Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-02
ON THE RIaRT.
The Council Financs Committee at
Work.
Expenditures Brought Safely Within the
Revenues Of the City---A Reduc-
ton Of Salaries in Some
Cases.

~ ~ AAAAA '" SSNS
Cases.
The Council Committee on Finance as
sembled in the City Building last evening
for the purpose Of going over the estimates
of the various committees and Boards of
the city government, as provided tor IN the
lately adopted ordinance for the keeping OF
the expenditures of the city within its reye-
nues. Mr.. Hildreth presided, and work was
commenced about 8 o'clock with the esti-
mate of the Committee on
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The committee asked for $20,S56.l0
bssing the estimate upon an average of the
expenditures of 1883 and 1884. The ques-
ton, asked by one of the members of the
committee, as to whether the members OF
the department could not be utilized to some
extent as a night patrol force, brought on a
long discussion, in the course OF which the
questions of pay, hours of labor, etc, Of the
members of the department were pretty
thoroughly gone over, there being a very
marked disposition to cut down the salary
list all the way through. Two or three
of the committeeman seemed to think that
$50 Der month vas an excessive salary
one gentleman expressing it as too near
the price Of skilled labor"
Mr.. Hoffman thought the report ought to
be accepted as it stood, and submitted a
motion to that effect, which was lot. The
discussion was then resumed on the salary
question, and finally the wages of foremen,
hostlers and tillermen were put at $50 per
month, no change being made in the wages
of engineers. The reduction takes effect
July lst. This reduced the total asked for
by 5000, leaving it $l9,958.l0 The ques.
ton of allowing 81, 900 for q new hook and
ladder truck was laid aside until the total
had been reached, and the committee pro-
ceeded to consider the estimate of the COM
mittee on
HEALTH.
The committee asked for $500. The
estimate was read in detail, and some ofthe
items were rather sharply criticised. The
committee finally cut the sum to an even
$1,000, and passed on to the committee on
MARKETS.
This committee asked for a total Of
5000, 5 $1,000 Of which was for roofing in
the Fifth ward market space. This latter
estimate was stricken out, and the committee
was allowed s., 1000.
CITY PRISON.
This committee asked for a total of So
245 so. When the item of 1918 per year
tor a Superintendent came up, n Of the
committeeman kicked. He said he could
not understand why a workhouse superin-
tendent should have 1915 and a fire depart
ment engineer only 1920. Somebody
moved to cut the salary to $50 per month
from and after the lst Of July, and it was
80 ordered. One of the guards was also
Topped off entirely. The item Of $3.50 for a
new s~tcrehouse was also wiped out, leaving
the total 81, 1893.
CEMETERIES.
This committee called for $1,000. Mr..
Caldwell thought the cemetery should be
given up. 1t was a constant drain upon the
the city, and was not properly a part OF the
city's business. After some discussion the
committee was allowed $1,000.
SALARIES AND LOANS.
The salaries of city officers footed up ST.
400. For interest, exchange and redemp.
ton o fbonds $22, COZ 50 wassllowed, divided
as follows: Compromise loan, interest, $4,000;
List loan, interest, $1,000; public building
loan, interest and principal, S5,600O; loan
of 1881, $7,OO2.5O. This made a total Of
S~30,002.50.
POLICE.
The estimate of the Committee on Police,
calling for $50, 900, was then taken mp. The
first objection was on the allowance to the
Chief of Police for summoning Council and
committees. This item amounted to S45o
in 1884, and 1902 in 1888. After a long
talk a motion to strike out the fees was
agreed to. to take effect July l. The items
of special police, 1892, and S27.lS for coal
for lookup hall the yearly supply were also
dropped. After some further talk, the pc
lice estimate was Jumped at $4,000.
SCALES.
This committee asked for 81, 900, and it
was passed untouched.
REAL ESTATE.
This committee asked for $3.50. The
item of 5000 for removing to the Capitol
was raced to $50. The offices of ~janitor
and engineer were consolidated at q yearly
salary of 5000, making $500 for the SIX
months remaining of 1855. This cut the
sum asked for SI,20O, and it was allowed
to stand.
CONTINGENCIES.
This was passed until the other estimates
had been footed up.
WATER WORKS.
This Department called for Stt,9SS So.
with an estimated revenue Of Sjl,5O5 G3
This left a surplus of S6,667, which the
Board asked permission to eXpend on a
new reservoir. The committee, however
declined to go into this.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS,
This brought up the subject Of streets in
general, and the discussion as to the merits Of
cobble and brick p~avements was entered into
with zest, in the course of which ~theintentions
of the Board in the way Of new paving and
repairs came out pretty strongly. In the
particular of street crossings Mr.. Gallegau
stated that it was the intention Of che Board
10 Law all street crossings with brick. The
estimates Of the Board were finally passed,
NEW HOUE AND LADDER TRUCK.
The members here did some figuring on
the grand totals of receipts and expendi
lures, and finding they were On the safe
side, the request of the Committee on Ere
| Department for q new truck, to cost $4,000
! was inserted, raising the sum allowed the
department to 81, 95S. 10,
H TOTALS.
A balance was then struck, as follows: