Wheeling Register

A STRANGE FREAK.

Councilmen Throw Dignity to the
Winds

And Hilariously Parade the Streets Behind a
Brass Band—A Formal and Pa-
thetic Leave-Taking

Last night was Council night. It was
also the occasion of one of the most impos-
ing pageants which ever passed in review
before a startled but admiring constituency.
The spectacle of the two Branches of a mu-
nicipal legislature marching hilariously
down street behind an Italian band, at the
solemn hour of 8:30 p. m., surrounded by
an army of small boys and gazed at by a
multitude of awe-struck citizens, is not often
vouchsafed to the conservative denizens of
our sleepy old town, and as the echoes of
THE USUALLY QUIET STREETS
were awakened by the sharp word of com-
mand from Councilman Tracy, or the high-
pitched injunctions to the band from Coun-
cilman Healy to "play up lively," mer-
chants and customers dropped bargaining
and ran to the doors of places of business, pe-
destrians stopped and came to a front on
the curbstone, windows were filled by peo-
ple in the upper stories, and the scene in
general became exciting in the extreme.

As to how this all came about we shall
proceed to relate:

No sooner had the word been passed
about, last week, that the Ark was to be
summarily abandoned, than the question
was raised: "Where shall the next session
of Council be held?" Some members, led
by President Sweeney, of the Second
Branch, contended that the meeting should
be in

THE OLD CHAMBERS

where a resolution would have to be adopted
setting forth the change in the seat of gov-

ernment, and naming the new place of meet-
ing. Council could then adjourn to
the new City Hall, and all would
be regular and according to law. Other
gentlemen contended that, inasmuch as the
law on the subject only provided that ses-
sions were to be held in the "Council Cham-
ber," no formal action naming a new loca-
tion for the City Hall, was needed. This
point was informally argued by members on
the street and elsewhere Saturday, Monday
and yesterday, and it seems a majority
agreed that the meeting should convene in
the north end of the Capitol, in the chambers
designated by the committee on Real Estate
on Friday last. There, accordingly, the
members repaired last evening, the atten-
dance being quite large in each Branch.

About a quarter to eight a Register re-
porter reached the north entrance to the
building, and as he ascended the steps a
confused roar as if of many voices blended
in uproarious debate broke upon his ear.
Pushing into the building the

CAUSE OF THE RIOT,

became apparent. All over the chamber
of the Second Branch were gathered knots
of Councilmen and city officials, all talking
excitedly at once. The members had di-
vided into two nearly equal factions, and
the theme under discussion was: "Will it
be legal to organize the two Branches in
the new quarters? or, should we go to the
old building first, and then adjourn and re-
assemble here?"

The gentleman who
believed in the first named proposition were
led by Mayor Grubb and Mr. Peterson, while
those who thought it best to meet first in the
old building were championed by President
Sweeney and several others. The debate
became very warm and excited, and time
slipped by without anything tangible being
arrived at. Finally Mr. Healy proposed, as
a means of getting at something, that the
two Branches march to the old City Build-
ing, call the roll there, pass a resolution de-
claring the

SEAT OF GOVERNMENT

moved to the new City Hall, and then ad-
journment to reassemble in the temporary quarters in the Capitol.

This was intended, as we have said, to
bring matters to a crisis, but it only made
the debate warmer and the confusion worse
confounded. The two Branches overflowed
out into the main corridor, and then on to
the north steps and the stone sidewalk. Several members loudly contended that the two
Branches should go up street by all means
and do the adjourning in a regular way, it
being alleged that questions seriously affect-
ing the city's interests might hereafter arise
in the courts should this course not be pur-
sued. These arguments were combatted by
others as strong and so the fight went on.
Several gentlemen "gave it out solid" that
they were going up to the old building, or-
ganize a minority and send out the Sergeant
to arrest absentees, while others said they
would never, no never go on any such

SUPREMELY FOOLISH EXCURSION,

and hoped they might be eternally blessed
if they ever saw such a display of mulish
obstinacy and insane asylum wisdom.

After the lapse of half or three quarters of
an hour of this sort of thing, a dozen or so
of the members of the Second Branch go-
together under the leadership of President
Sweeney and Messrs. Pickett and Harrell
and started off up Chapline street, while a
quorum of the First Branch organized and
got to work at something or other. The
Second Branch proceeded on up to Twelfth
street, down that thoroughfare to Market
and up to the abandoned Ark. Here it
was as dark as a coal bank, all the gas
pipes and fixtures having been taken out
and as the floors were littered with old stuff
of all kinds, cast aside in the
work of demolition, the members seemed to
be quite backward about going inside.
Mr. Tracy, in particular, declaring he would
stay out on the steps. Finally a Register
reporter struck a match, Clerk Bowers did
likewise, and the motley procession filed
down the shaky old hall and into the cham-
ber of the Second Branch. Other matches
were struck, Mrs. Johnson appeared upon
the scene with a lamp like a veritable Angel
of Light and the voice of President Sweeney,
from a dark corner, was heard, calling the
assemblage to order. The scene presented
was

A WILD AND WEIRD ONE,

and it will be many years before we may
look upon its like again. Clerk Bowers had
improvised a desk upon a dirty and grimy
window ledge, the President took his stand
upon the spot where his desk had once
stood, seeming to be in imminent dread of
disappearing through the dangerous-looking
floor, and the members and reporters dis-
posed themselves in a semi-circle about the
room, each man choosing the spot which
seemed to him, in the darkness, to
be safest. The roll was called
and from out the darkness the
following members answered to their names:

Messrs. Caldwell, Harrell, Pickett, Hildreth,
Tracy, Crawford, J. B.; Crawford, Robert;
McCoy, Clator, Butts, Gilleland, Healy,
Shanley, Weir and Mr. President—15.

A Voice—I move the reading of the min-
utes be dispensed with.

This was carried, and

SEVERAL MATCHES WENT OUT.

Mr. Healy—I offer the following resolu-
tion:

The Clerk read it:

Resolved, That the building located on
the corner of Chapline and Sixteenth street-
shall be known as the Public Building, and
that hereafter the meetings of Council shall
be held therein and all city offices shall be
moved thereto.

Resolved, That this meeting do now ad-
journment to assemble in the Public Building.

The Chair—The question is on the adop-
tion of the resolution.

Everybody called "aye" except Mr. Tracy,
who having fallen over a box in the dark-
ness, said something else.

A Member—I move we adjourn.

This was carried, and the members filed
out and down on the sidewalk, being met
on their descent by the First Branch which
had concluded to follow the Lower House
and was on its way up. An Italian band of
six pieces was playing half a block up the
street, and somebody proposed that it
be engaged to

HEAD THE PROCESSION.

The proposition struck everybody as be-
ing a good one, and the hat was hastily
passed around, a dollar in pennies and
dimes collected, and Frank Healy des-
patched after the alleged musicians. Mean-
while the members of the First Branch
groped their way up stairs in the dark-
ness, the resolution adopted by the Second
Branch was hurriedly passed, and they
emerged from the building just as the band
appeared in the waiting throng on the side
walk. The Italians were placed at the head
of the column, the Second Branch fell in
behind, the reporters came next, then the
First Branch found a place, and followed by
half a hundred men and boys, the word to
advance was given, the band began to play,
and the column moved down street. It
was an inspiring sight, and at-
tracted universal attention. By the time a
square had been covered, the street was half
full of people, and at several points the ap-
plause was tremendous. The route of march
was along the east side Market to Four-
teenth, up Fourteenth to Chapline, and
down to the New City Hall, where, about a
quarter to nine the band halted, opened
ranks and faced to the centre, and to the
solemn notes of a dirge played in quick time
the column filed past and into the
building amid wild cheers.

Each Branch at once repaired to its cham-
ber, and business was resumed, as follows:

Second Branch.

President Sweeney rapped for order at 9
o'clock, and the roll being called the follow-
ing members answered to their names:

Messrs. Butts, Caldwell, Clator, Crawford, J.
B.; Crawford, Robert; Gilleland, Harrell,
Healy, Hildreth, Jones, McCoy, Scott,
Schrabe, Shanley, Tracy, Weir and Mr.
President—17.

The Clerk announced that the First
Branch had amended the resolution in re-
gard to plans for a crematory, passed at the
last meeting, by striking out "the works
without cost to the city."

There evidently being some misunder-
standing in the First Branch, Mr. Pickett
moved that this Branch refuse to concur in
the amendment and ask for a Committee of
Conference.

The motion prevailed, and Messrs. Pickett,
Hildreth and McCoy were appointed as
such committee.

COMMITTEE REPORTS.

The Committee on Real Estate reported
the following resolution:

Resolved, That the City Receiver be in-
structed to draft leases, leasing to Michael
Brost a piece of ground east of the National
Road, thirty-three feet wide, and leasing to
Wm. Kronenwetter a piece of ground on the
Sixth street extension, 9x12 feet square.

Adopted.

The Committee on City Prison reported
bills aggregating $98.10. It also included
the report of the superintendent for the
month of July, showing 18 prisoners on
July 1st and 23 on July 30th.

Adopted.

The Committee on Fire Department
reported bills aggregating $329.36.

Adopted.

The Committee on Police reported bills
aggregating $177.93. The committee also
reported that it considered it inexpedient to
purchase a patrol wagon at this time.

Adopted.

City Clerk Bowers then read his

MONTHLY REPORT,

showing balances to the credit of the various
Boards and Committees as follows: Board
of Public Works, $28,691.21; fire depart-
ment, $10,439.53; health department, $6,
151.11; markets, $1,611.63; police $7,-
118.17; city prison, $2,317.27; scales and
weighing, $671.00; real estate, $715.91; cem-
eteries, $696.88; salaries, $3,199.55; contin-
gent expenses, (overdraft) $10,342.50; com-
promise loan, $3,598.25; loan of 1871,
$5,000; public building loan (overdraft)
$180.49; loan of 1881, $3,330; loan of 1881
$7,002.50; city Water Board, $26,939.07;
city gas works, $92,015.23.

MONEY WANTED.

The clerk read the following communica-
tion:

To the Mayor and Council:

GENTLEMEN: An appropriation is asked for
to pay the following amounts on contracts
in progress under the supervision of the
Board of Public Works:

C. Leonhardt, paving gutters and crossings $459.23
W. Stabb, curbing and stone work $905.60
James Gilchrist, surveying $40.00
Wm. Carney, laying sewers $498.19
Total $1,902.97

Resolved, That the City Clerk be in-
structed to issue warrants upon the Re-
ceiver to pay amounts mentioned above.

Respectfully,

B. A. GALLIGAN
Clerk B. P. W.

Passed.

RESOLUTIONS.

By Mr. Hildreth—

Resolved, That the First Branch be noti-
fied to come into joint session for the pur-
pose of electing a janitor of the Public
Building

Adopted.

By Mr. Caldwell—

Resolved, That the Committee on Ordi-
nances be and are hereby instructed to pre-
pare and report an amendment to the ordi-
pance prescribing Rules of Order, rule 15,
that the reports of the Clerk and Receiver
be read at each meeting of Council imme-
diately after the reading of the minutes of
the previous meeting.

Adopted.

Mr. Healy offered a resolution that the
Council provide sufficient lumber to build
a store room at the City Prison

Referred to the Committee on City Prison

Mr. Comerford offered two resolutions,
providing for the paving of the gutters on
Twenty-fifth and Eoff streets.

Referred to the Board of Public Works.

CHARGES AGAINST CLERK GALLIGAN

The following was then read:

To the Honorable Mayor and Council of
the City of Wheeling:

GENTLEMEN—Your petitioner respectfully
represents to your honorable body that one
B. A. Galligan, clerk of the Board of Public
Works, has seriously crippled, and does
cripple the workings of the Health Depart-
ment of the city of Wheeling by interfering
with your Health Officer in the discharge of
the duties of his office.

Therefore, I, George I. Garrison, Health
Officer of the city of Wheeling, prefer and
present the following charges, to-wit:

Charge 1. That he, the said B. A. Galli-
gan, did on the 13th day of May, 1885, de-
story a certain paper in my presence which
had been served upon him as custodian of
the books, papers, etc., of the Board of
Public Works by virtue of his being clerk
thereof. Said paper was an order from me
to the Board of Public Works, to abate a
nuisance on one of
the streets or alleys of
the city.

Charge 2. That he, the said B. A. Galli-
gan, clerk aforesaid, did on the 15th day
of May, 1885, crumple up and cast into the
street a paper which had been served upon
him, for like reason, and of like character as
described in charge one.

Charge 3. That the said B. A. Galligan,
Clerk of the Board of Public Works, did on
or about the 28th day of July, 1885, counsel
one gentleman to refuse to comply with an
order served upon him by me for the abate-
ment of a nuisance.

Geo. I. GARRISON.

Subscribed and sworn to before me in my
said office, this 11th day of August, 1885.

Thomas M. Darrah,
Notary Public.

This paper was accompanied by another
to the effect that the Health Officer had no-
tified the Board of Public Works to fill a
certain depression on Virginia street, and
that the Board had refused to recognize or
obey such order.

The papers were referred to a special
committee for investigation and report.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The resolution offered in the Second
Branch by Mr. Caldwell, providing for the
drawing up of an ordinance authorizing the
election of a janitor, was adopted.

The resolution from the First Branch des-
ignating the rooms which each Branch
should temporarily occupy, was passed.

The Branch then adjourned

First Branch.

This Branch assembled in the old office
of the Secretary of State at 8 o'clock last
evening, and after going to the old City
Building and taking part in the sad and
solemn ceremony there enacted, and marching
back in the procession, at last, at 9 o'clock
bers present: Messrs. Caldwell, Comerford,
Dobbins, Donaldson, Farrell, Gavin, Haller,
Happy, Hoffman, Kenney, List, Myles and
Mr. Mayor—12.

The ten cent levy was taken from the
table on motion of Mr. Caldwell, but again
failed to pass by the required two-thirds
vote, there being 7 ayes and 5 nays on roll
call.

The Mayor appointed Messrs. Haller, List
and Happy on the Committee of Conference
on plans for a crematory.

Various items sent in from the Second
Branch were concurred in.

Mr. Caldwell offered the following.

Resolved, That the large room formerly
occupied by the Secretary of State, in the
former Capitol Building, be used as the
Chamber of the First Branch of Council
and the larger or outer room, formerly used
by the Governor, in the same building, be
used as the Chamber of the Second Branch
until otherwise directed by Council.

Adopted.

The same gentlemen offered the follow-
ing:

Resolved, That the Committee on Ordi-
nances be and they are hereby directed to
report an ordinance for the election of a
janitor for the Public Building, fixing his
compensation and defining his duties.

Adopted.

The Branch then adjourned.