The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-09
THE CITY GOVERNMENT,

Nothing could have been more admirable
than the spirit and words of Mayor McMas-
ter's brief but pithy inaugural address to the
new Common Council, and its significance and
weight were added to by the hearty indorse
ment of ex Mayor Grubbs, who spoke with the
years of experience and actual knowledge. 1t
is to be hoped that the new Council will profit
by the wise words addressed to them; that
they will consider first and foremost the in
terests of the city, and transact its business
with the same scrutiny and fidelity they
would give to their private affairs.
The Mayors recommendation as to the
passage of ordinances was timely, and the
rule should be rigidly adhered to, unless in
the face of some unexpected and general pub
lie exigency. 1t is only truism that
'EHasty legislation is very apt to be bad
legislation, and unless there is pressing need
for immediate action, it is safe rule to have
all important measures take the usual course
of reference to the appropriate committees for
consideration and report that time and study
can be given to such matters in committee
which it is impossible to give by the full body.
Beneficial measures, as a rule, can await such
a course of procedure, and as to bad measures
they should be compelled to stand such a
test"
Yet this is truism that is frequently for
gotten, and needs to be constantly enforced
And the Mayor was equally feicitous in saying
that
eve have nothing to do with the shaping of
the political policies, either State or national,
of our parties The incidental benefit that
may come to our respective parties by zeal
ously and faithfully guarding the best inter
ests of the city in whose government we form,
for the present such an important factor is
the greatest benefit we can confer"
Let the Council not be disgraced again, and
its time wasted, by such idiotic performances
as that of Councilman Bowling over the ODon-
nell case. Councilmen are not elected to set
tie international questions nor to instruct
the general government in its duties If the
members will carefully and conscientiously
attend to the business Of the city watch its
finances, see that dollars worth of good gov
eminent is given for every dollars worth of
taxation, avoid all appearance of schemes and
jobs and do everything to further the perma-
nent general prosperity, they will find enough
to do and have ample scope for all their ability
Just what is meant, or just what may be
covered up, in Mr.. Trusler's resolution to va
cate all the appointive city Offices, we do not
know; but it has very suspicious
and questionable appearance, especially in that
it received the solid support of the Democratic
members. We await an explanation of the
matter before saying more; but if it sim
ply means "a grab for the offices, irrespective
of the serious legal questions involved, or if it
conceals a drive at some individual, to reach
whom all the officers are to be displaced the
movement will not be regarded with favor,
and should be defeated at once and without
further ado. Mr. PEARSON, in published in
terview, in giving statement of the financial
condition Of the city, indorses Mayor Nc
statements that the severest economy and
st1ictest scrutiny must be observed in order
to make the expenditures come within the
revenue, and he adds that, for himself, che
does not propose to occupy seat in Council
as Republican or Democrat, but as repre-
sentative of the city, to look after its inter
ests." In this resolution Mr.. Pearson will re-
ceive the heartiest support, and we hope to
see twenty-four other members occupy the
Init not
sink the merely partisan in the broader citi-
zen, certainly we may expect a good working
majority of the Council to stand on Mr..
PearsOn's platform.