Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-05


PRINTED.
The Council Committee on Ordi-
nances held long session last even
ing, and when they adjourned they had
cleared the table of the large amount
of business recently accommodating.
The first document engaging atten-
ton was the annual license ordinance.
This is a lengthy law, and it's reading
always occupies a great deal of time.
The principal amendments made were:
Keeping dynamite for sale, S. per
year. Last year this was stricken out
of the ordinance by Council, the body
being under the impression that if the
clause was eliminated dynamite and
glycerine would not be sold here. AS
a matter of fact, they have been sold,
and considerable quantities have been
kept within the city. When the clause
was struck out, there should have been
an ordinance specifically foroidding
the sale of the explosives within the
city.
Wholesale dealers in malt liquors
were increased from 500 to $500, and
the Solicitor stated he believed that
out-of-town manufacturers could be
made to pay the fee. There was
considerable discussion over this mat
ter, during which the situation in this
State and Ohio was defined, and cur
rent efforts in Ohio to collect taxes
from Wheeling breweries were MARIA
ted. One agent of a local brewery is
now under arrest and in confinement
in Ohio, as a result of an attempt to
collect a tax over there.
The clause imposing a tax on foot
ball and base ball games was stricken
out.
The tax on slot weighing machines,
heretofore $40 per year, was reduced
to S., on the ground that it was too
high. 1t was stated there were but
year, and that they only took in
enough money to pay the license tax.
An effort was made by City Clerk
Watkins to have the hotel license tax
graded according to the number of
rooms, but the Committee refused, after
long discussion, to make the change
and it remains at $50. A similar eff
fort was made to reduce the tax on
balls from SIS to $3.50 or $500. but it
also failed. 1t was stated in this con-
nection, that the police always charged
$3.50 for police protection, and that
the parties giving the balls generally
paid this, but failed to pay the license,
particularly about campaign times.
The Committee recommended that an
ordinance be drawn, under the Caldwell
resolution, providing for a railroad
gate at the crossing OF the B. & o. and
Forty-third street; for a Safety Com
mission, to be composed of the Mayor,
Chief of the Fire Department, and City
Engineers, under the Chew resolution,
and recommended to Council an ordi-
mace drawn by the Solicitor, in which
the city waived the exemption from
garnishee in cases where a city en-
ploye owed debts contracted during his
term of service. By the terms of the
ordinance, the claim, when presented,
must be accompanied by an itemized
statement, and also by AN affidavit,
stating that the debts were originated
while the debtor was in the employ OF
the city of Wheeling.
The Fitzsimmons resolution, pre-
scribing a rate of So per day for carts
in city employ, and S. per day for two
horse wagons, was referred to the
Board of Public Works.
There was quite a long discussion
over the Waterhouse resolution, which
called for a ordinance requiring own
ers or drivers of hay or straw wagons
to weigh the same when empty, and
make a correct return to the purchaser
of the weight, to be deducted from the
nraviOuSly aScertained gross weight,