Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-26

The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor
Assembly met yesterday in regular SEES
sion and transacted an unusually large
amount " important business and
made flaN arrangements for the labor
day picnic. The Assembly was called
to order BY President Hailes ana after
the roll call the following new dele
gates presented their credentials and
Were Obligated. Gus Lipphsrt of To-
ca. No. 60 Leather Workers: Oliver c.
Striuger local No OIL Painters ana De
eora-ors: Dennis o'Leary aud John
Drummer. Of United Lodge No. T. OF tn.
A. A. Of |. 5. & T. W.
The boycott list was read by Score
tafy Bauers. but it contained no local
firms.
The report of the special meeting of
the Executive Committee was read and
adopted and the following resolution,
which they presented was ordered cont
to Council:
To 'he Council OF the City Of Wheeling:
f The Ohio NAley Trades and Labor Az
semhf*. = body organized for the purpose
oi turthering and safe guarding the rights.
privileges and interests of the common
people beg leave to submit for the con-
fiaeration of your honorable body rec
I omfneudatioH as to your action In the
grant OF franchises.
This body has read I'm the press OF appl-
cations for the Tree use OF the streets.
winch afe tho property Of thu people.
/ whose representatives ven arc ltv certain
companies formed for the purpose of OPP
+ Grating street railways. Wa take the po-
sition that the streets of the city are built
up and maintained at the expense OF the
tANpaY ers. that no grant for the use of the
! people property should be made without
their consent, that the people stand in the
: same relative position to these applicants
~ an individual would applying to an
other Individual for permission to build a
! house on property owned by the second
party 1t not within the range of good
common sense TO expect to secure a priv
Hege Of this sort without some compensa-
ton Nhe then should the people furnish
ground upon which TO build private en-
torpriss without adequate return A mu-
nieipal franchise, such as proposed. fixes
a Value for bonding and would enable the
recipients or the peoples bounty 10 capt
talize the grant at a handsome figure, or
possibly dispose Of it at figure that
would net them 0 fortune without effort
on their part other than the compliance
With such initiatory clauses as are gener-
ally provided. These clauses, while they
the people, by providing that certain work
must be commenced and specified
amount completed within given time
are only m our opinion stepping stone
10 the Intent Of these applicants, l. G., tt
provide 4 means to. while technically
complying with the ordinance. induce
traine or seling out arrangement by IN
tlmldati0n of other companies under eoloi
of yonr authority or by bonding TIN
franchise and taking from the people VIVA
| Justly belongs TO them.
| We are firmly Of the opinion and thu
study of efforts put forth in other cltie
| With municipal ownerships OF public util
files as object, wifi, we are sure. con
vince YOU that the matter is one OF tbs
gravest import to the people and calls fol
| your best effort and consideration.
1t appeals to us that on the foregoing
predicate the city OF Wheeling, your ere
ators, liz In the position to engage In the
project OF municipal ownership and that
the present offers most favorable oppor-
tunity TO make the effort. Why could the
city not take the position of these appli-
cants and furnish the foundation for q
municipality owned and controlled electric
/ railway for with the ground to build or
Il is an easy matter to secure funds with
which to build n house
II mHy be urged that the city could not
obliFate herself for an amount sufficient
to buh and equip road. We answer
that the board could be authorized TO act
| on behalf Of tho people. the road TO be and
| remain the property Of those furnishing
| the money for a term OF years as might
| be necessary to discharge the debt from
the earnings of the road BY this plan
the actual cost Of the road would only
| be considered. there would be no fictitious
| value for the franchise and with the good
| credit and faith Of our citizens we could
| certainly obtain the money at very low
| interest rate
We have INDUCED In some detail TO
make our position plain and request that
no franchise be granted until the feasible
lty OF the plan above outlined Is thorough
| ly inquired into.