Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-19
The

A special meeting of the Ohio VAL
ley Trades and Labor Assembly was
held yesterday afternoon at two
o'clock for the purpose of discussing
the refunding ordinance, which is to
submitted to a vote of the people of
Wheeling, and also other municipal
matters of Importance. There was a
motion that the ordinance be favored
by the Assembly and a lively and in
teresting debate ensued. The pro-
visions were heartily endorsed by
some of the delegates and vigorously
opposed by others and finally the mat
ter vas laid on the table until the next
meeting.
Il large number Of the delegates
were present and in the absence Of ].
J Byrne the President appointed Dele
gate Tracy to act rs Vice President.
After the roll call Delegate Stein
moved that the Assembly favor the re-
funding act and the motion was
promptly seconded. Remarks being
In order Delegate Stein took the floor,
and favored the ordinance, saying that
cit seemed to him that the cardinal
point is to reduce the enormous inter
est on the debt, thus saving nearly
$4,000 a year. The bonded debt of
the city, aggregating $4,000 will come
due in July and she has no money
with which to meet the obligation.
The %refunding act would pay off her
debts, reduce the interest and she
would have more money to spend. If
it is defeated there may be an in
crease in taxes. Since we have gained
a national reputation the bankers are
anxious to get Jul bonds, for Wheel
ing, unlike many other larger cities,
owns most of her public institutions.
Delegate O'Leary then asked if it
was scarcity of money that caused the
city gas board let the contract for
coal to a company that is included in
the unfair list as authorized by the
Assembly and Delegate Stein replied
that it is a regret to say that a nom
union company has advantage over a
union company in this respect and
spoke of the necessity of a law pro-
hibiting the city from purchasing nom
union coal.
Delegate Boes then stated that eff
we are here to also place a labor ticket
in the field, l am therefore heartily
against the ordinance. If we endorsed
the ordinance and say that we are dis
grsted with the municipal govern
ment, then we shall look funny in the
Eyes of the public"
Delegate Donahue remarked that he
cannot vote for the ordinance, because
he does not believe in placing money
in the hands of people to buy nom
union coal. He also said that for this
reason, more especially, he intends to
use his influence among the miners to
have them vote against it.
Delegate Donahue further remarked
that this is the first year the city ever
used non-union coal, and Delegate
Boes followed with the statement that
there is an ordinance providing that
the city shall purchase only union coal
and that its enforcement had not been
made only through neglect on the
part of the Assembly
Delegate OLeary strongly opposed
the ordinance. giving for his reason
that it would mean to raise money to
pay off non-union men.
Secretary Frank Thomas mex ex-
pressed himself as not being in favor
of bringing the coal question into the
discussion and advised that the ordi-
nance be considered alone.
Delegate Boes then offered an
amendment to the motion to the effect
that the Assembly submit the ordi-
nance matter to every local that it
may vote as it pleases. There was a
prompt second to the amendment and
~ AOOoIO vas SOnllAQcu WILL re-
newed interest.
Delegate Connolly, who was the next
speaker, thought that there was DO
necessity for the amendment as the
people would vote as they please,
whether or not the Assembly adopted
the ordinance. He was also of the
opinion that the city has no ordinance
compelling it to buy a certain kind of
coal.
On again taking the floor Delegate
Boes said that it was wrong for the
Assembly to either favor or oppose the
ordinance. while either party is in
power, as it is contemplating placing
2 labor ticket In the field.
Delegate Tracy said that he was OPP
posed to it Tor the reason that it