Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-22
THE CITY FINANCES Again
The Council Committee Gives the Sit
uatiOn Another Whirl.
They Are Rather Inclined to the
Belief That Another Bond Issue
wouldn't Go" and Recommend
the Levyiug Of Additional Taxes
This Year to the Tune Of $751;
100 IN

the Levyiug Of Additional Taxes
This Year to the Tune Of $685.
1920.
The Council Committee on Finance
met at the Clerks office, last night to
further consider the ordinance making
three months appropriation
and distributing the proceeds Of
the ten cent levy, referred back at Tues
days special session Of Council.
Early in the session, while two or
three members Of the Committee were
again going over the figures of their
share of the ten cent levy, a member
hazarded an inquiry as to whether or
not a tax levy had been made this year.
Then 1t transpired that no tax
had yet been made, and that the
reform" Council had been running IN
the air IN that regard as in others.
Or. Stathers interrupted the train OF
thought engendered by this disclosure
by saying he had revised the appro-
priations for the Eighth wards share
of the ten cent levy, and would includa
a sewer from Fortleth to Forty-flrst
street. in the alley between Woods and
McCulloch streets, the work being esti-
mated to cost SIT. He would make n9
other change In his ward.
Mr.. Ebeling, of the Sixth ward, then
presented his amended schedule, as
follows:
Sewer in alley D, from Twenty
third street to alley Co.,. 78 IA
Sewer In alley T, from Twenty
fifth to Twenty-sixth street e los 6S
Sewer on Pierce street and al
ley TO Caldwell's rum. 90 90
Sewer from Jacob street to
Woods, on Twenty-fourth. IS 0S
Support curb and paving, on
TWenty-ninth street, ....... 1000 90
Sewer In alley D, Twenty
fourth 70 Twenty-siXth street 1853 6S
Sewer In alley e, Twenty-sixth
to Twenty-seventh street. go. 81 IS
Curbing and paving, Eotf street
from Twenty-thir1 to Twenty
fourth street. ............., 800 600
Macadamlzing Twenty-fourth
street from Jacob 10 Wilson. 449 03
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., 1902 OF
Solicitor Boyce was then asked to
give his opinion on the clause in Sec.
Of the ordinance providing for the loan
Of 1885, authorizing direct tax to pay
the interest, and provide for paying the
one-twenty-fifth Of the principal In each
year until 1919. The question was, has
Council the legal power to levy such
tax, in addition to all other taxes.
The Solicitor said Council undoubtedly
had this right. The Solicitor then
asked if the proposed tax could increase
the total OF city taxation above the soc
levy on each 500 OF valuation. In re
ply to this. the Solicitor said he thought
this limit could not be exceeded. This
brought up the old-time question OF
whether the city's power to levy taxes
above SOC on the 800, and red hot dis
cussion ensued. 1t was finally agreed
that for the purpose Of paying bonds,
Of various sorts, tho city had the right
to levy taxes TO the amount Of $3.50 PERI
$780, and adding the ordinary SOC tax
TO this the total limit was 81 on each
and every 800 of valuation.
Then the exoediency Of levying such
a tax was gone into, and it was agreed
that any increase Of taxation would be
very unpopular, but that something
ought to be done" They all agreed to
this, but no progress was made. Final
ly they took up the loan of 1885, which
provided for the levying of a direct
tax 10 meet principal and interest. and
Chairman Richards said the people had
voted for that loan, under that pro-
vision, and therefore ought not to kick.
He omitted to include in his remarks
that the State law requires this pro-
vision in all loan ordinances, but that
it has never been taken advantage Of.
Mir. Richards did, say, however, that he
had serious doubts OF the proposed $780,
coo loan ordinance carrying before the
people, and rather favored the proposed
increase in the tax rate for the present
year
Several members Of the Committee
agreed with him, and the meeting them
broke UP into a sort of informal con-
ference. AS a result Of the several dis
cUssions following, it was agreed By
common consent that the ordinance
should be drawn and reported to Coun-
Gil levying a specific and additional
tax for the year 1895 g. pay the follow
ing interest and principal of loans:
Loan of 1856
Principal .................SlG ,60O w
interest ..........,...s.'. 15,0VU w
Stone bridge loan
Interest .......... .....'.. O,04z on
Electric light loan
Principal ......... ........ $4,000 90
Interest ......., ....s...,.. 4,S2O %
lOlGl ....s...... .'.'.... goo AoG ~
This additional tax will be levied
upon the county valuation within the
city limits. This valuation is S1S,000,
600 in round numbers, and will require
about thirty-two cents on the 500, to
raise the required amount Adding
the 5O-cent, the 10-cent and the new
tax Of 80 cents together, and we VIII
have q city levy for 1895, II this idea
goes through, Of 80 cents on the 800
valuation. instead Of 90 cents IN former
years. Here we have q new version Of
reform"
The Committee left about II o'clock,
after having talked about two pages Of