The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-19

caused much comment In all tho places
where citizeua congrocate. Tho fact
that tho outlook IL serious was univer.
sally recognized, aud tho general discus.
sion was rs to what could DO dono by
way OF q remody. Tho main olement
contributing to tho growing deficit was
at once seen to DO tho addition Of tho
cost OF the electric light plan. to tho
charges upon tho gas board. There Is
probably not 4 citizen oil Wheeling
who, 1t tho question OF abandoning
tho electric lighting OF tho streets
were submitted to him. would not on
ter an emphatic protest, without re-
gard to the cost OF tho improvement.
Tho light was wanted by the people,
and the astompt 10 bring that matter
into tho discussion is silly. Tho only
proposition to be considered is that
there ia deficit in the city finances.
which at the present ratio must increase,
and ut tho same time needed improve
ments cannot DO made, for lack OF
funds. The situation was exactly stated
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' An 1NrELLIGESCER reporter yesterday
asked Mayor Caldwell what no had to
suggest as to the way out OF tho diff.
Guilty which presents itself. Mr.. Cald.
well said that he had always held that
the gas consumers should not DO asked
orexpscted to pay the expense OF light.
ing the streets. By that system NOR.
chants and others who buy or manufac-
ture their own electric light contribute
nothing TO tho lighting OF the streets,
and yet they get as much benefit from
it as any gas consumer. The mayor
was in favor OF direct levy to pay for
the lighting Of the streets. but when
his attention was called tn tho fact that
y ex-Solicitor White had decided that the
tax levy could not be increased under
the existing law. he gave up the prob.
lem.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
Ex.Citv Clerk Thoner had read the
ISrELLraESCER's article, and OF course
was as familiar as anybody in the city
with the existing state OF affairs. He
was in favor OF creating bonded in.
debtedness to cover the deficiency
which has arisen in the past two years
aud meet those which must exist in the
next two years. This would tide affairs
over until the next meeting OF the state
legislature. when special legislation
could be secured to authorize an in
, creased levy to meet the cost Of stree.
lighting.
Mr.. Thoner also suggested that there
should be city auditor, or some eys.
TEN by which all departments OF the
city government could be under one
control and reports be made to council
whenever desired or advisable. At times
in the past certain city departments
have had money in bank, not drawing
interest, while other departments wcre
paying interest on outstanding orders.
City Receiver kindlebergcr agreed
with Mr.. Thoner's suggestions, and
2 thought also that the city auditor might
we'll be made n purchasing agent for all
the departments. The Immediate thing,
however. is to find way to tide over
the next two years and meet tho do
mands on the treasury, and then the
needed legislation could be secured.
Councilman Casor suggested that tho
fire and police departments be restricted
TO the lowest possible appropriations
without injuring their efficiency, and
economy practiccd in all other depart
ments, so far as possible. no street paving
be done except out OF tho ten cent levy
fund, and that some way BIO devised in
the next two years to prevent recur-
renee Of the present state Of affairs.
THE GAS BOARDS VIEW.
Those who favor levy to pay the OK.
penses OF street lighting poiu. out that
ten cents on tho 500 valuation will
raise about $4,000. leaving something
like SS,000a year for the gas board to
pay on the electric light expenses. Tho
gas trustees mot yesterday forenoon.
and after their business session discuss.
ed informally the IXTELLIGESCER's pub
LEGATION. The only criticism they seem-
ed to have was that they thought the pa
per might have stated that last year the
works received Improvements costing
about $4,000, which will not be ncces-
sary this year. OF these, new sct of
boilers. new washer, new dynamo and
electric light circuit will last long
time. The new retorts will Hast two or
three years. There were bills lying over
January ], 1894, which wiped out the
balance otKhand. What, il any, amount
lies over for thls yoar has not appeared.
1t is stated on behalf OF the gas board
that it expecta hereafter to be able to
pay the expenses OF tho gas and electric
plant, but it does not think it can pay
tho bonds or interest. Tho members
estimate that tho electric light plant
can DO run for SCI, 900 or S27 900 n year.
President James p. Maxwell, OF tho
second branch o. council. said there
were two ways out OF the difficulty; ono
temporary and tho other permanent.
The temporary way was to borrow
money to meet the demands OF tho next
two years. October there will DO to
pay $4,000 Of electric light bonds. and
this must be met. Tho othor necessary
fixed charges will run the demand on
s tho general fund up to $4,000. The
easiest way will DO To font n loan for
100000 ut per cont and turn tho bal.
nncc over to the board Of public works.
for strcct improvements. Temporary
rcliof might DO had by increasing the
price OF cas. and then legislation secured
two years hence, to authorize n direct
tax to pny for lighting tho streets.
Ot course any lHcrcuso OF tho pr.co oil
gas would BIO as unpopular rs 1t would
DO unjust. There seemed to DO among
those talked to OH tho subject wide
difference Of opinion. Tho mayor OK.
pressed tho idea that gus could DO
mado for half ms much a. It ia
now sold for, while othera thought
it was sold at loss than it takes
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