Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-30

UUII 0lll|l NJ i
Tho Five Republican Members Of TIC
Board Of Commissioners
PROCEEDED TO ELECT" OFF,
GERS, YESTERDAY, ALTHOUGH
THE SUBJECT WAS NOT MEN
TONED IN THE CALL FOR THE
MEETING. AS is PROVIDED FOR
IN THE RULES-THE THREE
REGULAR REPUBLICANS AND
TWO DEMOCRATS DECIDEDLY
PROTEST, AND WILL CARRY
THE MATTER TO COURT. IF
NECESSARY.
There was decided air of excite
menIt and activity about the headquar
tiers of the Board of Commissioners,
yesterday afternoon, and events oc-
Cured very frequently for about an
hour.
The result was decision on the par.
of President McGregor, who is one of
the five Republicans boiling the eau
Gus, and who constitute just one-half
the Board, that officers had been elect
ed. AS none of the candidates declar-
ed to be elected received more than
Gxya &c nt 1oin
ity of ten, the other side respectfully
but forcibly doubt the statement, and
late yesterday afternoon were in con-
sultation with counsel, preparatory to
carrying the case to Csurt, if neces-
sary.
Those who dissent from the ruling
of the President that elections resulted
from the voting OF yesterday afternoon
rest their case upon several grounds.
In the first place, they cite rule No.
2, for the government of the Board,
which distinctly says that the notices
for a meeting shall specify the nature
of the business to be transacted, and
call attention to the fact that the no
tices for yesterdays meeting merely
stated it was for general auditing
only. Another strong contention is
that five does not constitute major
ity of ten members, and that no can
didate received more than five votes.
Other claims of irregularity are made,
and will be duly formulated, together
with the general claim that there was
no election and that the proceedings
were wholly irregular and void, in So
far as they applied to the so-called
election of officers.
On the other hand, the five Repub-
licans who were 'the whole thing yes
terday, assert that the election was a
go. They say eight members of the
Board answered to their names at roll
call, that at least six were present dur
ing the balloting, making a quorum,
and that the successful candidates Sc
cured a majority Of all the members
present. They contend that the cleo
ton was perfectly regular, and cannot
be questioned or upset by, any proceed
ings whatever, as the point of no Quor-
UNI was never raised.
The special meetings of the Board Of
Commissioners held on the Wednes-
days of the week preceding the regular
meeting on the first Monday of each
month are usually devoted to the aud
iting of miscellaneous bills, although
other business is also transacted. When
the members assembled for yesterdays
meeting, the roll-call developed the
fact that there were two absentees-
Messrs. Gutman and McCulloch, the
former a straight Republican caucus
man, and the latter Democrat. AS
soon as the situation was apparent, the
five dissenting Republicans saw an OPP
portunity to go into an election, and
proceeded to do so, starting where they
left off at the one hundred and forty
second ballot, some two or three weeks
ago. Mr.. Downs was placed in nomi-
nation for toll keeper on the Fairmont
pike, and received five votes. PreSi-
dent McGregor decided that Mr.. Fritz
wa5 present, but not voting, and de-
clared Mr.. Downs elected.
Seeing how things were destined to
go, the two Republican members who
stood for the regular caucus nominees,
and Mr.. Stanke, D., proceeded TO make
themselves scarce, while awaiting for
the arrival Of the two absenteeS, and
although the election, so-calIed, was
proceeded with, not more than five
votes were cast at any one time. The
result of the balloting was declared as
follows:
Superintendent of the second division