Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-02
BOARD Of COMMISSIONERS.
The New Vault Proposition Caused a
Lively Discussion,
And was Finally Referred Back to
the Committee-President Dob
bins Said an Injunction Would be
Asked--Elections to Fill Num-
Der Of Positions Under the Board.
The Routine Business Transacted.

Der Of Positions Under the Board.
The Routine Business Transacted.
One of the liveliest meetings of the
Board of County Commissioners which
has been held in recent years was that
of yesterday. 1t was marked by a bit
ter fight over the recommendation
of the Court House and Jail Committee
that new vaults be built in the county
offices. The Register called attention
to this matter on Sunday. 1t came up
in committee reports in the early part
Of the proceedings. When Clerk Moi
fat had concluded the reading of the
recommendations of the Court House
and Jail Committee, Mr. DObbins call
ed Mr.. Hare to the chair and took the
floor to oppose the appropriation asked.
The committee recommended that
the vaults in the offices of the county
clerk and clerk of the Circuit Court be
refurnished throughout by removing
the wood work and replacing it with
steel. Ii was the intention to place
the wood furniture in the vaults I'M
derneath those mentioned, which are
of the same size. The committee rec
commended that the work be done by
the E. E. Baker Specially Company, of
Pittsburg, at a cost of $437330 for the
county clerks office, and S3,9S1.02 for
the Circuit Clerks office, one-half of
hn f,rsf MT 70 in moi hon
completed on June 18TH and the re-
mainder in thirty days thereafter, the
latter to be completed June 18th and
paid for one year thereafter.
When Mr.. Dobbins took the floor he
stated that he could not see the neces-
sity for doing the work at this time.
The county owes $4,000 in bonds, the
losses by floods will necessitate an out
lay of about $4,000, and several thous
ands of dollars have been expended in
improvements 10 the poor house. In
der the circumstances the proposed eX-
penditure would be wasteful eXtrav-
agauce. 1t certainly looked peculiar.
Mr. Dobbins referred to the talk on
the streets which limited that there
was a Job somewhere. Mr. Nc
Gregor took the floor and spoke in the
same vein in opposition to the recon-
mendation. He moved to refer the re-
port to the Finance Committee, but af-
forwards withdrew the notion and Mr..
Fritz moved that the recommendation
of the committee be approved and the
President instructed to sign the con-
tract This motion carried, ayes
Fritz, Glass, Faris, Hess, Tyson and
Kindelberger; noes-Birkett, Dobbins,
Hare and McGregor. Mr.. Dobbins
then stated that he did not think it
would be necessary to sign the con-
tract as an injunction would be ap-
piled for within twenty-four hours to
restrain the county from making the
appropriation.
This settled the matter for the time
being, but it came up again just before
adjournment, when Mr.. Kindelberger
motion to reconsider the vote was
adopted Mr. McGregOr renewed his
motion to refer to the Finance Com
mittee. He had little tilt with Mr..
Fritz. The latter thought that if he
committee could not be trusted to
transact its business honestly without
the supervision of the Finance Com
mittee, it was about time the Court
House and Jail Committee be discharg-
ed. Mr.. McGregOr thought the amount
was large. If it was a matter of a few
hundred dollars it might be different.
He regarded it as peculiar that in
matter involving such a large outlay
of money the committee did not think
it wise to give the Board the benefit of
competitive bids After further dis
cussion, Mr.. McGregor withdrew his
motion and Mr.. Kindelberger moved
to refer the matter to the Court House
and Jail Committee, with instructions
to bring up the matter in the commit
tees appropriation.
A considerable amount of business
was transacted in addition to the con-
sideration of the report of the Commit
tee on Court House and Jail. Commit
tee reports were approved and bills or
dered paid as follows: