The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-27
GAS ORDINANCE
WAS DEFEATED

Arguments. logical and Illogical.
sensible and uonsensical. and some
punctuated with oratory and hot air"
featured last nights session OF council
In the discussion on the ordinance
granting the Natural Gas Company
or West Virginia the right to sell gas
for Illuminating purposes.
This discussion came after the ordi.
nance. which was read the first time
~ the last meeting OF council. came
mp on motion for third reading and
final action in the First branch. The
ordinance was read the second time
for amendment. and when the motion
was made 20 pass 10 third reading
and remarks were called for. the ar
Eument started. Several members
and outsiders took part in the discus
sion, which was heated and a. times
grew very acrimonious FINALLY tho
question on the motion was called for
and the motion was lost by the fol
lowing vote:
Noes-Becke't Beariey. GroCan. Ha-
berstlck. McKown Ritter. Seidlcr
Sweeney and Voellinrcr-9.
Ayes-Conrad. Miller Nolte. Petit
cord. Redman. Scalloy and Megrail =
When the question was opened for
discussion General r.. :. Riley. who
had charge Of the snit on behalf Of the
city against the gas company. re-
strdining n from selling natural gas
for an illuminant. and which has been
submitted 10 the court and Is now
awaiting decision az the hands of
Judge ". G. Hervcy. was given the
privilege Of the floor and he spoke at
some length on the folly Of passing
such an ordinance by council The
General spoke in an imprisoned man
ner. not as a representative OF any
interest. but as n private citizen. and
argued at length against the passage
Of the ordinance. lie said that by
such action Council would take the
matter out NJ the hands Of the court
and thus place itself higher than the
courts To argued that cheaper gas
Was not IN prospect and that while u
might BE- secured for The present hy
the passage Of such an ordinance. Do
would
Sound the Death Hnell
OF the city ras plant and place the
city a. the mercy Of fWo corporations.
tho gas company and The electric light
Continuing. Tho general said thaf in
tho next Eve wears when the present
ordinance expires fho city viii BE- a.
the mercy az tho pls company and
they can charge Tor their gas what
ever price they please "lf is folly. "
ho said go think otherwise for when
Dr. comes f0 framing a new ordinance
the company VIII como Boo just Hs if
has done .n fho past and Boy 90 cannot
furnish gas for less fHau ao much and
council VIII have t0 E..r them tho
right to charge fh.s ncuro whatever
/ DO may bo or They viii threaten 90
. cease furnishing ras fp fhr city.
Whether ihry would carry oIt such f
threat remains fD be- soon. bui the fact
. remains chat they CON lcI lf iu other
cities at almost their own prre and
I it is reasonable to suppose THAT they
viii iato DO where fhey c1n got thr
most for f"
General Riley tlan rltc The coupc. f.
mon fnc benefit Of .gwr of Il. kunuI
edge r1.uod through h1ndhnr tho TO-.
| tuuuy in tho cult Of GOO city against
fbr r1a company. and ria entire fuIt
uas strong argum .nf ln favor of Iho
retention of fle ras plant and against
ihn passage of th" ordinance.
During thc talk OF General Riley he
vas interrupted several times tt
, uuestons that bad ruIr bearing ON
, Goo subject hy Councilman N1ifc VIZ
, Nnle was tiIr father 0f the rrarIu. '1u
fhlf ha. grown info tho ordinance. and
, 90 was apparent biz Interruption vera
/ fnr fhc purpose or dlrfrlcfnr ntf-fI.
ton from Che content Of Wr Iret
llis hnHl interruption resulted u
ST. niIcr simply renrre from ihr
fnur and fhru Wr tnifr delivered q.
lengthy Dissertation
.r upplr 0f t.r ordinance. If. went