Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-17
TIE NEW LOAN
Win be Recommended to Council for
Adoption.
Changes Of 0rgaaic Law Proposed to
Pressft Debt Bridling the
Boafd---Last Nigafs
Ideas.

A meeting of the Council committees on
Finance and Ordinance, was held at the
city building last evening, with the follow
ing gentlemen present: Messrs. Wilson,
Hall, Miller, List, Peterson, Wilkinsoh,
Rosenberg and Loefler. The object ofthe
meeting to consider the memorial from
the citizens meeting two weeks ago, rec
ommending funding loan of $S5O,0OO,
and also recommending the passage of the
proposed amendment to Rule 4 OF the
Board of Public Works. Mr.. Peterson
made the point that the joint meeting was
Illegal from the fact that the matter had
been referred to the Finance committee, By
the Second Branch, and to the two COM
mittees jointly by the First Branch. After
little discussion, Mr.. Peterson withdrew
his objection. 1t then transpired that the
Finance committee had already met and
decided to approve so much of the course
recommended by the Citizens committee
asreferred to the funding loau; this raised
the question whether the Ordinance COM
mittee should not act on this, separately,
before the joint session proceeded. Finally,
however, all captious objections were re-
moved and the joint committee got to work.
Not however, on the loan question. The
amendment to Rule 4, Of the Board, was taken
up. and Solicitor Erskine went over it, de-
fning the ideas that had inspired him when
be drew it up. The idea Of remanding the
city back to the old idea of a committee on
streets and alleys did not seem to please
majority of the committee and they set
about hunting up new plan. This led to
revival of the talk of salarying the Mayor
and giving him additional powers, among
them, that OF vetoing ordinances and ap-
propristions. This occupied at least an
hour of time and was fully and freely dis
cussed, tut nothing was done with it.
Rule four was then taken up and on mo-
tiou of Mr. Peterson, a new rule was submit
ted. The solicitor was instructed to draw an
ordinance which would give the Board of
Public Works free and full swing at the
funds provided for their use but would
tfiectually prevent their spending any more,
or Asm mourning any Indebtedness. The
Board will have the contingent fund and
the 10 per cent levy, which will amount to
about $4,000 annually, which they may
expend, under the law, at their discretion,
without going TO Council for permission, or
without other hamper. The solicitor was
instructed to embody in the ordinance, an
ample provision with penalties in case they
exceed this sum. "And this" said Mr..
Peterson, will prevent them ever throwing
the city in debt and yet will leave them en-.
tirely unhampered. We must print that
ordinance in connection with the loan
and then the people will see we mean bust
ness and will ratify it"
The plan then, submitted By the Citizens
meeting, was adopted. The loan Of 1871,
and the Capitol loan will be extinguished
and all Indebtedness by orders will be
wiped out by the new (proposed) loan of
$3.50, 1000 which the people will be asked to
ratify, thus wiping out old scores and taking
fresh start. There will be much work to
be done, in committee, to perfect this move,
but it is expected it will be prepared and in
readiness by the municipal election in
January.
The suggestion in the Citizens memorial
in relation to preventions of mourning in
debtedness were considered covered by
Mr.. Caldwel's resolution, already adopted
by Council, and the special committee on
legislation was exhorted to get to work.