The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-12
BLANKET REFERENDUM
RESTORED TO MEASURE
No Separate Vote by The Resi-
dents of the Outlying
Towns Alone.
BILL PASSES SECOND
READING SWIMMINGLY
Its Adoption Believed Ger
tain-Means City Of
10000 Here.
BY THoS. D. MAYS.

Special Dispatch to The Intclligcncer.'
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb.
11.-Advocatcrs of Greater
Wheeling tonight scored a big VIC
tory in special session of the
house Of delegates, when amend
ments restoring the Greater
Wheeling charter measure Eirtu-
ally to it's original form were
added. 1t twas undoubtedly one Of
the most stormy and spirited meet
ings of the present session.
Amendments TO the measure
providing for a referendum for
the various suburban communities
affected by the bill as a unit,
which were recommended by the
committee on county, district and
municipal corporations, following
a heated public hearing in which
large delegations of interested clti-
zens from both Wheeling and sur
rounding communities took part,
were rejected by the house:
Amendments indorsed by the
Wheeling Chamber of Commerce
and brought here today by Edwin
Kline, were introduced by Dele
gate Harry A. Weiss, patron of the
original measure. After considera-
lble discussion both for and against
| the amendments, vote was taken
on the question and the amend
ments carried BY a good majority
Delegates Hall, Of Wrzcl; Blankhurst,
of Pocahontas and Brand. of MonongaliA
opposed the adoption Of the amendments
! while Delegates Weiss. Otto and kuy-
kendall. spoke for their acoption.
Tho discussion became heated at times
and tho chair was compelled TO rap for
order. Opponents of the measure were
in evidence on the floor lobbying against
the measure. the lca:&r being Attorney
+ II. Brennan, ono Of the out-thc- pike
men. who spoke against the bill at tho
committee hearing. and introduced the
amendment providing for tho unit refer
endum. which was recommended b. the
committee.
Tho measure was passed to second
reading and as predicted. bids fair Tor
! adoption by the house by the end Of the
present or first Of next week.
Delegate Williams. Of Ohio county
offered IN amendment to the measure
| relating to the referendum clnnsc dur
ing the session. which was hold espcci-
ally for the consideration Of local mca-
! sure, but later withdrew his motion.
Tho greater Wheeling charter bill as
! il now stands provides for II vote Of the
citizens Of Wheeling and tn" towns pro-
! posed to be annexed ~ II whole.
Other suburban citizens In evidence
| on the floor Of the house working
against were Mcssrs. Brown. Hood, Hell
! fcnbcin and Parrott of Warwood.
II is understood that the adrocators
| Of n greater Wheeling naTc also scored
! another victory on the proposed law
| now pending hefore the Legislature re-
Garding the Wheeling charter amend
ment bill. providing for tho election OF
mayor and chief Of police by The people,
abolishmcnt Of the office Of rity mana
scr and limiting of the mayors salary.
| The house committee on county. district
| and municipal corporations announced
its intention of making an adverse re-
port on the measure. but 1t is now un-
derstood that tho hill is TO he permitted
| 10 die in the committee. which will mean
| that the measure will he brought 20 the
attention Of the legislators during tho
! session.