The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-31

Last night the special committee OF
council, the chamber OF commerce, the
Trades Assembly and the citizens at
large, appointed at the instance OF the
city council to consider the proposal to
make new city charter, held its first
meeting. There was very full Mt
tenclnce. The committee as appoints
cd. Is made up as follows:
First branch OF cOuncll-Messrs. A:
PAUL, ]. a. Britt, Charles Ebeling and
Thomas DAWSON.
H. Campbell, E. Bodley and John Wat
eriiouse.
Ohio Valley Trades and Labor AS
sembly-M. T. TIghe, Richard Robert
Chamber Of Commerce - Thomas
o'Bricn, DR.. n W. Hazlett.
Builders Exchangc-Bernard RficV-
es, George W. Lutz.
At lnfge-J. a. Miller, II. p. Nc
Gregor.
Messrs. PAUL, Kileves, Lutz and Nc
Gregor did not appear. Colo Brlen was
present, but had TO excuse himself and
leave. He said. however, that he was
heartily In favor Uf the movement and
his corporation could be counted on.
Mr.. Campbell moved thnt DR.. Hazlett
be chosen chairman, and this motion
was adopted unanimously. Mr.. Camp
bell said he thought the committee
could not do more than organize and
decide II a new charter WAS really
wanted. He said the clerk had written
10 other cities for copies of their char>
tiers, and a few had been received.
Mr.. Thomas Dawson said he thought
the first thing 10 decide was II new
charter was needed. He hoped TO hear
from some OF the gentlemen present
who had been connected with the city
government in years past As for him
self, he thought there was need OF n
change.
Ex-Mayor ]. A.Afiller said there were
faults In the present charter, but any
charter that might be formed would
meet with objections. To oVerdo the
tfing or under-do II would be unPopu-
lar. II was delicate subject. In his
Wow. The first charter Of the city was
issued In 1906, and the last new one In
1886. II was sixty years ago thNt any
Systematic changes were made, and
there certainly ought to be great I'M
pnOvements in city governments In
that interval.
Mr. Robertson thought as repre-
sentative OF The working classes. that
n new charter was badly needed He
expressed the pleasure OF himself and
Mr.. IlEhe at being on this committee.
AIr.STlghe thought the first thing TO
do was % become c6nVersant Win the
present charter. Mr.. Campbell thought
the ordinance book would give II GOOD
idea OF the organic law OF the city,
Mr.. Hamilton moved TO have each
member not In possession Of COPY of
the laws. furnished with an ordinances
book.
DR.. Hazlett suggested that 1t might
be better first to adopt O resolution de-
clnrlng the sense OF the committee that
new charter was required or advls-
able.
Mr. Robertson moved that the COM
mlttee express Its sentiment that new
charter ought TO be had, and that the
committee proceed TO formulate one.
Mr., Miller called attention 10 the fact
that no secretary had been formally
chosen, and Mr.. Charles Henning was
elected. As clerk OF all council COM
mittees ne was already officiating al
the desk.
Mr.. Robertson's motion was then
adopted, and the motion to furnish
toch member with q copy OF the ordi-
nance book was also passed.
Mr.. Dawson said he did not think the
committee could do a great deal ul.!t
the members were posted MS 10 the pre-
sent charter ana had time to form az
idea Of what changes Il was desirable
20 make. He moved therefore, % Rd-
tourn 10 meet again at ne cali OF Chair
man Eazlest, and the committee ad-
jouTned.