Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-11-16
Councilman Westenhayer Says il
is Outrageous.
ExORBITANT BILL OF s4OO
Strange Action Of the City ConnciI in Paying
the Bill Of S400 Which Had Been
Previously Flaily Refused BY
HI Q.1,.
That Body.

Council. Monday night, in ordering
paid the bill of DIR. New for services
as a chemist after the action of the
Cuncii at its meeting last summer IN
refusing unanimously to pay it,
The reporter accordingly called on
ID. @. Westehaver, the member of the
Council at whose instance the payment
had been refused, aud made inquiry
about the matter. In RESPONSE to
questions Mr. westenhaver made the
following statement;
Il did not know of the action of
the Council until | readHTnesdap ev-
ening's World. =
Il was more surprised than can
tell. had been in Berkeley Springs
on professional business, and came
home at 6.l2 p. N. expressly to attend
the meeting of the Council After
getting supper, | found letter from
Mr.. Potter, general manager Of the
b. g o. r. r. advising me a. chair
man of the Citizens Committee that
the points of disagreement about the
shop property had been waived by
the company so that we might pro-
coed w th our negotiations with the
Bickford and Huffman Co. As / was
obliged to return to Berkeley Springs
in the morning on the early train, and
as the Council usually remains in ses-
sion till late hour, hurriedly call
ed meeting of the Citizens Com
mittee by telephone. so that we might
give immediate consideration to this
matter and get off our message and
proposition. This delayed me till ex-
actly 7.30 by my time but made me
ten minutes late in reaching the Coun-
Gil Chamber. by the clock in the Coun
ell Chamber. The action had been
taken in the meantime, in advance of
action on formal reports.
bills, since l have been in Council,
have always been acted on last why
this one was taken up first, / do not
know. y
But Mr. Westenhaver, the World
reporter asked Ibid not the Council
vote not to pay this bill. and had this
action been reconsIdered?"
"A motion was made" Mr.. Wes-
tenhaver replied. to pay the bill, l
spoke against it. My recollection is
that every member with one exception
voted against the motion. No recon-
sideration of that action has ever been
had.
A motion was afterward made and
carried, to appoint committee OF
three to confer with Mr.. New about
it, of this committee Mr.. w. II. Kline
was chairman, Mr.. Conrad Cline and
myself were members. This commit
tee had never made anv report; L had
not been asked by the chairman to join
in any report; do not know that a
report was asked from that commit
tee. although see by the World re-
port that the chairman moved that the
bill be paid.
"What were yonr reasons" asked
the reporter, ''for opposing the pay
ment of the bIll?''
"From all information at my com
mand feel that the bill is outrage
Gus. and said in Council / would not
vote to pay it until Il jury had passed
on 1t. The bill AS presented was for
5000 for one days trip to Martinsburg
to look over the ground and 5000 more
for analysing eight specimens of wat
er $400 in all twice as much as is
paid the Mayor for years service,
within one hundred dollars as much
as j. paid all the members of the
Council for years services, within
two hundred as much as is paid the
clerk for year service.
Some years ago DIR. Baker secured
an analysis of three specimens for
$500 Last 81 DIR. New himself an
alvzed six sr linens for 500. Inquir-
les # repu Nsble chemist in the city
of New Yor lssecured an answer that
ten dollars specimen, or three for
twenty five dollars was the usual
charges in the profession. Allowing
Dr. New $50. for his davis trip to
Martinsburg it can readily be seen
that 1925. would have been full pay
m u I"
II conclusion. Mr.. Westenhaver
said. ~ am glad You have given me
the opportunity by your questions to
make this statement, as your report
put me in the attitude of voting for
this bill, or at least not opposing it
when in fact it was acted on under
exceptional circumstances that could
not be foreseen by me while was de
tanned for few minutes in matter
in which the whole community is in
terested.
When such strenuous efforts are be-
49,. xx.aIa - nav aT +ho Aratirr I.ht