Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-19
A MAL DEADLOCK
One Hundred and Forty Ballots Taken
Yesterday
ON A MINOR COUNTY OFFICE BY
THE BOARD OF COMMISSION
Frs, WITHOUT RESULT-THE
MEETING ADJOURNED LAST
EVENING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK,
TO REASSEMBLE SOME TIME
DURING THE COMING WEEK.

The fact that there is a deadlock in
the Board of County Commissioners,
which body is composed of eight Re-
publicans and two Democrats, was
very conclusively demonstrated yester-
day, when one hundred and forty bal
lots were taken on the position of toll
keeper for the Wheeling and Fairmont
pike, without result. The session was
inaugurated at the usual hour for
Board meetings in the morning, and
was not concluded until eight O'Clock
last night. When the adjournment
was taken the Board was exactly
where it started from, and the tax
payers were out thirty dollars of per
diem, while Clerk Moffat was fatigued.
There is nothing definite in sight, and
while it is understood the session will
be resumed some time during the COM
ing week, there is no earthly prospect
that any decision will be arrived at.
All the members were present when
the roll was called, President Nc
Gregor presiding. A resolution that
the Board proceed to the election of
county officers was carried, but while
it was before the house there was a
sharp little debate between Messrs.
Moore and Fritz, both Republicans, the
former one of the five caucus boilers
and the latter a regular. elimination
and recrimination was INDUCED in to
a considerable extent, and the episode
gave what promised to be otherwise a
dull and dreary session an admirable
and spicy start.
The position Of toll-keeper for the
Wheeling and Fairmont pike was first
IN the list of offices to be filled, and
the boilers named William Downs as
their candidate, the regulars suggested
the name of Mrs. Driehorst, and the
two Democrats introduced a new fac
tor into the proceedings by nominating
Henry W~eidebusch. Then the roll was
Coilou, anu luS IcSulL dHlOuICtu WdS.
Downs, 5; Mrs. Driehorst, 8; Mr..
Weidebusch, 2. Ballot after ballot fol-
lowed, with the same unvarying re-
suit, until, at noon, the score stood
eighty-two roll calls, and Tom Mof-
fat began to figure on the probable size
of his record. There was no DISPOSE
ton to stop on the part of the mem
bers, however, and the merry war con-
tinued until half-past one, when, after
the one hundred and twelfth ballot,
the pangs of hunger interfered, and a
recess was taken until three o'clock.
At that hour the balloting was re-
sumed, with nary a change, and was
continued at intervals until four
o'clock, when the score stood one hun
dred and t~wenty-four to nothing, and
it looked like an all night session.
Then the warning members agreed that
a ballot should be taken only once in
SO often, and this programme was adj
hered to until eight O'Clock, at which
hour, after one hundred and forty
fruitless ballots had been taken and the
supply of blanks was running low, the
Board adjourned, with the situation
just as it was and everybody more de-
termined than ever.
One of the three regular Republican
members intimated after the adjourn
ment that there wa a big surprise
coming for the five kickers, and that
they would be made to see stars before
the affair was over. He declined to en-
ter into details, however, and develop
ments will have to be awaited.