The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15
A Combination Of Members Of Council
Organize Boards and Committees,
Mayor McMasters Appointments Rejected,
and the YictOrs Divide the Spells
Meeting of the Aldermen.
THE CITY's GUARDIANS.
A Majority of the Council Usurp the Func-
lions of the MaYor.

spo1lS. The session began late. The Demo
cratic members went into caucus at 6:30 o'clock,
and did not make their appearance in the Coun-
Gil chamber until nearly s o'clock. The pro
gramme for the evening had been fully de
termined upon, and, it seems reasonable to pre-
sumo, was carried out without any de
Walton. The appointment of the stand
ing committees was taken from the Mayor, a
compact between Messrs. Spahr, Benjamin,
Wharton, and Rees with the Democrats, and the
ten Republican members shared only in the
spare bones which were grudgingly thrown out
to them.
Immediately after calling the Council to order,
Mayor McMaster announced the appointment of
the standing committees as follows:
THE MAYoR's COMMITTEES.
Accounts and Claims-John r. Pearson, P. NJ.
Gallahue, and James T. Bowling.
Bridges-John r. Cowie, Joseph w. Wharton,
and William Curry.
Contracts-Isaac Thalman. Frank E. Benja-
min, and Joseph H. Sheppard.
Observation-Disclosures McClelland, George w.
Spahr, and John T. Downey.
Finance-Isaac Thalman, John r. Pearson,
Frank E. Benjamin, f. H. Mack, and j. F..
Reinecke.
Judiciary-George w. Spahr, W. C. Newcomb,
and John Moran.
Markets-Wm. c.. Newcomb, John r. Cowie,
and Simeon Coy.
Office Fixtures and Supplies-J. w. Wharton,
r. H. Rees, and Simeon Coy.
Ordinanees-George W Spahr, VIM. c. New
comb, and James T. Bowling.
Pr~inting-Preston c. Trusler, Robt. H. Rees,
and Charles Z. Haugh.
Public Charities-Robert McClelland, Preston
c.. Trusler, and Joseph Il. Sheppard.
Public Health-Frank f.. Benjamin, P. M.
Gallahue. and George F. Edenharter.
Public Light-P. NJ. Gallahue, Theo. F. Smith
ers, and Charles L. Haugh.
Public Property-Theodore f. Smithers, J.
w Wharton, and p. J.. Doyle.
Railroads-John r Pearson. NJ. NJ. REYNOLDS.
and George F. Edenharter.
Rules-Iohn R. Cowie, Theo. F. Smithers,
and F.. J. Mack.
THE COMMITTEES OF THE MAJORITY.
immediately following the Mayors announce
ment of his appointment of committees, a reso-
Iutien was offered by Mr.. Rees declaring the fol
lowing standing committees elected for the next
two years:
On Accounts and Claims-Messrs. Pearson,
Reynolds, and Curry.
Bridges-Messrs- Thalman, MeClelland, and
Moran.
Contracts-Messrs Rees, Wharton, and Coy.
Ed~ucation-Doyle. Gallahue, and Trusler.
Finance-Spahr, Reynolds, Pearson, Bowling,
and Curry.
Judiciary-Spahr, Benjamin, and Edenharter.
5Iarkets-Rees, Wharton. and Doyle.
Office Fixtures and Supplies-Reinecke, New
comb, and Smithers
Ordinances-Haugh. McClelland, and Trusler.
Printing-Trusler, Gallahue, and Haugh.
Charities-Wolfe Cowio, and Newcomb.
Public Observation-Disclosures, Newcomb, and
Smithers.
Public Light-Spahr, Gsllahue, and Bowling.
Public P~roperty-Maek. Cowie, and Smithers.
Railroads-Rees, Spain, and Sheppard.
Rules-Moran. Gallahue, and Newcomb.
Sewers end Drainage-Reynolds, Thalman,
and Wolfe.
Streets and Alleys-Wharton, Benjamin, and
Coy.
Water-Rees, Thalman, and Downey.
A motion today the resolution on the table was
defeated by a vote of Is te10.
THE QUESTION DISCUSSED.
Mr.. Thalman, in speaking briefly upon the
resolution, said that he regarded it as very un-
wise to take the appointment of the standing
committees out Of the hands of the Mayor. 1t
was something that had never been done before,
and there is no reason why it should be done
now. The matter had been settled in caucus.
however, he supposed, but it would be unfair
and ungentlcmanly to take from the Mayor the
right of appointing the committees.
Mr.. SpahP said: 1T has never been in the
hands of your Honor. Your Honor has no. more
right to appoint the standing committees than
the members have. Your predecessors were ac-
COTticQ lIlbt privilege ny previous COUNCILS, DuI
we are now exercising the right that we have.
Whatever the rights of your Honor are, they
will be cheerfuliy accorded you"
Mr.. Pearson remarked that customs made
laws, and it was the first time in the history of
the Council that the right of appointing
the standing committees had ever
been taken out of the hands of the
Mayor. The right was one granted him by ordi-
nance, and to endeavor to take it from him is a
bold undertaking. 1t is disrespectful to the
Chair and iSuOfaIP AdlraSCiOr the na1ppcr1fic
members of the body, he said: Il hope you will
hold yourselves responsible for the management
OF the city government after this. | am sur
prised that you would dare to take so bold a step.
l believe the press and tax payers will not uphold
YOU
Mr.. Bowling, in replying to Mr.. Pearson, said
that: Some few Republicans had come to us
and proposed Q king the appointment of the com
mittees out of the hands of the Mayor. We have
decided to take this step, and we know what we
are doing. We are willing to assume the re
sponsibilitys With the assistance of these Re
publicans we viii manage. so far as possible, the
affairs of the city, to the interest of
the taxpayers. There viii be no more
trouble after this is settled. We are on record
for years as asking for minority representation
It was the duty of the majority to give this to
the minority. l believe it is our right to select
the committees. and if ! did not believe it was
our legal right I would vote to stand by the
Mayor:
MIR. Spahr claimed that the Van Vorhis bill
granted to the Council the right to appoint its
own committees.
The vote upon the Rees resolution resulted in
its adoption by 10 to 10, the ballot standing:
~Yeas-Messrs. Coy, Curry, Bowling, Downey,
Doyle. Edenharter, Hough, Mack, Moran. Rees,
Reinecke, Sheppard, Spain, Wharton, and Wolfe
Is, Nays-Messrs. Benjamin, Cowie, Gala
hue, McClelland, Newcomb, Pearson, Reynolds,
Smither, Thalman, and Trusler-10.
Mr.. Thalman moved that. as IL had been
claimed that the Council had no rules, the old rules
should be considered in force until the new ones
are adopted. Mr.. Spahr offered as a substitute
to this a resolution providing for the appoint
ment of "Messrs. Spahr, Benjamin, Pearson.
Sheppard and Bowling as a special committee to
prepare suitable rules and regulations to aid in
the conduct of the business Of the Council and to
give force and effect to its proceedings" Mr..
Thalman stated that as it seemed that the gen
tleman offering the resolution desired to be
on the committee he would withdraw
his motion. Spahr's resolution was then adopted.