Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-17

The matter of excessive valuation of
property for purposes of State taxation
was brought up at a meeting of the
Chamber OF Commerce last night.
President H. P. McGregor, Of the Board
OF Commissioners, offered perhaps the
only remedy possible, but one which
cannot prove wholly satisfactory,
namely: the consideration of petitions
for corrections Of excessive or erron-
eous appraisement, by the Board, sit
ting as a Board of Equalization and
Appeals. Under Mr.. McGregor's con-
struction of the law, the Board may
make any changes which it desires
within a year, and such changes as are
certified to by 1t will stand. Mr.. Nc
Gregor also inclined to the opinion
that the Board might sit at any time
as a Board of Equalization and APP
peals. He thought the Board would
make all proper corrections. The
Chamber of Commerce appointed a
committee to confer with the Board
and empowered the committee to m
ploy counsel.
When the annual election of officers
came up, President Quarter in declin-
ing reelection, took occasion to Sc
verely criticize members of the Cham
Der of Commerce for their lack of in
terest in its affairs and several gen.
tlemen fully endorsed what he said,
adding that scant courtesy had been
shown toward the President in his eff
forts to secure meetings of the body.
All appeared, however, to appreciate
the value Of Mr.. Quarters services.
When he was reelected over his pro-
test he again accepted the Office.
The attendance was rather light, con-
sidering the number of complaints
which have been made against the
work of Assessor Helmbright. There
were present Messrs. B. S. Mcclure,
Col. Thomas O'Brien, J. c. Brady,
Hullihen Quarter, Howard Hazlett,
Frank Caldwell, Alex. Hupp, ]. A.
Hess. Rev. Joseph Speers, Frank Hoff-
man, Frank Stamm, w. A. Wilson,
John Beckett, G. w. Eckhart, Jr., l..
A. Rolf, F. Unruh, John Waterhouse,
Martin Thornton, C. A. Bowers, James
Lancaster, H. P. McGregor, Henry
Menkemiller, Edgar Boyd, Allen
Brock, Ran Stalnaker, Louis Rentsch,
L. J. Bayha, and several others.
The meeting was called to order by
President Quarter. Secretary Howard
Hazlett read a statement showing re-
ceipts of 81, 943. 81, and a balance on
hand Of 81 ,180.56. The membership is
143, of which number 20 are in arrears.
Secretary Ha2lett called attention to
the fact that there were vacancies in
offices, and that the constitution pro-
vides for an annual election. While
the members were debating the ques-
ton of proceeding to an election, Mr..
Hazlett took the floor and made a brief
statement, saying that he spoke also
for Mr.. Quarter. He deplored the fact
that there was a lack of interest in the
work of the Chamber of Commerce,
referring particularly to the recent
convention of the Ohio River Improve
ment Association. He and Mr.. Quar-
rier felt that the interests of the Cham
Der of Commerce might be best served
Of officers.
A moment later, when Mr.. J. C.
Brady moved the election of certain
officers, including the old President and
Secretary, Mr.. Quarter supplemented
the remarks of Mr.. Hazlett, stating
emphatically that he had received alb
solutely no encouragement in his eff
forts to carry out the purposes for
which the Chamber of Commerce was
organized. He greatly deplored this
fact, and pointed out that the Chamber
of Commerce might be and should be
made the most influential body in the
State. He closed by peremptorily de-
Ginning to act further as President.
Mr.. Brady named Col. Thomas
O'Brien as temporary chairman of the
meeting and he was chosen. Col.
O'Brien remarked that he thought Mr..
Quarter was just the proper person
to reorganize the Chamber of Com
merce.
This brought Mr.. Quarter to his feet
with a vehment criticism of the mem
beers for their lack of interest In the
body. Mr.. Brady followed with a state
ment highly complimentary to Messrs.
Quarter and Hazlett, whom he said
were in reality the Chamber of Com
merce.
The officers named by Mr.. Brady and
unanimously chosen were as follows:
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