Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-25

Lawrence Coffey, who offered to
haul garbage to the crematory for a
figure $1,000 less than is to be paid to
the successful bidder, feels that he has
been unjustly treated in the matter
and does not propose to surrender his
rights as a citizen without a fight. Mr..
Coffey has retained Frank c.. Cox,
Esq. to look after his interests, and
after last nights Council meeting Mr..
Cox stated that the city would be en-
Joined from paying out any money on
the contract with Charles Becker.
In this connection it may be well
to recall some facts In connection
with the very unusual method adopted
by Council in awarding this contract.
Bids were advertised for and Coffey's
figures were more than $4,000 lower
than Becker's for the two years. 1t
may be a significant fact that Corey
is a Democrat, while Becker is a Re
publican. Coffey offered to furnish
security through mi of the recognized
guarantee and surety companies do
ing business In this State. The Demo-
cratic members of the committee Wig
Drously opposed the action of the ma
jority.
Previous to the last regular meeting
ing of Council, the Republican mem
bers of that body held a caucus, at
which it decided to ratify the work OF
the committee. Democratic members
again protested in both branches OF
Council, but to no avail. The Repub-
licans did not have the two-thirds vote
necessary at that meeting, but there is
D. rule of Council which makes a ma
jority vote at two successive meetings
sufficient.
Last night, therefore, Council was
again divided on party lines, and the
Republican members awarded the con-
tract to Becker. A little later Mr..
Caldwell offered the following in the
Second Branch:
Resolved, That each and every mem
Der of Council who voted to award the
garbage contract to Charles Becker,
whose bid was higher than that OF
Lawrence Coffey, that the said Law
renee Coffey, as a citizen and taxpayer,
notifies you that he will hold you, and
each of you individually, liable for
your failure to award said contract to
the lowest bidder.
A motion to table was promptly
made and carried. A little later Mr..
Caldwell made a motion to take the
matter from the table. The ayes n
noes were called and the motion was
defeated by a strict party vote.
A prominent citizen who takes an
active interest in municipal affairs,
and who watched last nights proceed
ing from the lobby, said after the
meeting:
1T was an outrageous proceeding.
Wheeling's Republican Council is
more audacious than Boss Platt or
Boss Tweed or any of the others would
dare be. It's action is nothing less
than municipal robbery. Just think
Of the spectacle of a party caucus over
the awarding of a garbage contract!
Partisanship is carried TO extremes
when a majority rejects a bid simply
because it is made by a Democrat, n
in so doing squanders more than w.
600 of the taxpayers money. Yet IN
the face of this wasteful extravaganza
the Republican Council is to again at
tempt to force upon the people a re-
funding scheme upon which the voters
have twice set the seal of their dlsap-
prevail. Is there any excuse for the
expense which will be needlessly in
volved in conducting the election?
And what is to be accomplished If the
ordinance carries? 1t is a violent sup
position, but suppose it is successful?
1t will give the city more money, they
say, and for what? To pay out in
Jumps of $1,000 as bonuses to Repub-
lican bidders for municipal contracts?
Have voters any reasonable assurance
that Councils extravaganza will be
checked when there is more money to
squander?"
Roses, towering shrubs and plants