Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-13

the Second Branch over Correct
lions of the Minutes-C1erk Read a
Legal Opini0n-Mr. Hamilton At
tempts to Run Things In a High
handed Manner in the First
Branch-Body Finally Got Down to
Business and Disposed Of Accumu-
lated Matters.
One of the most exciting meetings
ever held by the City Council of Wheel
ing was that of last night. There was
a big lobby present and it was difficult
to enter or leave either Chamber DUR
ing the evening. Second Branch Re-
| publicans carried out their anticipated
programme of attempting to obstruct
business, but the bonds of the newly
elected officers were received and APP
proved. The fight was then transferred
to the First Branch, where the Repub-
licans evidently expected to block the
arr wal of the bonds.
They were treated to a surprise by
Mayor Sweeney, however, that was I'M
expected, and fairly took away their
breath. The Mayors ruling had the
effect of carrying the Democratic pro-
gramme to victory. The chagrin of the
Republican advisers was painfully evil
dent. 1t was manifested in an acute
benefciaries of the Republican pro-
gramme.
The Republican members of the
Second Branch reached the Council
chamber in advance of the Democrats,
and locked themselves in. When the
Democrats appeared in a body, they
found the door locked. Clerk O'Brien
stated that a relative of the janitor was
sick, and it would be necessary to get
another key. The Democrats threat
ened to break in the door, and it was
then opened from the inside. The Re-
publican members were in their seats,
and R. F. Hill was in the chair.
He settled down comfortably, but his
occupancy of the chair was Of short
duration. Mr.. Weisner moved that
Mr.. Hill be removed from the chair.
Officer Synder, who was IN duty, ap-
preached the chair, and Mr.. Hill offer
ed no resistance. Mr.. Shafer then call
ed the meeting to order.
The clerk called the roll in the Sec
nnd fPronoh and fuyapfv-coyon mann.
bers answered to their names. The
absentee was Mr.. Scheehle.
Mr.. Shafer said you will please call
my name as Mr.. President"
The clerk declined to comply, and
read the following legal opinion bear
ing upon the matter, prepared by Col.
George B. Caldwell:
Thomas O'Brien. Jr.,
City Clerk, Wheeling, w. Va.
Dear Sir:-In response togyour request
for my opinion as to your duties as City
Clerk, with respect to what minutes
should be kept by you of the meeting of
Council, held on the 18th and 9th of Feb
ruary. 1901, | would state that I am of
the oipinon that the said meeting ended
on the morning of February 9th. when
the motion for adjournment was put and
voted upon viva voce, and the motion de-
clared carried, and the meeting was ad-
journed by the President of the Second
Branch, as I am advised. and that there
fore the subsequent proceedings were void
for want of proper notice and call as re-
quired by the rules of Council and statute,
Of another meeting of Council. hat,
therefore, you should decline to record in
the official minute book of the City Coun-
ell, any entry or minutes of the alleged
meeting after such adjournment.
q RCAIDwEJJ
AT the suggestion Of President Shafer
the communication was laid on the
table.
Clerk O'Brien again refused to call
Mr.. Shafer as 'fMr. President"
Are Caldwell & Caldwell running
the City Council?" was a pertinent
query from Mr.. Killeen. Somebody
from the Republican side rejoined:
Chief Ritz is running it."
The clerk finally called Mr.. Shafer
as "Mr. President" under protest, and
read the minutes Of the previous meet
ing of Council. The minutes of Clerk
OHBrien only covered the proceedings
up to the time the Republicans were
forced to enter the chamber. This
omission on the part of the clerk pro-
voked the first squabble, and it was an
interesting one. The Democrats were
somewhat surprised, believing that
after his show of unfair partisanship
at the previous meeting, he would feel
that he had done his full duty to the
party which was of some slight assis-
lance in bringing about his election.
Mr.. Killeen was the first to raise
an objection. DR.. Plant moved that
the minutes be corrected to state that
the arrests were made at the request
of members of Council. Mr.. Killeen
seconded the motion and spoke Il it,
and it was adopted. The vote on the
motion was II to 9.
Mr.. Hazlett lead the opposition from
the Republican side, and some smart
repartee was INDUCED in. President
Shafer said he would recognize him, If
he wished TO discuss any ndin mat