The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-04
THE MAYORS OF INDIANA.
The Heads of City Governments Rect
for Conference.
The Legislature to BE Asked to Alter Ger.
tain Old Laws and Adopt
New Ones.

The mayors of the State met yesterday in
convention in the Council chamber. The pur-
pose OF the meeting, heretofore ann ounced,
is the adoption or measures for the alteration
anu improvement ofpresent municipal codes
and rules of government. The method by which
the meeting is conducted is for the mayors to
present requests and suggestions, as each city is
called by the secretary, and these are arranged
In proper form for presentation to
the Legislature. The morning session
was devoted chiefly to organization and
preliminaries, the convention getting down to
business with the following officers; Chairman,
I. c. Bridwell, Evansville; secretary, John l..
Pierce, Lebanon; assistant secretary. W. S. Arm
strong, Kokomo; corresponding Secretary, B. c..
Kent, New Albany. The entire representation is
as follows:
Mayors C. A. zollinger, Fort Wayne; John l..
Plerce, Lebanon; t. W. Bennett Richmond;
Arthur Bedloe, Washington; W. B Serght, Vim
Gennes; Elwood Smith, Mount Vermont b. c..
Kent, New Albany; L. F. worder, Jeffersonville;
L. r. Boyle, Huntington; James p. Lyme, Terre
Haute; P. o. Jones, Plymouth; L. d.
Weber, Laporte l.. E. Brnkamp,
Aurora; E. C. vangn, Button; W. c. Thompson,
ffankhn ID. W. johnson, Seymour; ID. d. Hard
ing, Goshen; I. c. Bridwel, Evansville; W. 8.
Armstrong, Kokomo John H. Hess, Columbus
u: W. GruoDs INDIANAPOLIS; c. W. Stevenson,
wabash; S. j. Smith, Madison Samuel Jacobs,
LoganspOrt.
COuncilmen-John Egger, Indianapolis; Joseph
Jackson; Laporte; NJ. }. Bray and H. S. Bennett,
Evansville.
City Attorneys-Henry Colerick, Fort Wayne
and r Never, Evansville; and Chief Of Police H.
M. Diehl, Fort Wayne.
1t was first thought advisable to refer all mat
tiers first to a committee, and motion was made
to appoint one of five. After an interchange of
views, it decided to bring all business di-
reetly before the assembly, and the motion was
WITHDRAWN. An invitation from Manager Eng
lish to attend the performance of the HarrisOns
last night was accepted with thanks. An invita-
tion to take ride on the Belt road was alsO ac-
cepted with due appreciation, and Mayor
Grubbs and Councilman Downing appointed a
decided TO call roll of cities, that all
matters worthy of consideration might
be presented by the representative of
each without confusion or confiietiOn, and Ev
ansyille suggested that the city attorney, street
commissioner and city surveyor should hold
office on identical terms with other officers. The
convention manifested dIsapproval by voting it
o'clock.
ginning of the afternoon session, Councilman
Bray moved that the mayor be authorized to ap-
point city auditor for one year in all cities
where one is needed. The motion carried, with
extension by amendment to the full term for
which the mayor is elected.
10 was recommended that sections 3,162 and
81 90 be changed the former by reading gray
ehng, paving, or otherwise improving" and
the latter by substituting "25 per cent" for 80
Councilman Bray further moved that the law
De so amended as to vest in the mayor, where
there Is no board OF aldermen, veto power, the
same TO be overruled by "a two-thirds vote Of the
council. 1t was adopted.
An invitation was then read, inviting the del
egates TO attend meeting OF the Parliamentary
Club, last evening. The invitation was accepted.
Otner cities were called, but rep
resentat1ves were, as rule, not
ready to respond, preferrlng to wait
until "a later session of the convention. Some of
the most important suggestions are given. A
motion to extend the terms of city treasurers
and clerks was laid on the table to admit of re-
Election, the matter being considered too i'm
portant for hasty action. 1t was moved to ask
the repeal of the law appointing city commits
sl0ners, and substitute therefor u committee of
the council. Referred to a committee.
An invitation from Dickson Brothers to attend
the performance at the Grand Opera house, to-
night was then gracefully accepted.
motion was then carried for the repeal of
the law exempting tracts of five acres or more
from taxation by the city authorities, except for
township purposes.
motion was adopted, without a dissenting
voice, that may Ors be elected for term Of four
years
After other general discussion the convention
adjourned to meet at O'Clock this morning for
the purpose of enclrcling the city on the Belt
railroad, Last evening the mayors attended
the performance at English's Operations and
afterward the meeting of the Parliamentary
Club.
A banquet will be given at the Denison House
this evening by the Mayor and City Council.