The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-26

Yesterday afternoon, the city council
committee on ordinances met in the
committee room in the city building for
the purpose OF taking up the applicA-
ton OF the Peoples Telephone and
Construction Company. OF West Vlr-
Elnia, for a franchise to maintain and
operate telephone service In this city
The majority Of the committee OPP
posed the desire Of the Peoples COM
pany for action on its application in
time for consideration ut last nights
meeting of council
This matter was referred to a sub
committee several weeks ago, but
through a peculiar condition that body
has been unable to act. The committee
was composed OF Messrs. List, Baird
and Fair. Mr.. List has been opposed
10 the new company, while Mr.. Fair has
been looked upon us desiring the ordi-
nance presented to council as early as
possible for adoption or rejection. Is
Mr. Baird has been unable to attend the
meetings Of the committee, deadlock
was established. and II had appeared
impossible for the subcommittee TO
make any progress toward a report 10
the ordinance committee.
Chairman HaZlett presided and
Messrs. Fair Welsgerber, Watson and
Bachman were present. There was
some discussion regarding the Pub-com-
mittee on the Peoples Telephone and
Construction CompRny's application Tor
a franchise. Mr. Fair said the chair
man, Mr.. Baird. cannot attend, 80
Messrs. Fair and List are deRdlocked.
Mr.. weIsgerber moved 10 continue the
subcommittee and Mr.. Watson second
ed. The vote was as follows:
For ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
Against cOntInuance-Fair, Bach
man.
Chairman Hazlett cast the deciding
vote, for continuance. and sold Mr..
List. OF the committee. was already at
work on an ordinance. This was receiv-
ed by members Of the committee with
a quiet smile, for Mr.. List has been
known as n bitter opponent OF the new
company and an energetic advocate OF
the Bell interests.
Mr.. Rachman addressed the commit
tee, stating that I'm his opinion It Is not
fair 10 further delay the new company
in its enterprise. The company has
raised the money nccessary.to construct
It's system and desires action at as early
n date as possible, whether II be the
adoption or rejection OF It's application.
Already the subcommittee has put the
company on for eight weeks. and II Is
wrong to continue such course.
Clerk O'Brlen. Of the committee, SAID
there would be n great amount OF work
for the committee after last nights
meeting OF council. For this reason.
members Of the committee advised Inn
mediate action on the Peoples applica-
ton.
Mr.. BachmAn then moved tina: the
previous action Of the committee. In
continuing the subcommittee; be re-
considered. Mr.. Fair seconded this
motion. but Chairman HaZlett ruled
that such motion must come from
member who had voted for continuance.
Mr.. c. p. Flick, representing the Peo-
Pies company, addressed the commit
tee. He did NOT want to say that the
action OF the subcommittee In not tax
ing nm what had been delegated TO Il
was In bad faith, but the sub-commit-
tee should have got together and done
something The Peoples company Is
ready to begin work and desires early
action on It's application. What the
company contemplates e for the bene-
M OF the citizens OF Wheeling-not for
the Bell company, OF cousse-and as the
committee and council! are acting for
the city's interests. there Is no reason
for further delay II nothing was done
by the committee at this time he be-
lIeyed an Injustice would be done TO the
PEOPLES company. This holding OF the
company in suspense was what he OBJ
1ected to.
Mr. Fair reiterated his statement that
Mr.. Baird will not meet with the SUB.
committee and claimed II would be Just
a waste Of time TO continue the sub
committee. He concluded by moving
the discharge OF that body.
Mr.. +, f. Robinson. Of the Peoples
company, said that for the past three
weeks he had been trying to get the
subcommittee together but entirely
without success. II the full committee
will not give his company n hearing
there will be none. To refer the mat
ter back to the subcommittee Is use
less, He said his people had an ordi-
nance already prepared. which II de-
sired TO he considered by the committee
on ordinances. Either adoption or re-
lection would be satisfactory. out rur-
Their delay was distastefuL The SUD
committee could hold up the appllca-
nom for a year II the present situation
continues.
Mr.. Watson moved that meeting OF
the committee on ordinances be held on
wednesday evening, and that the
members OF the subcommittee be cs-
pecIalIy requested to be present. when
the PEOPLES company'S ordinance would
be taken up. The motion prevailed and
the committee adjourned.
SO the Peoples Telephone and Con-
struction Company's ordinance did not
figure at last nights meeting OF the city
council.
OPENED YESTERDAY.