Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-13
THE DISCUSSION.


There have been interesting and ex-
citing sessions of Council committees
in the past, but certainly nothing which
quite came up, in point of general in
terest, to the meeting of the Committee
On Railroads, held last evening.
1t was spectacular from every point
of view, even to those who were vitality
interested, on one side or the other, in
the matter under discussion, and the
general public will be deeply concern
ed not only in the action taken, but in
the manner of it's accomplishment.
Swayed by the vital interests at stake
and by the general trend and tenor or
events, gentlemen present were led into
somewhat personal remarks at times,
and even after the session was ended
there was a lively dispute which was
well maintained by the parties to the
controversy, Chairman Mccormick, OF
the Ordinance Committee, and Clerk OF
the First Branch Walter Worls.
The Committee convened at eigh,
o'clock sharp, Mr.. Bachman presiding,
and the following members present at
the outset: Messrs. Schmidt, kindel-
berger, Knoke and McMecnen. Mr..
Bradbury came in later, making six.
Ini addition there were Chairman Nc
Cormick, of the Ordinance Committee,
City Solicitor Nesbitt, Sheriff Richards,
A 4
Clerk Worls and number OF members
OF Council.
The matter before the body being
stated by the Chair, Mr. Conitf, repre-
senting the applicant Company, took
the floor and said, in distance, that
the ordinance was a revision of an ordt-
nance presented some time ago TO the
Committee on Ordinances, and by 1t
referred to the City Solicitor. Tbs
present ordinance had been drawn TO
meet the views and suggestions of the
Solicitor, and contained all the sugges-
lions made by him. He said the ordi-
nance was for franchise for street
railway over the route therein descrid-
ed, and better illustrated by a map Of
the city, shown in connection there
with, which map had previously been
examined and orally described by Sher-
if Richards. I'VE think" said Mr..
Coniff, that the map and ordinance are
so plain that the Committee can have
no trouble. The Company desires this
Committee TO act, as being the proper
body, as the ordinance is one purely
and simply for railway. We think
the suggestions made by the City Solic-
itor were made for the beneIit Of the
Company as well as for the city; we
have no objections to them, and are
ready to accept any reasonable suggeS-
lions which my present themselves to
the Committee We are exceedingly
anxious to have such action taken as
will allow Council to pass upon the
measure. The ordinance has been to
the City Solicitor and we think it Is
ready for action"
Mr.. Allison-If the Committee will
allow me, / tried this afternoon to see
the ordinance, but was not able to see
it until this evening, and then was only
able to read very small fraction OF it,
but / have heard the Sheriff explain
the plat The Wheeling Railway Conn
pany is very much interested TO know
what is proposed, as Mr.. Peterson told
me in a conversation this evening. /
believe the Committee only means to
act considerably, and that it will hear
all the parties and will recognize that
the Wheeling Railway Company is in
terested. Believing this, we ask that
the consideration of the measure be de-
ferred until the Wheeling Railway
Company and others interested can
have a chance to be heard. The attor-
neys for the Wheeling Railway COM
pany are not the persons who can
grasp the scope of the plans and see
wherein they conflict with the Com
pany, as could others. and have not
had the time to consider the matter at
all, and the Company has not. We ask
that they be allowed to see the plat and
ordinance, and that the Committee ad-
journ until they can be heard. This
course is only due to the persons inter-
ested. We are not here to interpose
any captious objections: We only ask
for fair opportunity to the Wheeling
Railway Company to consider the stu
alton, and then be heard.
Mr.. Coniff here remarked that the
of the Wheeling Rail-
way Company could have had access
to the papers at any time.
Mr. Kindelberger-I don't see what
the Wheeling Railway Company has
to do, with the matter. 1t has a big
franchises lot more than it ought
to have
Mr.. Allison-That may be: but this
Committee ought TO sit as jury and
listen to people who have vital inter-
ests.
Mr.. Coniff-What interests do you
claim here?
Mr.. Allison-This is a proposed road
WHICH crosses our tracks at various
PONIES. 1t may be that the crossings
oNghf not to be made at those points
Int at other points. There are various
matters of interest
Mr.. Coniff-Isn't it fact that you
have no interest except as compel
ing Company?
or. Allison We have right