Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-03-02
THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW

The legislature has adjourned
Blueaeld's model charter passed the
senate in the Last hours and W.
no doubt receive the governors ap-
believe that this charter will give
to our city a business admin.stra-
ton OF it's affairs to an extent which
would be impossible to attain under
the present charter. So far as we
know this charter approved by
practically every citizen in Bue-
field.
While the people OF b ueheld are
gratified with the passage Of the
charter bill through the les stature
thy are much disappointed that the
biz providing for a corporation
court for the city did not pass
We understand that the only OPP
pos ltion to this bill was from a
few men in Bluefiel d who feared it
might prove detrimental to their
private interests, and alss from Mr..
w. B. Honaker clerk OF the circuit
court, who feared that the passage
OF the bill would deprive him OF q
few fees. AS to Mr.. Honaker We
have nothing to say. He Is not in
:erested in B.uefield 6nd the we'll
fare Of the people here seems to
have not been considered by him
when his PERSONA interests might
DE effected. AS to the part es liv-
ing in Bluefield who OPENLY OPP
posed this bill they have never been
known to allow the pubic good to
interfere with their personal inter
7sts. But we are not Wiling to
believe that the opposition OF these
people was the real cause why this
bin was not pashsd BY Mr.. Hawlsy
In the house Of delegates. There
Was covert opposition to the bill
by citizens OF BluefieHd who must
have had some personal interest at
sake, and yet who were not will
ng to come out IN the open and OPP
pose the bIF. This bill was unan-
.mously reported favorably by the
jHdlc AIRY committee on the 18th day
OF February. So far as we are able
TO learn Mr.. Hawley made no effort
What ever to secure It's passage by
the house. That Mr.. HawIey was
personally in favor OF the ball we do
cot doubt, for he advocated the same
both in Bluef1ed and Charleston.
rhe innusace which prevented him
from pushing this measure was evil
IDENTIFY not that OF the parties who
were openly opposing 1t.
This bili was drafted ~ a com
mittee Of the Bar of Bluefeld and
required considerable time and labor
ell OF whick was gratuitously given.
1t was approved by the Chamber Of
Csmmerse and by the officials of the
city. Practically sveW business
man IN Bluefield, so far as known.
approved it, and the people went to
considerable expense to raise the
necessary fand to send different
parties TO Charleston to urge its
passage by the legislature. These
people have a right to know WHO
tE4 parties are who used Their intid-
ace to xii this measure. II is bnL
j"Ft TO them, as well as to Mr.. Haw-
ey, that their names be given and
their reasons for their actions.
When people oppose a measure OF
sush public interest and of such un-
q estionable benefit to the people Of
blusfeld at large, they SHOULD have
reasons for their actions and MOULD
be WI ling to submit these reasons
to the consideration Of their fellow
citizens. We feel that it Is but Just
to Mr.. Hawley that this matter be
IT lained and The Lader" will
gladly pubhsh anything any one may
lay in regard to the matter.