Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-26
THE DEFEAT OF THE ORDINANCE.

The reasons which impelled the peo-
pie to non-concur in the refunding
loan ordinance are very apparent, as
they are few in number. They were
good and sufficient reasons, however,
and the result of Saturdays election is
a source of qualification to all those
who have the best interests of our
community at heart.
The ordinance was doomed from the
start because it was at no time pro-
per measure, which the people could
endorse. 1t was an attempt at dicta
ton to which voters would not SUBJ
NIT, and to their eternal credit they
declined to swallow the dose prepared
for them. Had the people been left
to their own free will, and not been
subjected to the opportunities, pleas,
pressure, and even coercion and
threats of the multitude of workers
for the ordinance, there would have
been an absolute majority of all the
votes cast against the measure, as
there was in 1897, and it is very
doubtful if ratification" would have
carried one ward in the city.
The reasons for defeat for the Of
ficials and of success for those who
believe in the broad idea of the great
est good for the greatest number, may
be thus enumerated:
In the first place, the measure was,
in all it's stages, drawn in the interests
of few and against the welfare of
the many. Originally it provided for
the refunding of the debt of the Water
Board and of the outstanding orders
both debts contracted in the name of
the city without authority of law.
Later those were eliminated, and still
later an electric light provision was
inserted, but in such a hap-hazard
manner that even the general public,
which almost unanimously favors
municipal incandescent lighting, could
not endorse the feature, and this
mainly because there was nothing in
or out of the ordinance specifying or
providing how much money should
DO paid for the existing plant aside
Szem the figures 1894, $780," The ordi-
nance did not even say cor so much
thereof as may be necessary" nor was
there any provision for not issuing
any part of this sum if it was not
needed. Thinking voters saw that if
the ordinance was passed there was
nothing to prevent the handing over
of the entire amount named in the or
dinance in exchange for the plant of
the Company, even though it might
be ten, twenty, or any other number
of thousands of dollars too much; and
the people would have been powerless
because they had given their consent
in advance and ratified the PROPOSE
ton.
Another cause for reflection and ac-
ton on the part of the people was the
fact that there was no occasion for
refunding ordinance at all, except
and solely for the compromise loan of
$4,000. Had that loan been cared
for, and a sensible electric light pro-
vision attached, the vote for ratifica-
ton would have been practically
unanimous. But as the ordinance
stood there was a general conviction
that it was simply scheme to benefit
very few at very great expense to the
many. To be sure, it was daily stat
ed in those papers which advocated
the loan that public improvements"
could be and would be made should
the loan carry, but at no time was
there any specification of what these
improvements would be, and the
bare allegation that something as in
tangible as Titania's dream was to
be accomplished, failed to suffice.
Still another cause was thA open