The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-19
GREATER CITY
CHARTER Up
To GOVERNOR
HOUSE CONCURS IN
SENATE AMENDMENTS
Governor Expected to Allow
Measure to Become Law
Without Signature.
BY THOMAS D. KAH

Special to The Intelligencer.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Feb 1S.-Th9
Greater Wheeling charter bill, hnally
passed by the legislature today, II COLI
currence of the house Of delegates IN
the senate amendments, will, in all
probability, become law without the slS
nature of Governor John ]. CornVeIl,
automatically becoming effective by
lapsc Of the five days limit for approval
or di.approvaI, the policy the executive
has followed with regard to all meas
ures relating to local matters.
Governor Cornwell, when interviewed
this afternoon by representative of
The Intelligencer, declined to discuss Tor
publication Just what action he 10 10
take concerning the Greater wheeling
bill declaring that UP to that time the.
measure had not been placed on his,
desk. o.
He pointed out. however. the poHcy
he had followed in dealing with 1ocal-
bills already passed by the legislature,
intimating that the Greater Whceiihg
measure, when placed on his desk. will
be filed in the office Of tho secretary OF
state to become law upon the lapse OF
the fye-day period. which, at the veiy
latest. will be on the last day Of the
present month. ..
Governor Cornwell explained that his q.
reason for allowing. all local measures
to become law through tho lapse OF time
was because of the large number OF such
measures passed by the legislature, a1'o
the utter impossibility on his part 10
look into and make thorough investi-
cation as to such opposition as may DO
registered against such oills.
II saw the Governor.
h,. COYTt.
we'll that A. C. Whitaker and Attorney
Brennan appeared before him today. re-
ouesting him to look into one particu-
! lar phase Of the Wheeling measure,
which. ostensibly, in view OF contct-
tion. made on the floor Of the senate
and house and also before the commit
tee hearing, relates TO the unit refcren-
dunn clause.
Governor Cornwell declared his inte1-
tions Of complying with the request OF
the delegation.
Despite the efforts Of the opponents
Of the measure to block its passage
after adoption by good ma1or1ties an
both branches Of the legislature, 1t is
assumed with all reasonable assurance.
that Governor Cornwell will follow the
, same noIicy as in other local bills pass
ed by the legislature at the present ses-
| sion. ,EE
.ThS Final Battls s,.z.,...e .e
I The final passage Of the Greater
Wheeling bill was effected in the house
this morning when the measure re-
ported yesterday afternoon by senator
| Bloch, as passed by the senate, oy
vote of % to 0, was brought up TOT
concurrence in senate amendments on
motion Of Delegate Harry A. weiss. pa
tron Of the bill.
The Warwood lobby was much In
evidence on the floor during the debate.
in which passage was opposed by Dele-
gates Hall. Bland Hobbs and Black
hurst who protested that "railroading
Of the measure was unfair to residents
Of the territory proposed to be annexed
, by Wheeling to prorfoe Tor the natural
growth Of that city.I
Deleeate William T. Otto supported
the measure in ringing speech and
upon vote the amendments were con-
Cured in. 81 delegates voting for its
passage while only II voted against II.
Those who voted against the bill were
Delegates Blackhurst Bannistcr. Bland.
Brammcr. Calhoun. Coberly, Cosncr.
cuppctt, Hall, Harvey. Hersman. Hobbs.
John. Lantz. Lester, Miller. Molohan.
Moore. Neale, Webster. Shaw, SpanBler,
Summers. Swisher and Thurmond.
Fifteen delegates were absent and not
voting.
The Bits Frov1Eions
The Greater Wheeling bill. as passed
by both houses of the legislature VIII.
If approved by the governor or allowed
to become effective by lapse, will De-
come law within 120 days at which time
q vote is to be held by wheeling and
the communitics proposed to be s1IS
nexed into Greater Wheeling on tho
question: For Annexation. and
|"Against Annexation. The measure
provides for a unit referendum for all
communities affected by tho bill. and
limits to one election only.
The Greater Wheeling bill was In
,roduccd on January % by Delegate
Harry T. Weiss. The public hearings
were held by the committees on coun-
ty.. district and municipal corporations,
each featured by spirited efforts ootn
for and against the measure by Wheei-
ing men and citizens residing In sur.
rounding communities.
On the occasion Of each OF the three
committee hearings large delegations or
representative Wheeling citizens ap-
pearcd to advocate passage OF the Dill.
Final passage Of the measure To-Day
represents n glowing victory Tor ooth
the public spirited citizens and oeie-
gates Weiss. Otto and Richards ONO
sou,tv oil of whom warmly supported