.a ,-,,-,,r ono
Tvr+ioe n put in 10 the Board OF Com
pnissioners a single bill amounting TO
$500. fer himself and cons-aoles' grow
;nr ont of raids for revenue only Oh
ho1ses az i'll fame, and the taxpayers h9I
~ nav the bill. and had proIuDly palu
thousands since. ,,. o-
Mr. Hamilton said the trouble was
10 Justices and Cons;aDles were not
Sled with any regard for fitness.
Almost ANYBODY could be elected 10 s ,'o.l
on office and when once elected tue!
ala not prosecute but persecuteu muse
from whom fees could be eX'or1ed'
The discussion was continued d, sr5aS
1aro.h. Finally the section was aooi' -s"
,,,;t5or- The word exclusive, ~ ana men,
On morton of Mr.. Davidson, the m9I'eI
80 oi,,i7o tba city such authority as Ia
5o-;rsd IN rhe matter was deferred uh-
W, J' Ca r1ot-er could be carefully studied
and some adequate remedy found el'I-
%" c. Inv 9meDdment Of she existing gen
eraI law or otherwise. During 1ns us,
cusst9n several members tooh lS'l
s.r9ng ground against ,his pafuc'''''i'
form of the fee system.
section 81. relating TO licenses was
tbe next one taken up, the question al
i-sre bsirx whether CT not pool rooms
e,o,,l5 bs licensed. The question wa"
raised fh2s a pool room was q 9amol'H5
nlace Dure and simple and quite io1S
st .i.,o ensued. The State law does
ror mention pool rooms, ana mere Is
no esDecial law allowing The city 10 Ievy
a fax. The city does impose a incense
lax of $1,000 however.
C7I. O'Brieu-Who pays the tax!
Mr.. Hamilton-The boys VINO piaI,
.Ae horses. They pay the expenses OF
The Gouses of i'll fame, too.
Mr.. NcGregor was opposed 10 t1a
+birr as pcol rooms were q particularly
nsrnicious form Of gambling. He haq
known Of more than one young man
on Main street who had spent his own
and his employers money and lost his
situation. through buying poois.
The section was finally ado0ted as
nrinted. wilhou. any provision fer pool
rooms. =,
The next section taken up was No. Al,
rrovi9'0g for the election Of the Board
Of Control. The idea was to have Dl-
partisan Board. and NJ. Erskine sub
mirred q draft of q section, by which
minority party could be repres MED on
tba BOARD TIE idea was ,h2- If three
men. all Of one party. should have more
votes nan The candidate Of The minority
09~fv SIN only the two highest should
bo held N he elected, the third giV.ns
nav ~ .4o candidate Of the opposite
,ar+v having the highes- vote cast by
mat party .,., t,~
Bidding any party 10 nominate more
tt - -wo men for the BOARD Of Control,
5rt Mr. Frskine doubted if the resui1
desired could be attained in that way.
T5is Doint. like The others raised early
IN the evening. was debated al eonS'd"
s 81 leng.A. and finally the section
WIS allowed to stand.
This brought ,he Commission down to
iae point where it left of at the last e ses-
SON when Sec. - was adopted. Sec:
= nrascribing The duties and powers OF
~ poorl Of Public Safety. was read by
Mr. Frskine. An amendment was made
s,,o5we~'ng The Beard to appoint a
~ s,re~v MOI 10 exceed 5000.