Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-07

On tho Proposition to Increase Wages
at the City Gas Works.

at the City Gas Works.
THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OR
DINANCE CONSIDERED LAST
NIGHT IN SPECIAL SESSION
PASSED THE SECOND BRANCH,
BUT IN THE FIRST, Mr.. Moor
MICK MOVED TO ADD $4,000 FOR
INCREASED WAGES, AND THE
WHOLE MATTER GOES BACK TO
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
FIND THE MONEY, IF IT CAN.
Council met in special session, last
evening, for the purpose of considering
and passing the annual appropriation
ordinance, which carries $422 1919.
The ordinance was not assed.
On the contrary, after it had gone
through the Second Branch, after a
wrangle over the Sixth ward distribu
ton of the ten cent levy fund, it ran
against snag in the First, in the
shape of a resolution by Mr. McCor-
mick, having for it's object the granting
of an increase in wages to the employees
of the retort house at the gas works,
and as a result the whole matter was
referred back to the Finance Commit
tee, to devise, if possible, some means
of raising four thousand dollars of adj
ditional money.
What happened at the session may
be detailed as follows:
When the roll was called in the Sec
ond Branch, Mr. kindelberger in the
chair in the absence of President Max
we'll, there were twenty members pre-
sent, and two more came in later. In
the First Branch Mayor Sweeney was
on board, but only five members ans
wered to their names, and there was a
considerable delay while quorum was
scared up. When it was finally an
| nounced that the First Branch had d
| quorum, the ordinance was taken up
| in the Second and read first time. On
| the second reading Mr.. Gaus objected
| to the schedule of expenditures of ten
cent money in the Sixth ward, and SUD-
mitted a substitute, signed by Messrs.
| Gaus, Watson, Ritter and Strobel,
| members from that ward, as follows:
Paving Market street, from Twenty
PAVING a I La Belle street from Eoff ''' !
Paving south side Twenty-ninth ~ "
street. east of McCulloch ......... 100 90
Sewer from TWenty-siXth to Tween
ty-n.nth, on Market St, extended. 500 90
Twenty seventh streets ............ $50 90
Twenty fourth to Twenty-sixth. $50 90
Curling and bordering gutter st.
street 10 alley below ............... $50 90
Opening Merritt street, alley II $50
feet west .............. ............ 800 90
Curbing Twenty eighth street, north
Grading alley d Observation-Disclosures. % 90
Paving gutter on Wood street,.
Twenty-seventh to Twenty eighth. 100 90
Mr. Caldwell strenuously objected to
the item in the amendment providing
| for a sewer on Market street extended,
south of Twenty-seventh street, saying
| it was not through city property, but
on property owned by the B. & 0. rail-
road, and was for the sole benefit OF
| one individual, Mr. McMechen He
said it was on record in the County
| Clerks office that Mr.. McMechen had
| agreed with the railroad company to
construct said sewer at his own expense
within five years, and now sought to
have the city do it, for his sole use and
benefit, and sent to the Clerks desk
| and had read a transcript of an agree
| ment made between Mr.. McMeonen ana
| the railroad company, providing in
terms for such sewer. To this Mr.. Nc
Mechen replied, contending that there
was no reason why he should not have
| a sewer as well as any other citizen. In
response to this the Chair said ne was
of opinion that ten cent levy money
| could not be used for the improvement
| of private property. Mr.. Gaus then
! agreed to strike out this item and add
ed the $500 to the appropriation for
paving Market street, but his amend
ment as thus changed was nevertheless
lost, and the ordinance passed the
| branch by vote of % ayes TO l no.
When the measure came up in the
First Branch the real fun began Al
/ ter the first reading. Mr. Waterhouse
made the point that the ordinance did
| not provide for the $4,000 of orders is
sued on account of the Board of Pub
lie Works, and for only one-half of the
Gas Board overcheck of IS 800. and
said that under the provisions of the
restraining ordinance the Council
should provide for these Overdrafts, and
that members of Council who voted for
such an ordinance were individually
liable. This dazed members a little, as
the restraining ordinance has been a
back number for so long that no one
appeared to be familiar with It's provis-
ions. The written ordinance book was
sent for, but the measure could not be
found, and, in justice to Republican
members, it may be said they didn't
wish to find it very badly. Speaking TO
his objection, Mr.. Waterhouse SAID:
IF the restraining ordinance was en-
forced, the City Clerk would be in pris-
on, and he knows it. These overdraft
orders should not have been drawn
The Clerk knows that, also"
The Mayor-The trouble came about
by making estimates of receipts which
were not realized.
Mr., Waterhouse-If that IS so, we
should now provide for them They
cannot run on. The first thing we
know, we will have to issue bonds to
toIy