Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-10

namely, the minority report from tho
Committee on Accounts, which will be
found in the proceedings OF the other
Branch. A long discussion sprang up,
several members deeminZ it their in
dividual duty TO say something. They
occupied over an hour in doing so and
il was twelve O'Clock when they finally
concurred with the First Branch and
adjourned.
FIRST BRANCH.
Capt. Wilson, Squire Schultz, and
Messrs. Adams, Criswell, Hughes,
Cowan. Boring, Schambra, Hall, Stone
and Simpson were the members Of this
Branch present last evening at roll call,
and Mayor Sweeney presided. Mr..
Carnahan and Cracraft entered after
wards.
The usual routine of opening was OBJ
served, though quorum was not OBJ
tanned until considerably after eight
O'Clock.
The resolution to buy steam street
roller was again passed, which has the
effect OF two.thirds majority at one
meeting. and gives the resolution effect;
The ordinance in regard to scales and
weighing, introduced by Mr.. Hall, from
the proper committee, was read twice,
amended add referred back TO the City
Solicitor to incorporate the amendment
in the instrument. After this was done
the ordinance was read third time and
passed.
The reports of the Street Commission
er and of the Committee on Streets, Al
leys and Grades were acted upon as in
the Second Branch. In discussing this,
complaint was made of the excessive
tolls charged by the Bridge Company
for city carts crossing. Mr.. Stone also
spoke of the hOrrid condition OF the APP
proach from the Island 10 the west
bridge. 1t vas also charged that the
Street Commissioner Superintendent OF
Water Works, Health Officer, Chief OF
Fire Department, and Council Commit
tees whose duties took them over the
bridge were universally charged toll,
Notwithstanding the fact that much OF
the work done by the city on the Island
should by right be done by the Bridge
Company, according to the provision OF
their charter binding them to keep Zane
street in repair
The action of the Second Branch in
regard to the report OF City Clerk Upde-
graft, in regard to expenditures, was also
cOnCurred in.
Mr.. Canadian moved a suspension of
the rules, and nominated a. q. Eoh to
fill the vacancy in the membership OF
the Branch caused by the resignation
of Mr.. Reister. Mr.. Eotr was unani-
mously elected.
The reports Of the Commissioners OF
Loans were received, and the accom-
panying resolutions adopted; also that
of the Committee on Water Works, and
those Of the Chief Mashal of the Fire
Department and the Fire Committee;
the Committee on City Prison and the
Superintendent thereof; the Com
mittee on Markets, on Real Estate
Equalization and Appeals, Cemeteries,
the Gas Investigation Committee, and
the usual monthly reports.
Several minor resolutions adopted by
the other Branch, were cOncurred IN by
general consent.
Mr.. Carnahan rendered his resignation
as member of Council, and recon-
mended the choice OF Mr.. VIM. VOL
vingtOn To ill the vacancy. On motion
of Mr. Criswell the resignation was ac-
cepted, and on motion of Capt Wilson
Mr.. WOlvingtOn was selected as MEM
Der from the Sixth ward in his stead.
AN EPISODE.
A majority and minority report were
received from the Committee on Ac-
counts. The former reported that the
city accounts were correct, and the lat
ter that they were kept in a very un-
satisfactory manner. The following is
the minOrity's document:
The undersigned would report that
they deem that the accounts OF the city
are kept in a very unsatisfactory man
ner, as they show that large sums of
money are being paid out monthly by
drafts drawn on the receiver by the
CITY Clerk in total violation of section
1t, ID and Is of chapter
of the city ordinances. They found
that the City Clerk had also paid
bills that had never been examined by
committees or ordered by Council 10y
drafts on the Receiver; and also adj
vanced money TO contractors for work
for the city by drafts on the Receiver,
in advance of the bills being presented
to Council, and in violation of section %
of chapter OF the ordinances.
The committee would also report that
that they found that the Receiver had
been in the habit OF paying out large
sums OF money, amounting to many
thousands OF dollars, to sundry parties,
for which he had no receipt or voucher
Of any kind, save pay roll
without any evidence that the
claim of the parties against the
city had been paid, in total violation OF
section 80 OF chapter Z.
The committee would further state
that when they informed the City Clerk
and Receiver that they could not APP
prove of the vouchers which had been
presented to them, that the City Clerk
used grossly insulting and ungentle-
manly language toward certain members
of the committee.
The committe report that they find
that the City Receiver has been paying
out funds during nearly all the year with
out any receipt from the party TO
whom the money was paid, amounting
to $4,000, possibly S25, 600 or more. The
committee had not time to make care
iul footing of the amount.
The undersigned do not wish 10 say
that they think or believe that either
the Clerk or Receiver is dishonest orhas
wiliully done anything with the view of
defrauding the city treasury. Still they
feel that the city treasury has no vouch-
ers but the simple word of the Receiver
that the money is properly paid out.
They ask the Council to pass the follow
ing resolutions:
RssOlred, That the City Clerk and City
Receiver be required to procure proper
receipts for all moneys heretofore paid
out by them.
Res6lrcd, That hereafter the City Clerk
and City Receiver be required TO COM
ply strictly with the ordinance in all
disbursements made by them.
+. J. STONE,
K. CowAN.
Mr.. Stone alluded with some empha-
sis to the charge that the City Clerk had
used insulting language toward mem
hers of the Committee, saying that he
never had heard as grossly abusive and
coarsely insulting epithets as used on
the occasion in question. Mr.. Cowan
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