Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-09
LOAN ORDINANCE sOPHIsTRIEs.

The voters, the taxpayers-espec-
tally the workingmen, who are the real
taxpayers-of Wheeling, will not be
deceived by the trick arguments OF the
ring and the henchmen and organs in
support Of the loan ordinance to be
voted on on the Gath inst.
One of the specious pleas advanced
in it's behalf is the fact that the ordi-
nance carries a loan for the purchase
of the Wheeling Electrical Company's
plant. This point is eloquently dilated
upon. 1t is shown what a good thing
it would be to enable the city to re-
sumo the business of supplying cleo
trio light to consumers-the ring
spokesman, however, neglecting to men
ton that the city was tricked out of
this right by the very ringsters who
now make this their strongest plea in
support of this ubiquitous loan ordi-
nance.
1t is an argument without basis and
will deceive no one who has kept track
of the present ordinance in Council.
Suffice it to say that the ratification
of this ordinance will not hasten the
city'5 Remittance into the field of cleo
trio lighting Nor will the defeat of the
ordinance retard this much needed re-
form. Whether this measure is ratified
Or rejected the city is bound to return
to the field of supplying electric light
to consumers as soon as possible. That
the electric light rider is cited as the
prime argument in it's favor is suf1-
Gent proof that the ring dare not adj
vocate the ordinance on its real merits.
1t will be remembered that while the
measure was in embryo the Register
advised that if Council were sincere in
this business it would refund only so
much of the city's debt as was pressing,
namely, the compromise loan, and at
the same time the Register advocated
that there be added a provision for an
other loan sufficient to cover the pur-
chase of the Wheeling Electrical Com
pany's plant in order that the city
might again enter the field of electrical
lighting. This proposition was reject
as the chief drawing card for this loan
of over half a million, in which it is a
r.mnaratively small item
1t is a trick that will mot work. Let
the voters defeat the loan ordinance
which is intended merely to give the
ring about $25, 900 a year more to
squander-and Immediately the Reg
ister's original proposition will be
taken UP. Council will then be forced
to do so. 1t will not be able to help
itself. The compromise loan must be
met or refunded. The city cannot meet
it. Hence it must refund it. Immedi-
ately the present unjust ordinance is
defeated Council will be forced to sub
init to the people another ordinance
shorn of the Objectionable features of
the present proposition and refunding
the compromise loan and carrying the
provision for the purchase of the cleo
trical plant. This will be ratified by
the people by a practically unanimous
vote. Thus the city will have disposed
of the only debt that is pressing, will
have provided for it's re-entrance into
the field of supplying private consumers
with electricity, and it will go ahead
on the present common sense line of
paying off the principal of it's debt and
annually reducing the interest charge
in geometrical ratio so that the whole
will be practically wiped out in ten
years and the way cleared for a reduc-
ton of taxation, which under the pro-
visions of the proposed loan ordinance
could 0 be hoped for in a genera
ton.
No intelligent citizen can long re-
main in doubt on this question.
The law-abiding citizens of Kentucky
regardless of Marty are nroteSfing in