Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-23

The Council Committee on Finance
met last evening at the office OF the City
Clerk. and turned its attention 70 di-
vision of the ten cent levy taxes, which
aggregate $4,000, among the eight
wards of the city, each ward having
$2.S75. or an equal share, as has been
the custom for years back.
Early in the session the question OF
repaving North Market street, from
Tenth north to Seventh, came up.
There has been persistent effort on
the part of the residents along that
street for years back. TO have IL re-
paved. and it certainly is not in the
best condition. Two years ago, recog-
nizing that the city would not have
enough money in the general appropri-
alton fund for many years TO come, 10
do any considerable amount or street
paving, and knowing that the ten cent
levy money could not be used for the
purpose sought, the residents along the
street sent a petition to the Legislature
at Charleston, asking that the law be
amended so as to permit taxes collected
under the ten cent provision 10 be eX-
tended for any street repairs thought
desirable or necessary. This effort TO
have the law changed failed, and IT is
here referred TO only to show that there
was no doubt whatever, even in tho
minds OF the North Market street prop
erty owners, Of the impossibility or
using ten cent money 10 repave street
which had once been paved. The DIT
pose of the ten cent levy was to secure
fund which should be limited by law
TO the improvement of mud" streets.
along which the property owners had
been paying taxes for fifty years or so.
without either having secured any
street Improvement or having any hope
that they ever would secure such i'm
prOvements out of the general fund,
and put to the use for which it was in
tended. the levy has been a great
and good thing. For some years
back. however. little or no
paving has been done by the
city out of the general fund, and az
4 result there has been an effort in GER
tain quarters TO twist the ten cent levy
money ordinance to purposes other
than those specifically laid down in the
law authorizing the tax. So far, ali
these t7i6r-s have failed, because the
law was so plain in its provisions as TO
leave no doubs as to its intent and
meaning in the minds of both Council
men and citizens.
The majority OF the Present Com
mittee on Finance. however at last
evenings session, although having no
doubt of the intent and moaning Of the
law, as quoted at the outset Of this ar
ticle, deliberately set about its viola
tion. at the same time expressing the
hope and belief that they would not be
found out. and that no one would
make a fuss about it,"
The idea appears to have originated
with Messrs. Richards and Otto. rep
resenting the First and Second wards,
and they agreed, with the tacit consent
of all the rest-at least there was no
open objection-to st aside $4,000 from
the s2.S75 Of ten cent levy funds going
to each of their wards. for the purpose
of applying the resulting 81 900 20 The
repaving Of North Market street With
brick, commencing at Tenth street and
going as far north as possible with the
money. II will take $4,000, in the opin-
ion of the City Engineer, TO pave the
entire street with brick as far as Sew
enth street.
Mr.. Richards took the initiative in
urging this appropriation through, but
was ably seconded by Capt. Otto. while
the chair. Mr. Robinson. offered no
tangible objection, although he read the
law. The appropriation stood when
the Committee adjourned last night.
and it was the expressed intention>t 70
have the ordinance go to Council next
Tuesday evening.
DR.. Stathers was absent from the
meeting. while some OF the other mem
bers did not have their list OF ward
items completed, but they will all DO
handed in to the City Clerk to-day or
Monday. to be incorporated in the or
dinance. Tho measure as a whole ap-
prcpriates 1926 65652. asNbas heretofore
been published In the Register in de-
| tail
If the general ordinance is not'pass'
cd next Tuesday, another monthly ap-
preparation ordinance must be passed