Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-26

The regular meeting Of the City
Council should be held tonight. 1t
was reported yesterday that the Re-
publican members nave determined nOt
| to be present, and thereby to prevent
a quorum in the First Branch. The
object of this action is to delay mat
tiers, pending a decision by Judge Her.
| yey upon the petition for a writ of
mandamus by the old Board of Public
Works.
There are several important matters
to come up at to-night's meeting. One
is the compromise recommendation of
the conference committee, upon the
personnel of the standing committees
of Council. 1t is understood that the
| conference committee has agreed, but
members have decided not to make the
report public in advance of the meet
ing of Council, for reasons heretofore
given in the Register.
Another matter will be the approval
| of the bond of Mike Mckinney, the
| new superintendent of the water works,
and possibly the bonds of other ap-
| pointees. 1t will be remembered that
the Mayor has construed the law to
mean that the Second Branch must
approve the bond and swear in the
| onlcer, and is simply required to noti-
fly the First Branch of its action. I'm
der the Mayors ruling, the bonds will
be approved if there is a quorum.
Secretary Chew, of the Water Board,
has nearly completed his report, which
is to be transmitted to Council to-
night. 1t will go into details concern
ing the state of affairs in the office
when the new force took charge. 1t is
expected that the report will show the
amount of delinquencies, and it will be
a surprise to those who are not ia
miliar with the situation.
The Water Board continues in the
work of forcing settlements by the
threat of cutting off the water sup
ply. One heavy property owner paid
| about $65 delinquent rents yesterday,
and will pay $50 or $40 nor to-day.
| Citizens who have been paying their
water rents regularly have been sur
prised to learn that others who are
| equally able tospay, have been permit
ted to run on Indefinitely. Yesterday
was another big day at the Water
| Board office, the receipts being double
that of the corresponding day Of last
year, and including a number of de-
| linquent bills.
1t is understood that the d%elinquen-
| cies averaged about $4,000 a year,
which is a large amount when it is
considered that the revenues of the de-
partment amount to only $1O0, 600 a
year. Much of the money could have
been collected, and in fact is being col
lected. If there is any bill on earth
that can be collected. it is a tax bill.
The enforcement of the rule of turn
ing off the water supply in cases of
! tardy payment, has already brought a
large number of delinquents to the
line.
When the mandamus proceedings, in
| stituted by Caldwell & Caldwell, come
I'D in the Circuit Court Thursday, the
| matter will probably be argued upon
it's merits.
Further facts are leaking out con-
| corning the efforts of the old Office
holders to levy assessments upon the
| employees of municipal departments. to
pay the fees of Republican counsel.
| Supt. Thompson, of the gas works, is
said to have declined to assess his
| s%ubordinates, for the reason that it is
not their fight. Chief Bob Cline, of
the fire department, is said also to
| have declined to raise money among
the firemen, feeling that it is a very
| nervy proposition on the part of ex-
| office holders, to assess men who earn
sixty dollars a month, for a matter
in which they have no concern.