The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-26
COUNCIL EXPLAINS
PHONE FRANCHISE
MEMBERS GIVE REASONS foH
GRANTING COMPANY PR1V1A-
EqE IN BELLA1RE
rnx1nuatton Of Bribery Is Emphat1ca11y
Deuied-Constderat Features
Council Meeting

,xed nv Bellaire council last night was
the franchise granted the chesapeake
and Ohio T"lriiIrn.' company at prev
IONS meeting. In signed statement
the members who voted for the iran
chase gave specific reasons why they
supported thu ordinance. The state
ment also denied the inSinuatton or
member that members who voted Tor the
ordinance were influenced by bribery.
Those who voted for the ordinance were
Messrs. Booth. kompart. O'Toole. and
.hc text of the statement they made
follows.
4 motion was mace ny O'Toole that
he communication be spread on the
minutes so that thr public can determine
why council voted for the ordinance. MT.
Chaser Objected to the word bribery
in the communication. saying that II the
word is left in the communication as
part Of the rrinutes lit would contain a
lie. What SIR. Myers said TO me was
where do you want your wad LETT. l
aid not mean to throw any lnSinuatlon
against any member Of council. l only
stated in the press what Mr.. Myers said
To- me aud why | voted against the or
dinance." Mr.. O'Toole gave his reasons
why he voted for the ordinance. and re-
fcrrcd To the East Liverpool case as one
u
.bers spoke Oh the motion which carried
after an hours debate. Mt. Chaser
said that in justice to himself If coun-
ill intends 10 place the communication
on the minutes that tn. article publish
I'd in the press be placed there also
and a motion to that effect carried.
The statement regarding the fran
chise. follows:
The first franchise granted by coun-
Gil OF the City Ut Ecllaire. Ohio. was
passed Nov eth. 1892. Ord. Book No.
l. page $3.50. TO the Central District and
Printing Telegraph company.
On unc 26th. 1917. II regular meet
ing OF council the Central District and
Printing Telegraph company. represent
ed by Nj. Myers. submitted an ord:-
nance providing :or renewal OF their
franchise.
On uly end. 1917. council met as com.
mittee of the whCic 20 consider the pro-
posed ordinance.
At the regular meeting OF council on
uly 10th, 1917, the ordinance providing
for the renewal OF the franchise was
read for the first time.
That council might have information
concerning the kind OF ordinances that
had been passed by other cities the
city solicitor has instructed Ia ascertain
from Otner SibIeS III Niiio "i'eAN N'A"' -''N
done.
This information was, duly laid be-
fore council and was Of great value 10
council in their deliberations.
At the regular meeting OF council on
July o4th 1917. ordinance providing Tor
the renewal OF the franchise was READ
the second time.
AT the regular meeting Of council on
Aug. 7th. 1917. ordinance providing Tor
the renewal of the franchise was reaa
the third time. ..
Al this Meeting council was unit
that the Telephone company pay an an
nual sum into thc treasury Of the CITY
for the use ~ the streets.
After some deliberations II was found
,hat council and tho Telephone company
we're unable 70 aGr"c and council oy
unanimous vote d, cihcd to lay the ordi-
nance on the tap.e until the first rega-
lar meeting ri council in September.
In the meantime council We're inform
.d that the Central District and Print
Ing Telegraph company were the owners
OF the Belmont Telephone COMPANY
franchise which had seventeen tiD
years before It expired.
That the Central District and Print
t,r TELEGRAPH company were the own
.-s or I'll. Ohio Valley Telephone COM
,ony.s franchise which is q perpetual
franchise. 4
They also learned that Section No p
&c General Code OF Ohio. provided