The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-20
WOULD RAISE FARES BUT MAIN
TAINS IT CANNOT AFFORD PAY
MEHT or RENTAL.
CLAIMS THAT OPERATING COST IN
LAST TWO YEARS AMOUNTED TO
80 PER CENT OF REVENUE.
LEGAL FRATERNITY ENTEE INTO
VERBAL COMBAT TO THE GREAT
AMUSEMENT OF PUBLIC.

The village council held special
meeting at the City building last night
for the purpose Of considering the pro-
posed franchise agreement between the
village and the Wheeling Traction COM
pany The meeting was opened by the
reading of the final draft Of the ordin-
ance, which is substantially the same
as the old agreement, with the exception
of providing for an annual rental or
5000 per annum, payable to the VII
lage in quarterly installments. tt IS
also provided that the traction company
shall pay to the village the sum OF $25
for every day that the care are prevented
from operating when the fault lies with
the company.
Mr., Billings. superintendent Of the
traction company, was present at the
meeting and requested that he be grant
cd a hearing on the matter. His request
was granted. and he began his remarks
by complimentinG the members OF the
council, as we'll as the city solicitor, on
the fact that they had prepared an agree
ment which covered the ground more
fully and protected the interests OF the
citizens better than any OF the numer-
GUS agreements with which he has ever
had to deal, but he said: " never read
an agreement which was more drastic,
but the traction company positively
cannot accept any agreement which car
ries a rental clause, such az the one
before the body"
The ordinance was read by the solic-
itor, following which Councilman Nein-
iger moved it's adoption. The motion
was seconded. The contract WAS then dis
cussed by Mr.. Billlns and the members
Of council section by section, and few
minor changes made and all passed along
tremendously until section IA was reach
cd, which provides for the annual rental.
| and to this section the official Of the
traction company stated he had serious
objection.
He stated: THE traction company
takes the position against the payment
Of any rental following long and care
full consideration Of operating expenses
and taxes, all Of which are very high.
FIe remarked further: There Is moth
ing in the future which depends more on
anything else than we'll operated street
railway, and the company will very will
Iingly agree to all Of the other provis-
ions Of the proposed agreement with
the exception of the rental"
Councilman Meinlger raised the point
| that the former superintendent Of the
| company had suggested the rental prop
/ osition. Mr.. Billings answered that the
| proposition was made on the superstition
that the company would be permitted
| to raise the fare to cents. and provided
| the council would accept the plan Of
| charging this fare, the company would
| still be willing to agree to the rental
clause. Mr.. Morrow questioned the SUI
pcrintcndent regarding the proposed in
crease in the fore from Bcllairc and
! Wheeling Creek to Wheeling. and Its
| probable effect on the increased revenue
| Of the company. Mr.. Billings admitted
! that would make an actual increase OF
! 20 per cent in the revenue OF the com.
| pany.
Mr.. Billings offered to turn over thu
| books Of the company to anyone agree
| able TO the members Of the council. tina
| they might investigate the financia
condition Of the company and decide fol
! themselves as to whether the compan!
| was able to stand the strain OF a renta
payment such as was asked by thu
members Of the council. He said dur
been asked. regarding their ideas Of
what the memorial should be. Scvera
seem to be or the opinion that a build
ing of the y. VI. c. 4. would be abou
the best project that could be consider
| ed. The building could be erected II
! memory Of the mon who offered Their
services to the country and all OF tn
people of the city could have the priv
! lcgc Of enjoying the place. 1t is sus
for the men Of the Federated Bib,
-