Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-24
PROTEST FROM BENWO0D.
Counciimea as to the Action of the
City Fnthers-rhey Severely triti-
else the Mayors Conduct In the
Traction Extension Matter.

tounciimea as to the Action of the
city Fnthers-They Severely Criti-
else the Mayors Conduct In the
Traction Extension Matter.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-Mayor Shepherd. OF Benwood.
is, We believe, only the mouthpiece of
Mr. Joseph Mahood, and he completely
ignores the majority of Council. This
was clearly demonstrated by the fol-
lowing description OF last nights meet
ing, notwithstanding the fact that ODE
dience to the will OF the majority Is
the fundamental principle Of the gov
eminent OF this country.
The Council. of Benwood is composed
of eight members and the Mayor.
Mayor Shepherd and the Councllmen
Stewart, Gately and Kelly. met and
elected William Hall and John Blake
as members of Council. Councilman
James Kelly stated that he did not
vote on the election, or appointment. OF
above metioned Hall and Blake. After
this was accomplished by the Mayor
and the two Councilmen, Messrs. Min
er, Seabright, Schramm and Whalen
appeared. The Mayor then ordered a
roll call.
For as much as the charter of this
city demands tsection 81 that the COM
mon Council shall fill by appointment
any vacancy which might occur within
its body, and furthermore the charter
(section O. states that a majority OF
the Council shall be necessary to form
a quorum for the transaction OF bust
ness" therefore Councilman Seabright
inquired of the Mayor, by what author
ity Messrs. Blake and Hall were en-
titled to vote, for as much as no
quorum had been present previous to
the roll call. The Mayor suffered and
stumbled in his speech and the re-
corder at this point admitted that Mr..
Slippner's resignation was on the
table.
The peculiar feature in the transac-
ton was that the Mayor and two
Councilmen elected two alleged new
members of Council before the "resig-
nation" concerning which 1T has been
alleged that it was forged, was read.
We, the undersigned, hereby protest
most vigorously against the arbitrary
action of the Mayor at the last meet
ing. We, Furthermore, emphatically
assert that the action OF the fve mem
bers of Council, present at the regular
meeting on July 9th, which was held
in accordance with all the requirements
of the city charter, is endorsed by an
overwhelming majority of the citizens
of Benwood and the opponents OF the
ordinance passed by these five mem :
bers. dare not submit them to gener-
al vote of the people, inasmuch as they
positively know that they Will be lg-
ANONYMOUSLY defeated by the people. In
proof of this, in order to sustain the
above assertion, we cite the fact that
petition which was circulated in con-
demnation of the action OF the five
Councilmen who voted for the ordi-
nances, proved a complete failure.
The ordinance of the Wheeling Trac-
ton Company, passed at the regular
meeting of Council, July 9th, is praeti-
cally the same as was adopted Dy q
meeting of former Council when
,Joseph Mahood was Mayor and which
was introduced by Hon. Benjamin Will
son, of Clarksburg. on behalf OF the
Moundsville, Benwood and Southern
Railroad, in so much, as the latter
granted the right of laying double
track from lower Benwood to Shad
crossing. The present ordinance, now
ever, grants the same privilege with
the one difference that the present or
dinance provides for a i've cent through
fare. coming and going, which the ordi-
nance passed by Mayor Mahood and
his Council did not grant to the people.
Right is right. since God is God and
right the day must win.
c. II. SEABRIGHT.
CHARLES MINER.
JOSEPH SCHRAMM.
MICHAEL WHALEN.
I,,i,, oQd 1901