Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-06

- INC AoDIC ohc OF
Very General Discussisn All
Around Town.
One OF the main topics of interest
among all classes of citizens. yester-
day, was the special telegram in the
Register from Charleston, setting forth
that the friends and opponents of the
pending bill granting to the city of
Wheeling the right to sell electricity
in the form of commercial lighting had
suddenly and without previous warn
ing come to the conclusion that the
original measure which passed the
House of Delegates by an overwhelm :
ing vote should be so changed as 10
require the city as a condition pre-
cedent to engaging in business to pur-
chase the physical assets" of the ex-
listing Company.
In other words, before the city can
proceed under the proposed substitute
measure, the Council must agree to buy
and actually buy the plant, machinery,
pole line, lamps. tools, outfit and real
estate of the Company now operating
under a city charter obtained without
compensation to the people, but adopt
ed solely through the thoughtlessness,
to put it mildly, of a Council careless
of the public interests. 1t appears that
the city must pay nothing for fran
chise or goodwill, so the people are
not as badly off as they might Re;
but the measure as outlined is not as
favorable as the old law of 1891, which
simply required the city to purchase
the machinery of the then modest plant
of the Wheeling Electrical Company,
at a price to be fixed by arbitration,
and once actually fixed at about $32, 900,
for now we must purchase all physical
assets" Of a much larger company,
which undoubtedly includes reality.
The situation is an involved one, and
of necessity the complications bring
forth many divergent views as to what
should be done and what can be done.
Yesterday, gentlemen familiar with the
subject were unable to agree, and at
torneys also were Of divergent opin-
ions. Some people talked to by Reg
lister reporters held that the city ought
to reject the proposed measure calling
for purchase, go ahead with incandes-
cent lighting, and defend any suit that
might be brought in the Courts. 9th
ers, while admitting that Council had
foolishly and unwittingly given away
a franchise of inestimable value to the
public, contended that as it had been
granted, the recipients were in the S
session of vested rights, had expended
large sums Of money and were, in
equity, entitled to reimbursement by
the city. Still others contended that
the sudden decision of the public-spir-
tied citizens of Wheeling on the ground
showed conclusively that the lobby was
in command of the situation in the
Senate, and that unless the represen-
tatives of the people acceded to de-
mands made, the pending measure
would be killed. In other words, there
was a belief that those on the ground
in behalf of the city were convinced
that the essential principal of the old
law must be accepted in lieu Of moth
ing, for no other reason could be found
explaining the unexpected change.
Later kilograms may throw some fur
Their light On the subject, and they will
be eagerly awaited.
The Register found yesterday, as
above intimated, a wide divergence OF
views as to the matter. AS 10 the de-
STABILITY Of the city recovering her
lost rights there was no difference of
opinion. Even intimate friends of the
Electrical Company agree that munich
pal ownership would be a goot thing
for u citizens, and it is equally true
that the people deplore the fact that
not only one Council, but two, could be
found willing and anxious, with indie
cent haste, to bestow upon a private
corporation the most valuable rights
without a cent recompense, and this,
too, in a line directly conflicting with a
most important department of the city
government. These things are agreed
to; but there are those who hold that
inasmuch as the city through its legis-
lative body did give away a franchise,
and as men put their money and effort
into the resulting business in good
faith and by reason Of the city's DELHI
crate action, it would be nothing more