The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-20
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
The Provisions of the City-Hall Ordi-
nance as Finally Passed.
An Adverse Vote on the metropolitan Street
Railway Ordinance of IA to 7-MisceI-
laneOus Business.

/ The regular meeting of the Common Council
last night was directed chiefly to the considera-
ton of the Metropolitan street-railway ordi-
nance. The session was an unusually busy one,
and lasted until after midnight
A statement from the trustees of Roberts Park
NJ. E. Church, refusing to pay an assessment of
S3u3.75 for the construction of 202 feet of the
North Delaware-street sewer along property
owned by the church, submitted by the city
civil engineer. The reasons given by the trustees
for their refusal to pay the assessment were that
they had constructed private sewer connecting
with that on Massachusetts avenue, and, BESIDES
there was no law making them liable,
Upon the recommendation of the city civil
engineer, Ben showner was promoted from rod
man to transitman, and William H. Fink from
axman to rodman in the civil engineering de-
partment.
The resolutions adopted by the Board OF Trade
fayorinG the new street-railway company were
received and referred to the committee on rail-
roads.
The street commissioner directed to pur-
chase a street-sweeping machine at a cost not to
exceed 800, to be paid for ont of the fund OF the
board OF public Improvement.
The appointment of the following deputies by
CITY Assessor COnnett were confirmed, namely:
samuel NJ. Patton, l.. j. Beadley w. II. Phillips,
W. o, Brogse, William N. Springer, Samuel Wag-
J. III. Lehr, Alex Harder. j. c. Stokes, Henry
Schultz, William s. Monroe, Deloss G. Peck,
William s. Lockman, W. Fl, Mahan, II. NJ. Had
ley, Fl. J. Pettijohn and W. Fl. McKahan.
An ordinance was introduced by Mr.. Morrison
making 1t unlawful to haul heavy loads over
North Meridian street, between New York and
Seventh streets
Peter Reuter-, the contractor for building the
east wing addition to the city hospital reported
an estimate of S120 for excavation and S. $50
for rubSe masonry, on account of contract. An
appropriation ordinance was prepared by the
4 ar 1frna inn # fla TotlT
tue payment of the amount less 10 per cent,
and was adopted, it having been decided that
the money could not he allowed by resolution
The petition for the vacation of the first alley
north of Lr coin avenue, running from College
avenue to Ash street, was granted. The open
ing of Greenwood street was also ordered upon
the recommendation of the board of city com
missioners.
Under suspension of the rules the ordinance
providing for the assessment of real and per-
sonsl property in the city for the purpose of tax
alton FOR 1873, was passed.
THE CITY HALL ORDINANCE.
The ordinance for the erection of the city hall
was taken up under a suspension of the rules
and, after several amendments had been pro-
posed and defeated, it passed as introduced
The ordinance provides: 1, that V. T. Malott,
E. B. Martndale, John c. s. Harrison and Frank
lin Landers shall constitute a committee Of citi-
zens to act in connection with the board of city
hall commissioners in all matters relating to the
oIcttiou VI tIlb bulun%, lHeY may make SuCn
rules and regulations for the payment
of money and the management of
the funds as they may deem pru-
dent; 3, they shall all serve without compeusa-
tlon A. no warrants shall be drawn on or money
paid out OF any other funds than the Tominson
estate and additional city hall funds; 5, the COM
| mIttee shall designate either j. H. OF A. Fl. Stem
| as supervising architect of the building and may
| change from one to the other if deemed expedi-
ent; q, the erection of the building
shaH not cost a sum to exceed S135,-
600. and NJ. X. Fatout shall be al
lowed the contract; 7, the construction shall be-
| gin as soon as the TomlinsOn estate and addi-
| tional eiy-hall funds shall amount to $IO5 900
| and shall he prosecuted as speedily MS possible.
8, all the money in the hands of the city treas
| urer TO the credit of the Two funds appropri-
ted for the erection or the buildings; H. the city
government may, from time to time, the funds
accumulate, appropriate additional sums from
the two funds for the erection OF the buildings but
when the amount reaches $4,000 the work on
| the building shall cease. Mr. Yoke thought
| there ought to be no hasty action upon this or
dinance. and moved that itsbe printed that there
might be furtDer time for its consideration, post
| pOning final alton until next meeting, but the
| motion was defeated.
| Mr.. Pritohard strongly opposed the appropri-
alton OF $4,000 at the present time He
| thought it the duty of tn" city government alone
| to attend to the expenditure of the money He
| moved The amendment of the ordinance bv
striking out section eight, which was defeated
| by vote of 10 to IL.
Mr.. Morrison submitted an amendment adding
| the names of william Fl. English, Cal F. d ar
nell and General T. A. Morris to the citizens
| committee which was also defeated,
The ordinance was then passed, the vote being
as follows:
Yeas Messrs. Brundage. Dean, Bowling.
| Fultz, Harold, Hartmann, Knodel, Roller
Pearson, Reichwein, Tholman, Ward, Weaver
and Yoke-l4-
Nays-Messrs. Bedford, Bryce, Caylor, Cole,
| Morrison, Prtchard and Stout.
| The ordinance granting the Mutual Union
Telegraph Company the privilege of using GER
tam streets ana alleys for running their lines
| through the city was repealed.
An appropriation of S4,2S125 for the paw
ment of the salaries of the officers of the city
government for the last quarter was passed
The judiciary committee recommended the ac-
ceptance of the offer of $3.50 from James M
Tomlinson for seventeen feet off the lot upon
which the City Dispensary is situated, which was
concurred In Dy the Council.
THE STREET RAILWAY ORDINANCE
The Judiciary and railroad committees, to-
gether with the city attorney, to whom was re-
ferred the ordinance relating to the MetrOpoli-
| tan Street Railway Company, submitted Is ma
jority and a minority report. The majority
| report was signed by Messrs. Pritchard, Yoke,
Fnltz and Caylor, and was unfavorable to the
| ordinance. The report maintained that it would
be bad faith for the city, in view of the charter
now existing, which was granted the Citizens
Street Railway Company in 864, to now admit
the new company. The report stated that ''upon
the faith Of that ordinance the Citizens COM
pany have invested several hundred thousand
dollars in street-railrOad property in our city 1t
is plain 1t would be act of bad faith on the
part OF the city to violate that contract. This
the Metropolitan company asks the city to do
The obligation to give the old company notice to
build new lines before passing the Metropoli-
tan ordinance is a moral, if not
legal obligation. Perhaps the city can violate
this provision of the ordinance without being
liable TO an action for damages. II she is moi
under any legal obligation to give this notice IN
the old company, it wOud be at least morally
dishonest not to do co." The report further
cited the action of the Council in 1873 in refus-
ing to grant the Indianapolis streeU-raroad
Company the right to operate lines in the city
The minority report which was signed by
Councilman Pearson and City Attorney Denny
states that they chad offered to join the other
mem hers OF the committee in unanimous re-