The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-25
GREATER CITY
CHARTER BILL
BECOMES LAh!!
ACTION TAKEN BY
C0RNWELL MONDAY
Means Referendum Vote 10
Be Held on Annexation
June Is.
By THoS. D. MAYS.

Spccial Dispatch to The 1ntrlligcnccr.
CHARLESTON. w. Va. Feb. "a
The Greater Wheeling charter bill VIII
hcrnmn law Tomorrow Governor j. D.
CornwGiI having to-day filed the meas
urc with Secretary nf State Houston
G.. Young without his signature. HAY
inc been placed in Tho governors hands
ON Thursday. ihc hill automatically be-
cnmrs law with the expiration Of Inc
iiv.-day limit in which the state c%ccu-
tive is allowed for approval or dlSap-
prevail
The action Of the governor to-day IN
filing the measure with tho secretary OF
state definitely closes what was un-
douhtrdly the most interesting local
bill brought before Tho 1919 session or
the WcS, Virginia legislature and bcnrs
out tho prediction of The Intcllisenccr
that the measure Would become law
without the signature of the governor
Made Strong Fight.
AZ the public committee hearings
that were held at the capitol on the
Greater Wheeling bill. the referendum
feature Of the measure was bitterly OPP
posed by Wnrwood residents. who. fall
ing in their efforts before the senate
and house committee to amend the Dill
To provide for separate referendum for
! Wheeling and The communities pro-
posed to be annexed. carried their tight
10 The office of the governor.
The opposing element was small IN
! numbers, but what they lacked in this
| respect they more than made UP in de-
i termination and prcsiStcncy. In the
first committee hearing the opponents
to thr bill succeeded in getting the Dill
| amended but when the measure Was
Drought up in the house OF delegates II
| WAS restored to lis original form over
! the rrrnmmrndation Of the committee
| that the hill pass as amended.
Tho out-ihc-pikc ppcoplc came to
hearings On tn" bill and stood by their
suns until the measure had been finally
, passed by both houses and placed on
. the desk Of the governor.
Strongly Endorsed,
! Tho filing o. tho bill today with tho
I secretary OF state is taken as an an
J Swer to the wishes Of representative cit
! izrns and business mon Of Wheeling,
; who appeared here in the interest OF the
| bill, which also had the endorsement OF
many civic and business organizations
Of Wheeling.
! i
! and Elective within l"0 days. or on
Juno %. 1919. when IN election Ia 10 b.
held on ,h, question nf arncxi1G addi'
tinnai territory 10 tho city OF Wheeling,
: Wheeling had five local measures oc-
. fore the lcgislaturr. four of which were
: enacted. Two hill" proposed charter
/ anu ndmcntS. o"c rotating 20 street paw
! ing and limit Of tax lcvrS. etc. and the
! Greater Wheeling bills. were adopted.
, \ third charter bll providing for the
: election Oi III" MAYER AMI chief "I pn-
! lice, which was opposed by some Wheel
! ir. citizens WAS allowed 10 die III the
| cumIHitt"c ON counties. districts ana
municipal corporations. 4 m"asur" au'
: thnri1:ng the Wheeling Independent
| school district l." rurchaS" an athletic
! field was passed ana approved by tbs
: governor. Tn" fourth mraSur" passed
: was oil,' rr""ih'n;: for IN" csiahIisnmon:
! and Inaint"uanC" uf tn" ph'" County
! law library in the county court house
! at Wheeling.