The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-07
CRY FINANCES.
Some Measures Considered Last Night by
the Committee on Liquidation.


The recently appointed Council Conn
mittee oil Legislation met for the 2first
time q. the City Building last evening.
All OF the members were present. They
are Slesss. Hal, !. Hoffman and Listirom the
First Branch, and Messrs. STANLEY. Smith
and Wilkinson from the Second. The
business before them was OF the greatest
importance to the people Of Wheeling,
the deyising Of some plan for bet1lr
handling OF the city's finances in the
future; one that will avert the occurrence
Of any more financial embarrassments
such as has been worrying the city officials
and the citizens at large for several years
past.
: The following resolution offered in the
First Branch by Mr.. Coldwell, November
%, and adopted by Council, was before the
committee:
ResOlred, That the Special Committee on
Legislation be and 1t is hereby directed to
inquire into the expediency Of requesting
the Legislature to amend the charter OF
the city rs follows: Making it INSIDE
meanor for the Clerk of the city to draw an
order upon the Receiver, when there are
no fundsin bank to the credit of the city
properly applicable to the payment OF
such order; prohibiting the Council in
any year from authorizing any contract to
be entered into or mourning any indebted
ness on behalf Of the city, in excess Of the
receipts Of the city for such year, applica-
BILE to the payment OF such contract or in
Indebtedness, and enforcing such prohibi-
ton by requiring the ayes aud noes in
each branch, to be taken upon every pro-
position embracing an appropriation Of
money, and recorded in the journal, and
by making all the members OF Council
voting for such contract or Indebtedness
jointly and severally liable forthe pay
ment thereof and liable toany indictment
and fine; placing similar restrictions upon
the members OF the several boards en-
forced In the same manner; compelling all
money collected and discussed by the
several boards to be deposited in q city
depository designated by Council and paid
out as the funds disburssd by the Board
Of Public Works are now paid out; requir-
ing all money OF the city to be paid into
such depository and to be only drawn out
Of same by the check OF the Receiver TO
the person entitled to receive such money.
The committee shall report such bills as
they deem suitable for accomplishing
such OF said amendments as they deem
desirable, to have enacted by the Legisla-
tHre.
With this was the experience OF the
members OF the committee US Councilmen.
There was quite n lengthy running dis.
cussion in which all took part and num-
Der OF suggestions were made and ideas
advanced. What was finally decided on,
however, was this: The committee will
recommend to Council that it through its
Solicitor or this committee seek the
passage by the Legislature ofan act max
ing it obligatory on the various Council
committees, such Us police, fire depart
ment, health, scales, markets, cemeteries,
etc., and tho Board Of Public Works, to
make at the beginning OF each year an
estimate Of the appropriations they
viii want during the year, the Boards
estimate TO be exclusive OF its contin-
gent and levy funds. These esti-
mates are to be presented to the Commit
tee on Finance, which will consider them
in connection with the estimated receipts
OF the city for the coming year. 1.-THE es-
Inmates asked Tor are too large the Fl
nance Committee will scale them so as to
bring the sum total within the receipts.
This committee will then recomn-
end to Council the making OF the
appropriations. The appropriation ordi-
nance passed, the act is toproyide that all
members Of Council voting for an appro-
priation for a committee or any expendi-
ture made by committee nexcess OF the
appropriation made ut The beginning Of
the year, shall become jointly and sever
ally liable for tho same. The act is also
TO provide that the Council shall at, all
times know the exact condition Of each
committees appropriation.
Another feature to be secured in
the act is one compelling all moneys COL
lected by the city or its boards from all
sources to be deposited in depository
and to be paid out only by check, as at
present done by the various boards.
The proposed act is largely the idea adj
yanced by Mr.. Caldwell in his resolution,
the difference being in the adoption OF an
annual appropriation ordinance.