Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-13

tion-Report From the Charleston
Committee.
A review of the electric light situa-
ton and relative recommendation for
the future, formed the principal ques-
ton under discussion at last evenings
meeting of the Wheeling Board OF
Trade. There were twenty MEM
bers present and the remarks in order
were of highly interesting nature.
After few routine matters had been
satisfactorily disposed OF, Secretary
/ Thompson read report from the COM
mittee appointed to visit Charleston
+, in the interests of the electric light
bill. This was followed by an express
sion of statements that consumed over
an hour and led to the adoption OF an
amendment to the measure, which was
generally deemed the best possible
means for forwarding and further pro-
/ teoting the interests of the city.
The report being submitted, Walter
Rinehart moved that it be adopted,
and Col Thomas O'Brien took the floor,
contending that the law did not place
the city in as good a position as for
merly.
Mr.. Buchanan argued to the contrary,
and spoke in behalf of the committee
that had visited Charleston. He said
that they had been unfairly criticized.
The greetings they received from the
ohio county delegation, with few or no
exceptions. told them that they had no
chance to get the bill through. They
consulted around and finally found MIR.
Howard.
Il will tell you how it was con-
tinued Mr.. Buchanan so that the
Board may act intelligently upon it.
1 want to get rid of it. I want it lifted
from my shoulders. We were prom
ised favorable terms and we held a
meeting in Mr.. Hooks Office. We I'M
derstood that the franchise would re-
vert to the city in case of purchase
of the plant; that is, we were only to
buy the assets of the company. Now,
this might be construed to mean that
the franchise was considered as one Of
the assets. The old franchise is to run
only seven years, and we have been
told that we need not worry about the
new franchise recently granted the
company"
MIR. buchanan then offered the follow
ing amendment to the bill:
IF, however, the two shall fail to
agree upon the third member within
thirty days from the date of their ap-
pointment, then the third shall be Sc
lected in the following manner:
1.-THE said city shall apply to the per-
son who at the time shall be the judge
of the Circuit Court OF Ohio county,
Part l, or of any court which may have
then succeeded to the jurisdiction of
said Circuirt Court, Part q, for the ap-
pointment of the third member of said
board, after giving the said company
five days notice of such application
Such person shall thereupon appoint
the third member of said board with
the same effect as if such member had
been selected by the two first chosen.
The decision of majority of such
board constituted in either of said ways
shall be final.''
Secretary Thompson said he learned
that they could have bought the cleo
trio plant under the provisions of the
old bill. The new law put Wheeling
in better position than the former
one, because it empowered the Circuit
Court to appoint third party on the
arbitration committee without any
ifs or "hows." while otherwise the
company could have told its arbitrat-
ing party, if it so desired, not to agree
in the matter and consequently the mat
ter might never be settled.
Mr.. Brady thought that Wheeling
ought to go into the electric light bus
mess. Now was its opportunity
They should not start out as competi-
tor Of such company as the Wheeling
Electrical Company. The physical as
sets were we'll understood and the COM
mittee thought that it included the
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