The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-11

ACTION IN TIE
CHARTER CHANGE
MEASURE TO BE SLAIN
In THE LOWER HOUSE
Only One Member Of Commit
tee Voted for Mayor
Chief Bill.
Ry THOMAS D. MAYS.

Special Dispatch to Tho Inlclligcnccr.
CHARLESTON. w. VA. Feb. 10
"UnCavorablc" was the verdict passed
tonight by tho house county. district and
municipal corporations committee on
Whecling's charter BILL the third intro
duccd during the present session OF the
legislature. which proposes the election
Of tho city mayor and chief Of police by
tho pcoplc tho aholshmcnt Of the office
Of city manager and limiting OF the
mayors salary.
Action Of the committee followed
public hearing in which 4 delegation OF
Wheeling citizens. headed by Mayor
Morgan Vestcr and City Solicitor NJ. ].
Cullinan. opposed paSsag of the
measure. Only one vote was cast against
adverse recommendation Of the measure
that being by Delegate w. T. Otto. who
returned to his scat in the house Of
delegates today. following a long siege
Of Illness. Delegate Otto declared that
personally he was against the charter
amendments proposed in tho measure,
hut that he voted in the negative in re-
spcct to the wishes and rights of the
thousand or more voters petitioninE the
legislature.
D. A. Mckee. prosecuting attorney OF
Ohio county. appeared as the lone sup
porter Of the measure He explained
that he did not advocate the measure
from any selfish standpoint, but as the
employed representative OF the citizens
who expressed 4 desire for change in
the form Of government and manage
ment Of municipal affairs in Wheeling
through the petition addressed to the
legislators. Past. present and future
administrations Of tho city were brought
into the discussion before tho committee
and it was declared by Mr.. Mexico that
the present administration had not been
satisfactory. this fact being demonstrate
ed by the large number OF voters signing
the petition.
Mr. Mckee declared that the great
fault with Wheeling lay in the lack Of
revenue He maintained that the pco-
pie Of the city had the right to voice
their opinion as to who shall be their
| mayor. declaring with regard to the
proposed amendment to abolish tho Of
nee Of city manager; that If fault result
ed in that office In tho past 1t could
also in the future.
City Solicitor NJ. J. Cur1inan, Mayor
Vester, DR. z. l. Armbrecht and George
A Laughifn were those who opposed
the measure before the committee. Tho
speakers pointed out the progress of
Wheeling under the present charter and
form Of government. the suppression Of
gambling and vice being one alleged real
accomplishment under the administra
tion, in addition to installing modern
flre-f1ghting apparatus and planning Of
q modern water system. which is to be.
put into effect with the passage Of q
1oPD i,p f1,a
governors signature, providing for tho
issuance Of bowls for public works
Mayor Vcster declared that Wheeling
has made great step forward IN the
past 1S months. but that passage Of tho
bill would mean that the city would be
set back
City Solicitor Cullinan declared that
passage Of the bill would make tho
mayor and chief Of police responsible to
no one. and the legalizing of gambling
and vice, since no one had the power to
oust officials, who were accountable to
the people.
Tho bill, which was introduced BY
Delegate Harry A. Weiss at request.
provides for the election of the mayor
by vote Of the people; to impose upon
the mayor the duties now imposed upon
the city manager: to abolish the office
Of city manager: to limit the salary OF
the mayor to $1,000. and to provide for
the election of the chief of police by
the vote of tho people.
The measure also provides for a refer
endum of the people.
Mr.. Mckee laid before the committee
% petitions, each signed by 80 voters.
The delegation Of representative
citizens were backed by resolutions op-
posing the measure adopted by the
chamber Of commerce, Rotary club and
Ohio Valley Trades Assembly.
The committee went into executive
session following the open hearing. and
determined the report to be made to
tho house in the course Of few min
utes. Following the usual procedure.
the measure will meet defeat on first
presentnent to the house.