Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-15

City Hall. Inc Republican ex-Of1ce
holders. acting upon the suggestion or
at the dictation Of the party leaders,
have succeeded for two days in ser
iously ~obstructing the transaction of
the public business. How long this de-
plorable condition Of affairs will exist,
is problematical. but the public is
placing the blame where it rightfully
belongs, Notwithstanding the efforts of
the party organ on Fourteenth street
to conceal the real issue by a. howl
of revolution"
The Republicans did not institute
mandamus proceedings for restoring
r. F. Hill to the Presidency of the
Second Branch of Council, as they had
threatened to do as soon as Judge Her
vey opened a session of the Circuit
Court. They gave out the information
during the day that they had decided
to postpone the petition until the Goth
inst. The reason therefor could not be
learned.
'"The papers in the mandamus matter
are not yet ready, and / cannot say
when they will be" said legal adviser.
Col. George B. Caldwell, when asked
about the matter by a Register report
er.
The most important development Of
the day was the transfer of the super
intendency of the water works pump
ing station from Chas. NJ. Oliver to
Make Mckinney. Mr.. Mckinney took
charge at the Eighth street station in
the morning, and then proceeded to the
new station above the city. which he
reached a little before noon.
Mr.. Mckinney notified Mr.. Oliver
that he was about to take charge of the
station. There was no display of force,
o was it necessary. Mr.. Oliver said
he would remain about the plant, as
be was uncertain about the legality OF
Mr.. McKinney's election, and he felt
that he might be held responsible for
the conduct of the station.
Mr.. Mckinney took charge of the
buggy, which had been used by the
old superintendent, and rode down to
the city in il. The employees of the
pumping station are working under his
orders, and he is in full charge.
Mr.. Mckinney and Ross T. Chew,
the newly elected secretary of the
Water Board, have prepared their
bonds. and it is understood that a
special meeting Of Council is to be
called for the purpose of approving
them.
The police are still guarding the Of
fees of the two new municipal boards.
At the Water Board Office the officials
were present in the morning and re-
manned on duty during the entire day,
but did not transact any business.
They were compelled to turn away
citizens who called to pay their water
iShto, bOSduSC thC JAN WatCi oOuiu
and its employees refused to turn over
the books or to Disclose the combina-
lions of safes and vaults. A locksmith
who attempted to open the safe yester-
day morning, failed to do so. I,
The members of the old board stat
ed Wednesday that they were willing
to turn over everything to their sue
cessors, but when the time came they
refused to do so, and have not yet
done SO. In their bending to the die
tation of the party bosses, they are
inviting the censure OF all right-think-
ing men in the community.
At the B. P. w. Office the records
were also absent, but some business
was being transacted. The Board was
issuing permits, and doing everything
that was possible under the circum-
stances. The Board has not yet filed
all the Offices under it. In addition to
Otto H. Auber, Mr.. Andrew Stoetzer
is said to be a candidate for Street
Commissioner. The latest name men
toned in connection with the Office Of
City Engineer is that Mr.. Frank Hoge.
In the office OF the City Clerk,
Thos. OfBrien, Jr, was issuing youch-
ers yesterday. upon warrants drawn by
ex-Clerk lHornish. of the Board of Pub
lie Works, covering the pay roll OF city
employees. About 81, 400 was paid out,
about two-thirds of the sum being for
election expenses, ordered paid BIZ
Council at its meeting Tuesday night.
Clerk O'Brien is evidently determined
to recognize the old officers of the city.
but it may be safely asserted that he
will not do so in any matter which may
involve him or his bondsmen in
trouble.
DIR. S. L. Jepson desires It under
stood that in declining to vaeate his
Office, he was acting upon legal ad-
vice, and was actuated by a desire to
continue in the Office.
o,KAyE