The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-06
THE CITY'S LAWMAKERS.
What the City Attorney Says About the
TOmlinsOn Estate and Market Place.
The Street-Car COmpany's Affairs Again Dis
cussed, with the Usual Result-0rdinanceS
Observation-Disclosures Business.

Observation-Disclosures Business,
The mayor reported that the fees and fines cob
lected in the City Court during April amounted
to 1852. OF, of which $780, AZ were marshals fees,
$3.50. so mayors fees, and $91.8 so of fines.
The Indianapolis Fertilizing Company, in re
Spouse to the call for bids, submitted a proposal,
offering to remove all dead animals from within
the city limits for the sum of SO year, which
was referred to the committee on contracts.
The city civil engineer recommended the use
of a new form of bond hereafter, requiring CON
tractors for public improvements to agree to
keep their work in good repair for one year
after it has been accepted and the final estimate
allowed, which was approved by the Council.
Upon the recommendation of the civil engineer
estimates for work done under contract were
allowed as follows: To Fred Gansberg, for i'm
proving the cutters of Meridian street, $3,679.9S;
to George w. Seibert for improving Wabash
street, $451. "a, and to Richter & Twiname, for
improving Ohio street, S 1,O7470
The city clerk reported expenditures during
April to the amount of SIG, 315. II. The treas
urer reported that the general fund had been
overdrawn 1896, $40. "a, while to the credit to the
Tomlinson estate fund there is a balance Of
$G5, 249. 80; to the additional city hall fund
1923, 1868. so and the sinking fund $40, 915.15.
The fire board reported that they had pur-
chased a lot in Martindale's south addition, on
Prospect street, near Virginia avenue, on which
the new South-side hose-reel house will be
located. The consideration in the purchase of
the ground was 800.
The city attorney and city civil engineer re-
ported adversely upon the petition of w. F.
Christian and others, asking that Pratt street
be widened sixty feet, from Alabama street to
Fort Wayne avenue, as the improvement would
involve some litigation.
In reporting to the Council the decision in the
case of John H. Vajen against the city an appeal
was recommended by the city attorney, who be-
lieved that he could mot only procure a reversal
of the judgment of Judge Howe, but that he
could succeed in having the decision in the Nc
Avoy case overruled ON the same point" The
suit of Vajen was to recover $508 in taxes paid
on stock owned in the Citizens National Bank,
which he had asked should be allowed to offset
his Indebtedness, exceeding in amount the value
of his stock. The city attorney was instructed
to appeal the case.
NudTlOS W. Olh was ICIuoC0 AlAooAO W
dig a cistern in the rear of his place of business
in the Grand Opera-kouse Block, in which to
store gasoline, on account of the danger that
there would be of an explosion.
The mayor was authorized to enter into a con
tract with Charles G.. Mueller as supervising
architect of the west wing of the City Hospital
addition, whose compensation is fixed at II
per cent. of the cost of the building, stimated
at $25, 900.
A Joint report from the hospital and dispen-
cary bOardS in palatiOO TO the vaccination OF
families infected with smallpox, was submitted,
in which the opinion was expressed that the
law requiring vaccination is unquestionably a
police regulation, and that in the future it should
be done under the direction of the city Board of
Health They recommended, therefore, that In
the future the city dispensary physicians
should be relieved from performing that
service, so that they would be able to
ance with the requirements of the lawt to the sick
poor of the city. The committee concurred in
the report. The employment of DR.. Henthorne
for sixty days longer, to attend all persons in
the city who may become sick with smallpox,
at a compensation of 5000, was authorized.
The judiciary committed recommended the
payment of $500 to William H. English,
as satisfaction in full for damages to
overflow of Pogues run. The committee
stated that Mr.. English would accept the sum
named as satisfactory, and the Council author
lied its payment.
"A 0uppi6UlcAOd1 IOlhoIS OiOSuA1bAhS wv OhoA
ness of vault-cleaning was introduced. 1t re-
auires a license of $50 for one cleaning outfit,
and SIS for each additional one owned by the
same person. The ordinance was introduced in
compliance with the request of the city Board of
Health.
The appointment of John Crane and George
H. Standridge as park policemen by the commit
tee on public property was confirmed;
The railroad committee recommended that, as
they believe the transfer car on Washington
street is an accommodation, action upon its re-
moval should be postponed, but this shall not
be considered as conceding that the company
has the right to maintain such a car at that
point" The report was accepted.
A report upon the matter of requiring the re-
moval of the 7 rail now in use by the Citizens
Street Railway Company was presented
doubted 1.-THE validity of the resolution, it's orr
gin being in the Board of Aldermen" The com
mittee that the street railway
| company should be prohibited from using the L
rail in the construction or repair of its tracks
| hereafter. The matter was the subject of some
talk, and the opinion was expressed that the L
rail should be removed, but that the company
should not be required to make the change with
in an unreasonably brief time. Upon the
motion of Nh. Thalman the matter was referred
to the judiciary committee by a vote of II to 10.
The special mint to whom was referred
the report of the city hall commissioners, pre-
sented a statement of their investigation upon
which action was deferred until next Monday
evening, when a special meeting for its consider
alton will be held. In reply to a question from
the committee asking what is the nature of the
city's title to the ground known as the East Mar
ket square, the city attorney states in an opin-
ION embodied in the report, that ''the city
has no title to the land at all. She holds it and
exercises control over it as a trustee only-a
trustee for her citizens and tax payers" No
grant or conveyance of the land has ever been
made by the State, but it was
set apart for use as a public market, and is, ac-
cordingly, subject to the right of the citizens of
indianapolis. In answer to the question, what
interest has the city in the property known as
the Tomlinson e~statelr the city attorney says:
Viewing the matter from the stand point of
justice and common honesty, and at the same