The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-04

The couhcIl.committe on finance me
last night ana considered suggestion
as to solution of the financial prob
lem Imposed on the city by the recen
court decision in the Paige. Carey 8
Company cases against the city. Th'
problem was where to get the $1,000 nee
essary to settle the claims. 1t WA
decided to recommend to council thai
this amount be appropriated from city
Collector Halls tax collections, which
It is said, will be over that amount IL
excess of the estimated collections. by
the end OF October.
Present at the meeting were: Chair
man McAfechen; Messrs. Bachman
Caldwell and Knoke. OF the committee
Mayor Sweeney. City Clerk o'Brien
City Receiver Forgey, City Solicitor
Neshltt and Hon. T. S. Riley. Mr.. Ri
ley was city solicitor when the litiga'
ton began, about six years ago. and
he was retained by the city, in con-
junction with Mr. NesbItt. to look after
the city's interests in the suits.
The meeting opened with a statement
OF the situation by City Solicitor Mes
bitt. He said that by the late Judge
Paulrs decision, the city. In the Paige
Carey & Co. case, viii be required to
pay the interest, and the $500 balance
on the principal. amounting nil told tc
about 5000. Then there must be pro-
vided from the city's finances $1,000 fo'
the suit OF William and Jane Carey, and
in addition the fees Of the circuit court
clerk and the sheriff. Also. there would
be Mr.. Rlley's account for services rem
dered. Exclusive OF Mr.. Riley's bill,
the city would be required to pay into
court about $1,000.
The city solicitors statement pro-
vOked fruitful discussion. during
which It was brought out by Clerk
O'Brien that the city's treasury cOutdni
stand any appropriation for these cases;
receipts would just about balance the
expenditures at the close of the year.
Mr. NesbItt had suggested to Mayor
Sweeney previously that the water
board advance the money. but he had
$4,000 already.
The committee seemed unanimous in
the opinion that the refunding plan was
the only solution affordlng relief. a
standing order was suggested, and In
the ensuing discussion the fact that
outstanding orders have been used In
similar cases by succeeding councils for
fifteen years was developed. Incident
ally. Mr.. Nesbitt said the refunding or
dlnance was In shape, and would be
presented at the next meeting OF coun-
ell.
Mayor Sweeny related conversation
he had had with City Collector Hall, In
which the latter was almost certain
that his tax collections would reach
5000 900 this year as against $lSi,0OO last
year, an Increase OF $4,000 There
were fewer delinQuents, more people
took advantage OF the discounts, and
better times had made collections cas-
Ter. The Increase could not be COM
puted definitely until October 81. yet
| MFR. Hall was satisfied 1t would result
close 10 his prediction.
This announcement was considered az
afFOrdlng the sole outlet from the dihi-
Guilty. and a motion was finally adopted
that council be asked to appropriate the
amount necessary to pay the city's la
| bllity IN the range NuIeg q ~ 'stSer'
nbou, $1,000 this sum 10 come from
the increase OF tax collections over the
estimate. The city solicitor Will draft
| the appropriation ordinance.
Mr.. Riley offered to walt for the pay
ment OF his bill until the funds were
available. He said 1t was especially
urgent that the city have the money "a
settle with the claimants when court
Judge Melvin. opens tomorrow He
didn't doubt, however, that settlement
nigh; be deferred to q special term
council in the meanwhile TO arrange fol
| getting the money.