Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-31
The City Ordnance Devised il the
interest of Economy,
Tbs slOQueHt Lecture Delivered by Mr..
Edward Muphy, last
eyeNing,
A Good Joke on an East Wheeling Citizen
Interesting observation-disclosures
Of a CoRprOmise---The
City in General.

the ordinance TO keep the disbursements Of
the city within the limits Gifts revenues This
ordinance was reported from the Commit.
tee last Tuesday evening, but was laid upon
the table in order that il might be printed
and copies mailed 10 the members for care
tul consideration before action should be
taken. The ordinance, in many sections, is
identical with the one passed some six
weeks ago, when the endeavor was being
made to secure certain legislation from the
Legislature, but we reprint it, that the pub
lie may be fully informed as to what is tax
ing place. Following is a synopsis of the
document as it comes from the printer:
Section one provides that the fiscal year
shall begin annually on January LIST OF
each year, and that the present fiscal year
shall be reckored from January /, 1885.
Section two requires that on or before
the - day of April, 1885. and on or be-
fore the first day of March in each year
thereafter, the Mayor shall cause to meet
together the following committees Of Coun,
ell and Boards of the city: The Board OF
Public Works aud the Committee on Streets,
AAeys and Grades, the Water Board and
the Committee on Water Works, the Trus-
tees OF the Gas Works and the Committee
I on Lights, the Committees on Fire Depart
ment, Health, Markets, Police, City Prison,
Scales, Real Estate and Cemeteries.
Section three s~tipUlstes that these several
Boards aud committees shall prepare andre
port to a meeting Of COuncil, to De he'd on
the second Tuesday in April, in the yeac
1855, and the fourth Tuesday in March In
each YEAR thereafter, an estimate Of the
amount of money that will be required IL
meet the expenses in their several dePart
meuts for the current GEAR, including sala-
ries, and also including the amount sIread'
extended during such current year, togeth
er with such other pertinent information AZ
shall be necessary 10 a proper understand,
ing of the matters under their charge.
Section four provides that the articles so
submitted shall be by the Council promptly
referred TO the Committee on Finance, to-
gether with any other pertinent matter.
that may De directed by the Council Ihr
Committee on Finance is to consider the
various estimates and matters so referred /"
il, and the additional necessary expenses oi
the city aScertained by it, and Of the amount
of revenue reported, and the additional rev
enues that may Justly be required 10 b.
raised BY taxation and from rents and Other
sources, and make and report 10 the Cour
ell at the first regular meeting thereof l.
April, or as soon thereafter as %pracucabl
estimates Of the amounts that should be
appropriated for the maintenance OF the
several departments of the city government
The total of the sum so ascertained Is 10
be declared according TO section tive, ny
ordinance at a meeting to be held on the
second Tuesday in May in each year, and
if, when the annual leNies OF taxes ar
nade, it shall not appear that from all
sources of revenue the full amount of such
APPROXIMATIONS will be realized, it shall De
the duty of the Council by ordinance
aGcp'ed only on the call Of the ayes and
noes, to scale down the appropriations TO the
/ said DEPARTMENTS so that the aggregate
amount thereof shall be safely within the
amount OF reyerues provided to meet the
same.
Section six gives the two city Boards aud
the trustees Of the gas works power to
make contracts (under their rules aud reg
ulatiUps) for the expenditure within the
year, in their respective departments, with
out control by The Council, Of amounts not
TO exceed in the aggregate the amounts
designated BY ordinance for the said de-
psrtments respectively, but If any OF said
boards or the trustees Of the gas works,
shall, in any year, incur or contract Tor eN.
uendiinres in excess of the amounts SO
designated or appropriated by ordinance to
the use Of such Board or trustees, the mem
bers thereof shall be jointly and s~everslIy
liable 10 pay such excess, and save the city
harmless from and against the payment
thereof, and shall each forfeit and pay &c
the city a fine Of not less than $40 M
mere than 500.
Section seven provides that member VINO
shall have openly protested against the
making Of such contract shall not be liable
according to section six.
Section eight provides the manner il
xbich money shall be paid into the city
treasury, and Stipulstes that the city Waite
Board and the trustees of the gas work.
shall, on the - day Of 1885, pa
into the treasury OF the city the whole
amount Of money with which they shall ther
be respectively chargesble for the use Of thu
city, and after such payment no mone'
shall be disbursed from or paid out OF tn
treasury in behalf of the board or trustees
or for the benefit or use OF the water work
or gas works of the city except and on an or
der properly drawn and directed to the clerI
ofthe city, directing him to draw his orde
on the city receiver.
Section nine makes it the duty Of th
various boards, officers and agencies of tn
city authorized to incur liabilities on II
behalf to make to the clerk ofthe city, on th
day of each regular meeting Of Council
report. in writing of all sums expended an
the amount Of money that will be require
for all contracts made in their reSpectlv
departments, to the date Of such report;
which reports are to be in such form an
contain such facts as will, in connectioJ
with the orders made BY Council for the eN
penditure of money, enable the clerk to q
certain with reasonable accuracy tn
amount that NAV be allowed 10 be ther,
after expended in any such depar'
ment, and like reports shall also a
any othtr lime be made when ordere
by resolution Of Council. The clerk OF tn
city is to make a report in writing to II
Council, at each regular meeting thereoi
ofthe amount expended or contracted for I
q given date, on behalf OF each department
and on account Of contingencies and th
difference between such amounts and th
! amounts designated in the ordinance astb
limit Of expenditure for the year in each d.
partment. And it is further stipulated ths
if any persons required by this section I
made q report in writing shall fail to do S
in the manner, and at the times therein PR
, vided, he shall forfeit and pay to the city,
6ne Of not less than $50 nor more than $40
for each failure.
s"tion ten provides thst neither Ii
: Clerk nor IL Receiver of the city, nor an
other d~iEbursing officer, shall issue az
order or CHECK for the payment Of none,
for any Indebtedness contracted By Counc
or any officer or board Of the city. wh'e
shall have been contracted wSSoily or in PAL
in excess Of the amount which sal nav
IN