Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-14

transacted.
Last night was the regular meeting
night of the Benwood Council, and
what was expected to be a tame session
developed into a stormy meeting for a
while. The proceedings were enllvened
by an impromptu mill" or what is gen.
orally known as scrap" The Mayor
the Councilmen and the assembled
spectators were treated to the unusual
spectacle OF two of the Councilmen en-
gaging in a regular tisticuff.
The affair started over the question
of removing the former City Assessor,
VIM. Seabright, from office. At for
mer meeting of Council it was voted to
ask for the resignation of Mr.. Sea-
bright on the ground of neglect of du-
ties-that he had made erroneous as
sessments and in many cases had failed
TO make any assessments at all. Sea-
bright's resignation had been asked for
but had not been received up to the
time of last nights meeting. The mat
ter was discussed at some length by the
members of Council.
brights resignation had been asked for,
he had been around making his assess
ments as usual. Another remarked that
Se2bright was permitted to continue in
Office that they would have the same
trouble with his accounts as previously.
C. II. Seabright, one of the Councilmen,
and a cousin of the Assessor, defended
the Assessors conduct and endeavored
to explain many of the objections which
had been brought against him. He al
legged that many of the mistakes and er-
roneous assessments credited TO Sea-
bright were the fault of the City Ser
geant This statement brought James
Geraghty. another Councilman, to his
feet. Geraghty declared forcibly that
this was no matter for equivocation;
that the Assessor was guilty OF the
charges brought against him; that CITY
Sergeant Porterfeld was doing his duty
like a man, and that bulldozing on the
part of Seabright (the Councilman
would not go.
Councilman Seabright jumped from
his chair. white with anger and strobe
across the room to where Geraghty was
standing and vehemently declared that
he was .no bulldozer," that he was
every inch a gentleman Seabrlgnt
nushed his clencned fist in Geraghty S
face and the latter tried to evade an
encounter. Seabright struck at Ger
agility and before any of the Councllmen
or others could interfere the men we're
showering blows on one another. they
clinched and had hold of each other s
Threats when the Mayor, several Coun-
cilmen and an officer managed TO get
them apart The officer told both TO
consider themselves under arrest and
the proceedings Of the Council were
continued.
The fight. however. had seriously dis
+urbed the uuietus of the meeting, ana
forced a restraint upon the rest OF the
session. Following this the question OF
the AssessOrsbip came up again ana
was settled. tie Office being declared
vacant upon a motion made by Michael
DoIan Dolan then moved to go into
the election of a new Assessor. rms
was carried. Dolan nominated sam
Blake for the vacancy. No other nom
nations were made and Blake was
elected. receiving five votes of the eight
Councilmen present.
Other matters were brought up ana
disposed of. An account of Weighmas-
fer carp was passed upon. Mrs. New
lin was granted the right to build
nrivate sewer. The water works COM
mittee was not ready to report yet, as
tbev were expecting the City Engineer
tn make some surveys before they
would be ready to offer an ordinance.
Ceragbtv moved that VIM. Seabrights
bondsmen be not relieved until Sea
bright's accounts had been examined
and audited Geraghty, chairman OF
the Finance Committee, recommended
the cutting down of the Street Commls-
missioners appropriation for cleaning
tho streets. Street Commissioner Mar
fin was present and objected to some OF
the suggestions of Mr.. Geraghty.
The question of the new sewerage sys-
tenn came I'D in the form Of motion
that the city build the sewers instead
If being let out to private contractors.
This was strongly opposed by Thomas
Doeqan The motion was lost. likewise
. motion for the city to buy the sewer
nine instead of the contractors. 1t being
alleged that the contractors made so
on each carload of pipe and that the
citv should get this profit instead OF the
contractors. The motion of Deegan'
that all the contracts be let out to the
Ioyveet responsible bidder, prevailed. 1t
ITas tho desire of Council to give the
contracts TO Benwood parties if posi-
bIo nils TO the amount of S92l.1S, pre-
eantod Inv the Finance Committee were
ordered paid. The City Recorder was
instrncted TO write another letter to the
STATE Auditor and ask for the remit
fonce of taxes due the corporation OF
Benwood. The applications of VIM. ?.
Cnrran and Louis Goegelein for saloon
licenses were received, with bonds, and
fled The Recorder reported that ne
bo oI' received communications from the
towns Of Clarksburg Grafton and Sis.
tersyille. relative to the question OF
ownership of the water WORKS, ana t
resnonse stated that the water systems
were owned by the municipal and not
nv private corporation. s,,
Following the adjournment OF Councii
the ' two fghting members were tried
NV tne the Mayor for fighting. Geraghtyy
ord Seabright both pleaded guilty, ana
a enJ was fines ,53 and costs, amounting
TO five dollars.