Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-21
COMING CITY ELECTION.



Wants New One Taxed.
To. the Editor of the Register
Sir.-NOw that the election is past
and the community has an opportun-
ity to give more attention to business
and to the material interests of our
city, there are several things which de-
serve publicity and which the new
Board of Trade, as well as all the vot-
ers in the city should ponder over The
election will take place next January
for new members of Council. There
| will be very important work for the
new Council to consider, and
! whether that work is done intelli-
gently and conscientiously, or careless
| ly and unmindful of the true interests
of the public, will largely depend the
| future prosperity Of this city.
One of the important matters which
| will come up is the granting of a new
| franchise to the Street Railway Com
pany of this city. 1t is reported that
| all the lines which it controls have
been merged into one and new char
/ ter granted under the title of the
Wheeling Traction Company, with a
| capitalization of $4,000 900 or there
abouts, and it is further reported that
the city franchise which gives permits
/ sion to use the streets, and provides
| that the personal property or rolling
! stock of the company shall not be
| taxed, expires within the next two
! years; and that the consolidated COM
pany in its application for a new fran
chise, will ask for the privilege of using
/ CIR afn nf 20 oil nd
other immuniIies which it now enjoys
| in perpetuity.
Do our citizens and the Board of
Trade realize the great value of such
a franchise to the corporation? Is it
possible that such franchise would
be granted? Ordinarily. most of us
would think not, but after what has
transpired in Council during the past
two years; the alleged crooked deals,
and the money which it is said was
| spent to get certain measures through
/ Council, is there anything, no matter
| how detrimental to the interests of the
| public which cannot be passed, unless
we have citizens acting in that capac-
/ ity who have the true interests of the
| city at heart and who are intelligent,
| conscientious and careful enough TO
see that those interests are conserved,
linstead of being jeopardized and
thrown away.
| Why, l am told that the franchise
of the Street Railway Company in this
city is worth rental of anywhere from
~S25, 900 to $4,000 year, and that the
Company's present profits, to say moth
| ing of the prospective profits because
| of the growth of the city and outlying
| suburbs, is ample to pay such a sum
and still have a good return on its
| very largely watered stock. What a
big amount of improvements could be
made to our streets and alleys with
| that revenue coming into the city cof-
| fers from such a source; how many
| other improvements could be made,
and might not there be reduction in
| taxes of this taX-ridden city? Now,
/ it may be said that any such assess
ment upon the Street Railway Com
pany for the privilege of using the
streets would be out of the question
and would not be considered by the
company. Very well! Let the city
own the street railways of this city:
let her purchase them at reasonable
sum and control them as the city of
L
| is the situation there? That the COM
munity can ride all over the city from
early morning till o'clock at night at
| the rate of 1-3c per fare, and still the
railways are making big money. What
a boon it would be to the working
classes of this community. They could
then ride from their homes to their
places of employment and return at a
minimum cost. What benefit il
would be to the manufacturers of this
community, they could get their work
men from any part of the city, and
that item of economy would enter into
the question OF wages to an important
extent This is a matter where the
Board Of Trade could render an lnyal-
liable service to this community.
No doubt there will be many who
will deprecate the idea of a city taking
such a matter in hand on the ground
that it will not be managed in bust
ness way, or that it would be run ii
the interests of politics instead Of The
interests of the community. 1t neet
not be so if The proper safeguards are
thrown around its management.
mean by that. the proper ordinances
drafted; that is to say let commission
of three or five be appointed for terms
expiring in the same manner that the
School Commissioners terms expire
let them be paid for the hours they are
in session, and let it be provided thai
services of employees shall last during
good behavior and ability to do theil
work properly. This is only sugges
ton to avoid the objections that NIGH
arise against such a plan, but there are
other methods which might be better
and more satisfactory and advantage
Gus to the community. But by al
means let something be done which
will inure to the benefit of the public
Let the city get out of the old rut anC
take a new lease on progression. /
we are to advance and prosper, w
must keep abreast of the times. W.
must take advantage of the opportun
tiles that are presented 10 us. Unless
we have the right kind of men in Coun
ell these things will not be done. Nov
it is up to the voters of this city at tht
election next January TO see to it am
have the local press to urge it, and Mr.
Register will you not begin at once Il
prepare the public for an earnest con
sideration of this and other matters
Let us steer clear of partisanship il
the arguments that will be advanced il
the course of the next month and hal
preceding the election Of new Coun
ell. Let us see to it that good men
irrespective of their party affiliations