Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-01-18
THE LEGAL Birdie
To Restrain the Prancing stesd
Called Debt.


The Committee on Ordinances, with the
City Solicitor, have at last prepared the bill
to be submitted TO the Legislature, that IS
designed to 'orever prevent the city from
running up a debt, contrary to law" The
provisions are Of great interest m . syn
opsis viii be read with avidity. The title OF
the bill is ITO provide against the mourning
of Indebtedness by the city of Wheeling,
otherwise than with the consent of the
voters" aud its provisions are are briefly as
follows:
The fiscal year of Wheeling shall begin on
January | and end on December 81. On
or before March l of each year the commit
tees and Boards shall meet, the ordinary
committees separately and the following IN
pairs Board of Public Works and Commit
tee on Streets and Alleys; Water Board and
Committee on Water Works; Gas Trustees
and Committee on Gas Works and Lights
Each committee shall make ar estimate OF
its expenses for the current year Tor tue
department it represents, including all In
cidental expenses, the water board ana gas
trustees reporting also, estimates OF then
revenues, based upon the prices OF water ana
rss then prevailing. These reports b be
submitted to Council on the fourth Tuesday
of the same March and promptly referred
TO the Finance Committee. This commit
tee, after considering the amounts payable
on the outstanding loans, the current sal,
aries and the necessary other expenses OF
the city, shall report to Council
at the first regular meeting
in April, practicable estimates OF
the amounts that should be appropriated
for these several departments, and also Tor
the payment and redemption Of bonds, sal
aries, and contingent expenses. Council
shall then, BY ordinance, appropriate the
several amounts for the various departments
and this ordinance shall state, in detail, the
various estimated sources of revenue for
which the aggregate amount OF such appro
prialions may be realized.
II when the annual levies Of taxes are
made it shall not appear that from all
sources of revenue the full amount Of such
appropriations will be realized, it shall be
the duty of the Council to scale down the
appropriations to the said departments so
that the aggregate amount thereof shall be
safely within the amount Of revenues pro-
yidtd TO meet the same.
The three Boards-Water, Gas and Pub.
lie Works-may, without control of Council
contract and spend all the money allotted
to them by appropriation, but If any OF them
shall, in any year, wilfully or negligently
create or contract for expenditures in excess
of that amount, they shall be jointly liable
to Fay such excess and save the city harm
less. Any member who has, however, pro
tested against the spending Of such excess
may relieve himself of such liability by pre-
sent a report to Council, stating the
nature Of such contract, and the fact that he
protested against the same.
If any emergency shall arise when the
appropriations are sufficient all questions
connected with the same must be approved
by the voters before any debt is incur
red in behalf of the city, otherwise no debt
against the city shall be valid. Persons
contracting with the city, or its agents.
shall do so at their peril, when the execu'
ton of such contract shall require money
in excess OF the appropriation. Uncer no
circumstances, except by vote of the people
can n debt be created, anticipating the rev
enues of the next year. Council shall pro-
vide for periodical reports from all depart
menls 10 be made to the Clerk and from the
Clerk to the Council, 30 that, with reason
able accuracy, the amounts expended may
be always ascertsined.
1t shall be unlawful for the clerk, receiver,
or other disbursing agent to in any way
recognize rs valid, by issuing a check, any
Indebtedness contracted in excess of the
appropriations, but no such act shall render
valid such contract in excess. ANY viola
ton of this provision shall disable the Of,
fender from holding Office.
When any two Councilmen shall suggest
that any proposed expenditure will contract
a debt, such suggestion shall be spread on
the minutes and a vote on such suggested
expenditure shall be by ayes and noes"
in each branch and all members who vote
for such expenditure shall, if it creates a
debt, be held jointly liable to indemnify and
save the city harmless.
1t shall be the duty of the Solicitor to sp-
ply to court for an injunction to restrain any
nisapplicatlon Of city funds, abuse of its
powers under thus law. Should he fail so
TO do, it shall be lawful for any taxpayer to
enter such suit in his own name.