Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-06-05
City FINANCES
MOTHER LONG SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE
LAST RlGHT.
he Gas Board Given its Revenues and Nothing
Mcrs-Frss Gas Discussed-Yhe Commit
tee Provides hr Electric Bond n
ieraS.-Wassr Rates.

The Council Committee on Finance
easssmbled last evening with President
Dunlevy and Mr.. Holiday, Of the Gas
Board, to resume consideration Of the
annual appropriations.
The first thing the Committee did was
one Of the best. On melton Of Mr..
Richards, the item Of Sl25 10 the esti-
mase Of the Real Estate COmmitte for
the repairs OF the Paxton fountain, was
increased 10 5000, and a clause was
ordered Inserted in the ordinance ap-
pFopriating the sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, to repairing the
fountain and placing heavy wire fence
around il.
The next thing taken up was the Gas
Board estimate. Chairman Maxwell
stated that the Committee could find
no money for the Board, outside Of its
estimates. In reply to this, President
Dunlevy said the estimate Of $4,000
had been figured very close. II might
be possible to cut 500 here and there,
but that was all. The only thing the
Board could do would be to shut down
the electrict light plant for the remain
der OF the year.
Mr.. Maxwell-How will you light the
city?
Mr.. Dunlevy-We won't light it, Let
ltgo.
Mr.. Maxwell thought if a city de-
Dartment could not pay its way It
ought to be gotten rid OF. The gas
works was getting more and more OF
BYery year.
This Messrs. Dunlevy and Holiday
denied They said the construction OF
the plant got the works in hole Ia
1892, and its effects were being felt this
year. AS for the business not paying,
it was paying big, and next year it
would pay Is way fully. This ysar Sl6,-
600 or SIS, 600 had been paid out for re-
pairs absolutely necessary. The whole
trouble, they claimed, arose out Of pay
ments in 1892 and 1898, al bonds, In
tereSt, construction of light plant and
running expenses Of electric lights
President Dunlevy said be thought the
gus works had come out Of 10 glor-
iously.
Chairman Maxwell-You think you
can't get through with less money.
President DunleVy-I certainly don't,
or we wouldn't have made that estt-
mate. Do you think Pm fool?
Chairman Maxwell-That is often
done. It isn't necessary TO think a
mans a fool, because he asks for more
thon he expects TO get. Other depart
ments do that
President Dunlevy-We never do
that
Chairman Ma1well-The fire depart
ment asked for several thousand more
than they expected 10 get. / had no
thought Of making you out a fool
President Dunleyy-That is the way
-'--'aA,asd-IO me.
After this little whirl the question of
how the Gas Board could get along was
more seriously considered, and Mr.. Hol-
liday said il the Board couldn't get all
il asked for, the next best thing 20 do
was 20 give 10 all that was possible, and
run along as far as they could.
Mr.. Maxwell said as far as the Com
nittee could see, the only thing 10 do
was 10 appropriate the revenues OF the
Board, and SEQ what the result would
be.
President Dunlevy was inclined TO re-
sent the calling In OF the Gas Board
after all the other departments had been
fixed. he also objected 70 the continu-
alton OF the iree gas list,
and 20 the longer sadd.ing Of
tbs electric light plant upon
The gas consumers. Re also
referred to the fact that the Board Of
Education was now going 90 use cleo
tric light in the Library, after using
free gas for so long. la other words,
they had used the city's light free as
long as they could, and when there was
q prospect they would have 10 pay,
they preferred to pay some one else
than the city.
The possibility OF selling electric
lights then came 10 for talk, and Mr.
Holiday said 10 would cost $4,000 for
the city to go into that.
Finally, Mr.. DuuIevy said the Gas
Board would try 10 pull along, tine city
would take care of the bonds aud in
$terest, and Mr.. Maxwell said the city
might try 10, and perhaps the holders Of
the bonds would be willing 70 carry
those due this year, over again, as they
aid last. Both Mr.. Dunlevy aud Mr.
Holiday reported that the works would
be in good financial shape next year
With the understanding that the Gas
Board got its revenue, and nothing
more, amounting to SPA, 9l5.59, the
members OF the Board withdrew.
On the question OF free gas there was
4 long discussion. Mr.. Brock offered a
resolution to the effect that all using
free gas DO instructed that they must
economic, or pay for the gas. This
was amended by Mr. Grimm, that the y.
M. &. A. must pay half-price. This
brought out the charges, first, that the
Y. NJ. C.. A. was not a charitable inSti-
tuition, aud secondly that rooms were
rented at the Y NJ G. A. building to
dodgers. This seemed TO be a matter
Tor investigation, and the Committee
thought the Gas Board should look into
Il. Mr.. Grimm then withdrew his y.
N. @. A. resolution, and Mr.. Weide-
bush offered a substitute that the Gas
Board investigate as to dodgers, and il
it was true, 20 charge the Y. NJ. c. A. |
haIf-price for gas.
The question Of interest on the cleo
trio light bonds then came up. City |
Clerk homer said the commissioners |
oft ian Of 1855 had a balance Of |
81 \ o, which had been lying idle for |
anut Der OF years. He suggested that |
49, IroDrfatIon NJ c13 500 10 the loan |