The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-01
THE ANsuAL EsTIMATEs.
rhO Flnanss COMMITTEES OF Council Figuring
ON BDVonuOF, etc,

A meeting Of the Joint Council Commit.
tee on Finance was held LAST evening, IN
the Office OF City Clerk BoWers, There
were present MaRsEs. All Caldwell, Water.
house, MolIatt and List. In the absence
Of Mr., HildTeth, Mr.. Caldwell presided.
ReportB from the Commissioners Of the
loans OF 1881 and 1885 were COnsldered aud
arrangements made for cancelllng certain
coupons.
A communication presented to Council
at It's last meeting by City Clerk Bowers
and referred 10 this committee, setting
forth that The appropriations for the first
three months OF this year we're Insufficient
10 meet the demands that would be made
on the part OF certain OF the departments,
was the most important matterlO
| by the committee. 1t was resolved 10
remolnmend to Council TO appropriate to
the several departments for the ensuing
two months, oRe-sixth Of the approprla-
ton made last year to each department,
except that for the loan OF 1877, ONE
fourth Of the amount be appropriated
now.
AN AWKWARD DISCREPANCY,
This again brings up bad feature OF
the restraining ordinance. Under its pro-
visions the fiscal year begins January lat,
and the appropriations for that year are
not made until in April, or as soon there
alter as possible. The Clerk and Receiver
are not allowed, under penalty, to issue or
accept orders when there is no money ap-
proprlAted, and so every year, unless some
change Is made, at the beginning Of each
year Council must make provision
al appropriation, as was the case
this year, for the first quarter and prob.
ably have to make second provisional
appropriation aa 1t is forced to do at this
time, These provisional appropriations
must be considered when the years. ap'
preparations are made and included with
them. l! is confusing, 10 say the least
and II the appropriations are finally
made smaller than they werethe preceding
year, the departments are likely to be
hard pushed for money in the latter part
Of the year, having spent too much
during the first part,
1t is hard to estimate what the revenues
are going to be, however, before April OIL
May, and therefore II the fiscal year were
TO commence in June 1t would probably
secure more satisfactory results,
DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES.
The various department estimates o.
this years expenses were before the com
mittee but were not considered, as seVera
city officials desire to be heard by the
COMMITTEES respecting the appropriations
for their departments. II will probably
take six weeks TO fully prepare and pas
the appropriation ordinance,
The committee will recommend to Coun
ell that in making its provisional appro
priation for the next two months 1t allow
|, about $1,000 to the Contigent fond in
addition to the Ons.siIth, for the purpose
oil settling the judgement rendered against
the city by tho U. S, District Court in the
Spies bond case.
The resolution OF inquiry introduced By
, Mr.. Mylea directing tho committee 70 in
, Qulre by what right City Collector Draw
J ford Is charging interest on unpaid per
sonal taxes was laid over. It's under
stood that Solicitor 0'Keele advised the
Collector that he could do this, although
the ruling OF the Supreme Court Is to the
contrary. The Solicitor moves to-day and
was unable TO honor the committee with
more than short call last evening. He
was not present last night when the reso
luton was taken up, and Mr.. Crawford
was not present.