The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-15

Transacted, ste., DC. gA 3 5-
.aot % SECOND BRANCH. hs}ta
The following members answered TO
their names at roll.call in this Branch:
Adams, Campbell, Fisher, Goodiellow,
IAnes, Hanson, Horkheimer, Logan, Pol
lock, Reeves, Simpson, stoker, vockler,
Wait, Mr.. President-l5. I.5
The minutes Of the previous meeting
were read, approved and signed. ~
RIPoRs op COMMITTEES
being in order, the following were read:
accounts Balance in hands Of City Re-
celyer Jan. 1, 1879, sl,5s4OS. Fines col
locted IN December 1878, $3.50 80; lookup
fees, Sl7 90; total amount collected $S2S 10.
Bills reported by the committee aggregated
1885 %. Report fled and bills ordered
paid.
Marktts-This committee returned the
ordinance repeating the 18th section Of an
Ordinance in relation to Markets, with the
Recommendation that II DO rejected, and
IeCULnLueuueu pay Uncut VI ulltb ukBEVkht-
ing $Sl 81. SO ordered.
Water HOrks-Reeommended payment
OF bills enumerated in Superintendent
report, amounting TO S72SS9; also that
bills named in report OF committee,
amounting to 1928 81, be paid. The rec.
concentrations Of the committee were
adopted.
Real Etdle-Reported that In pursuance
OF directions Of Council they had caused
the preparation OF drafts for leases with
those occupants OF city grounds who were
without leases, and had directed the exc.
cution Of the same; also that they had de.
termined the amounts due from renters OF
city grounds. AS subsequent to the said
action, the Committee arranged for the
opening Of ledger accounts with each OF
the said renters, each account to have a
statement OF the time and term Of the rent.
er's lease at It's head. The committee re.
commended that Mr.. Harry Caldwell be
paid 500 In full for services in assisting
the committee. The report was received
and filed, and the bill ordered paid,
Board Of Equalization and Appedl- Made
the following recommendations That
Wheeling Iron and Nail Company be re.
funded S16S so tax on So, 100 enormously
assessed for 1873; that Riverside Iron
Works be refunded 1905 tax on $6l 200
enormously assessed for 1877; that Wheat
& Son be refunded SIS tax on $4,000 err.
roneously assessed for 1877; that James
Ferrels property In Sixth Ward be reduc.
ed in value from $500 TO $1,000 for 1878:
that John Heckel' s assessments on personal
property for 1878 be reduced from 50, 900
TO $500, enormously assessed that the as.
Sessment Of Patrick .Wier's property for
1873 be reduced from $1,000 to $500; that
John W, Severing be refunded $50, one.
hall OF license paid by him on billiard Ia.
bles; that petition Of Ann Keer be reject.
ed. The report was adopted.
Fiudnce-This committee reported that
they were not yet prepared to report a
settlement In full with the City Collector,
and asked for further time to make a re.
port. They hope to make a final report
on next Tuesday evening. Ihtfe matter
OF Mr.. j. ]. Jones' resignation as Commits
sionef, the committee recommended that
Council do not accept his resignation as
such, and that the amount due him be
paid. The report was adopted.
Stretts, AAeys and Grddes.-Recommended
payment Of bills aggregating SO II; also
bills in Street Commissioners report for
December, amounting to Sl,3S9 So; that
the City Clerk be ordered TO make out a
bill against Messrs. Gillespie & Slater for
$l37 81, and place it in the hands OF the
proper officer for collection; that the Com
mittee on Legislature be requested to pro.
cure the passage Of the bill referred to BY
resolution offered by DR.. Logan, December
80, 1878, in relationto street paving. The
report was adopted. +" '-
FiR RpqFnlspi = Recommended Esr-
ment OF bills reported by the Chief Mar.
slal for December, amounting to So 81 f;
that bill of Joseph Greer, for three
months services as Curator OF Second
Ward Hose House, amounting to SIS, be
paid that I. 7. D9rpenteris, bill OF 50 fol
services as Acting Fire Warden be paid
that Committee on Fire Department be
authorized to cause new tluOs't to be placed
In the Steamer United, and otherwise
placed in good working order; that the
Committee on Fire Department be direct.
ed to purchase suitable gum coats and
caps or hats for the officers and men Of the
Fire Department at a cost not exceeding
slaa. The renart was adopted.
City Frl9Qn-Recommended that bills en-.
umerated in the reportlof the Sqperintend.
ant Of City Pris0n, aIiOuntlneto $I4i So
be paid to the parties named in said re.
port; that bills aggregating S27 So be paid
Adopted. ftfEs
Investigating Committee.-Thc joint special
investigating committee submitted re,
port. After the complexion al The OK.
animation Of the Collectors Office and
their report thereon to Council, the Com.
mittea turned their attention to the Clerk 4
Office. An examination OF the hooks dis.
closed the fact that they had been so
kept that it would be impossible from
them to ascertain the correct financial con.
dition OF the city. This examination
showed that at the time Mr.. Goo. q. BLACK
was employed TO adjust the city books in
1872 his work was well done and the books
were in balance and the accounts
properly brought UP. In January, 1873,
Mr. ]. A, Britt was eieCtad CITY CLERK,
ond he proceeded to open now set OF
books without sufficient reference 10 the
books Mr.. Black had closed. In many
cases the balances were not brought for
ward from the old ledger 10 that opened
by Mr.. Britt, Mr.. Britt remained in office
four years, end by the time his SECOND
term expired his hooks ware in such Sh a
state Of confusion that It was regarded bv
the committee as inexpedient 10 correct
them except by opening q new journal
and ledger and making up the accounts
from the beginning. When Mr.. Upde-
graf came into the Clerks office he opened
q new ledger. So far as the accounts in
this ledger so, the committee believe them
Ia be gouppt, but It falls to show tho true
financial condition Of the city, because Of
the accounts dropped from the books by
Mr.. Updegratf's predecessor.
In view ofthese circumstances, thecom,
mlttee directed Nv, phsnaler ia procure
new books and re:wrile thebusiness OF The
city from the original entries, for The years
1873, 1874, 1873 and 1870, and re,post the
business Of the past two years into the new
ledger. This duty Mr.. Chandler perform.
ed, and the committee presented 10 Coun.
Gil his books, covering the business Of the
city for the past six years, statement al
the FINANCIAL condition Of The eitY on the