The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-12
COMMERCIAL ASSN, APPROVES
COUNTY'S UPKEEP Of STREETS
REPORT OF OPEN FORUM COM,
MITTEE ADOPTED AT MEET
ING LAST NIGHT.

| ING LAST NIGHT.
Resolution Recommends That Tunnel
: ina of Wheeling and Reymann
Hills Be Further
! Considered.
; The report of the special committee
OF the Open Forum branch or the
Wheeling Commercial Association
recommending that Ohio county take
over and maintain several streets o.
! this city, WAS unanimously approved
! and adopted at the special meeting Of
! the association last night.
! Referendum No II. submitted by The
United States Chamber of Commerce
which would grant industries the cd
era! righI 10 enter into cooperative
I agreements to use natural resources
the association refused TO go on rec
; ord for or against the project
, Referendum No IS also submitted
! BY the chamber, which gives the Pres
ident powe, &c veto separate provi
sions il appropriation bills. will bt
, discussed by II. C.. Ogden at the Open
Forum luncheon meeting to be- held II
| the Hotel Windsor. Wednesday.
Referendum No. 10. on the question
Shall existing Federal laws be sc
amended or supplemented as TO re
! quire full public investigation OF every
dispute, strike or lockout on rail
! roads," will be debated at Il future
meeting Of the Open Forum by {. Bur
i CESS Taylor and Walter B. Hilton
! Some Of the phases Of the three refer
endums were discussed by judge
James w Ewing, Robert Lee Boyd, II
&c. Ogden. c. Burgess Taylor. Charles
I II. Watkins, A. W. PAUL, Arthur Lang
hans, John c. Palmer, DR.. Andre"
Wilson and others.
The speakers also briefly discussed
the taxation project. All emphatlcallS
endorsed the move AS splendid one
people of-this city, as we'll as bene
fit 10 all who visit Wheeling. II was
pointed out that the questions were
TOO important to pass over lightly, and
that after they have been debated al
the Open Forum meetings they vii
! likely be submitted to the entire mem
bership OF the Commercial association
The question Of the county's taking
over several Of Wheeling streets was
discussed at some length. II was
shown that the project outlined by me
special committee was most teaslDle
one for many reasons. The principal
reason for such Is that IS percent
of the taxes paid into the county cot
fer was from this city and that the
streets designated to be taken over
and maintained by the county are
simply thoroughfares from the tour
compass points into and out OF wheel
ing. 1t was further pointed out thai
some Of the larger cities i'll the coun
try have taken up similar. projects
The streets Of this city are IN a mlser
able condition as was cited by some
of the speakers, and the city has nc
money with which TO keep them IN bet
ter shape, while the county has large
surplus on hand at present, and II is IN
better financial condition than ever
before. II was also shown that this
CITY has a much lower tax rate than
iperhaps any municipality in the coua
! iry it's size. The report will be sub
mitted at the present session of the
Legislature after it has been put IN the
proper bill form. -.
The resolution unanimously adopted
al the meeting follows:
"Resolved:
That the Report Of the special
committee Of the Open Forum on
Taxation be approved and adopt
ed BE il further resolved:
mittee's report which refers to-
the tunneling of Reymann and
Wheeling hills be the subject OF
further investigation by the Com
mittee, and if the conclusions
reached indicate that the project
is feasible, and can be properly
undertaken BY the County, that
such steps as may be necessary TO
bring about these improvements,
be taken: and also that road be
built IRON Mount Wood road 10
point near The Milton MGColloch
barn.
"Resolved
, That The Wheeling Commercial
association adopt and approve the
report Of the special committee ot
the Open Forum on Taxation.
BE it further Resolved that this
report be transmitted 10 our repre-
sentatives in the state Legislature,
respectfully requesting that lhey
endeavor to secure at this session
the passage of proper Legislative
measures necessary 10 carry out
the committees recommendations
with reference 10 securing author
iZation for the County officials "
appropriate County funds, not 10
exceed 80 per cent OF the revenue
| derived from taxes collected ON
| property within this city, for i'm
| proving and maintaining the main
thoroughfares specified IN inc
Committees report.
BE it. further Resolved lhal the
Committee be instructed 10 CO.
operate with our Representatives
in the Legislature in framing olils
which will accomplish the purpose
set forth in the report.
MIR. Watkins stated that the Strre'S
designated and suggested for tue
county TO take over would he aoou|
| 10 miles. -,
Charles NJ kelchum. secretary OF
| the meeting. stated that George d.
Madison, who was unable 10 be pres
cnt owing to illness. had advised MN
that he had plans and bids for inc
tunnellng Of Reymann hill. lhal WrIe
| submitted at one time and "h'ct.
would give a splendid estimate VI
how much the work would cost.
! The special taxation committee Is
! composed Of II. c. Ogden. chairman ;
John {. Palmer. Charles II. Watkins
j. Harold Brennan and George o.
Mathison. ,>,
The meeting was presided over oy
1 n