Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-27
THE CITY ESTIMATES.
ANOTHER SESSION OF THE FINANCE COMMIT
TEE, LAST NIGHT.
The Water Board Estimate Passed. Long Dis
cuSsion Over Gas Board Matters, With
No Definite Result

The Council Committee on Finance
met again last evening at the Office OF
the City Clerk to proceed with the pre-
paration of the annual appropriation
ordinance.
1t will be remembered that at the
last meeting. two weeks ago, the de-
partmental estimates were completed,
the total being $40, 31s.35, the full
amount Of the estimated general fund
OF the city.
The first thing taken up yesterday
evening was the estimate OF the City
Water Board, calling for total OF S94,-
O67. 81, made up of estimated receipts OF
500, 900, and balance on hand OF 81, 067.-
81. The estimate was appropriated as
submitted to the Com mittee, although
there was ouite a long discussion over
the water works coal bill Of $4,000,
this being thought TO be pretty large by
some of the Committee.
The Gas Board estimate OF S13S, 50692
was then taken up, but after being
briefly discussed, mainly on the item
for coal, OF SGT, 900, as compared with
the water works estimate, the estimate
was laid aside temporarily to 60 back
and fix up the estimate for Markets,
which had not been finally completed
at the former meeting, owing TO the
lack of bids in proper form for the roof
for the Second ward market house.
Two bids were opened, and were
referred back to the Committee on
Markets without being read in public,
as some other bids are expected TO come
in for the work. This being settled sat
isfactorily, the Gas Board estimate was
again taken up. The total estimated
receipts, including balance on hand, was
sos, 1887, andsthe expenditures were
estimated at Sl3s, 506.92, including al
unpaid coal bill of SIT, 1885, 90, leav-
ing an estimated deficiency OF
$4,000, according to the calcu-
Iations of the Board. Before proceed
ing with the condition Of the estimate,
an opinion was read from the City So
licitor, upon the point OF whether or
not the city could take the receipts OF
the gas works into the general city
treasury, and make disbursements
therefrom on account OF the works, just
as other moneys are disbursed. The
Solicitor, after quoting the law, said
the change could not be made, unless
under rules first adopted by the Gas
Board and then approved by Council.
In other words, the Trustees have con-
troll OF their own revenues, as has been
ascertained before.
A detailed statement for 1891 and
1892, from the gas Office auditor, being
the same document read before the
Committee on Lights, was then read,
and this lead to long discussion OF
how the Trustees got behind. Chairman
Maxwell made a statement showing that
in 1891, when S106, 900 was appropriated
to the gas works Sos, 400 was actually
spent, or So, 400 more than was author
lied, while of $4,000 set aside
solely for the construction or the cleo
trio light plant, only S4,SO5 was so
spent, the balance being devoted to
other purposes, which purposes did not
appear on the report of the Board that
wear. This seemed to be news TO sew
eral members of the Committee, and II
was pretty extensively discussed, and
the original appropriation ordinance for
1891 was fished out of the bundle OF
papers to shed light on subject.
There was general feeling that
there ought to be some additional
information from the Board, and a
member of the Committee stated that
President Dunlevy had expressed him
self as willing to furnish everything at
his command.
Another point for discussion was the
item Of wages, which was $50, 700 in
1891 and but S22, 800 In 1892. This dis
crepancy, the Committee could not I'M
derstand. A good many sheets Of paper
were covered with figures, TO little pur-
pose, and after very long discussion,
the Committee concluded to ask that
President Dunlevy and Auditor WilkiL-
son appear before the Committee to give
detailed information, and adjourned to
meet Friday night Of next week.
After the Gas Board matter is settled,
the Board of Public Works estimate OF
S16s, 900 will come up in turn.