The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-30
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

President Rorison Makes an Address and
Receives Vote of Thanks.
The Board of Aldermen met last night, with all
the members present
The ordinances passed by the Coun Gil at its
concurrent session were brought in and were
passed by the board. The ordinance appropriate
ing So, 900 for paying the owners Of the Seibert
Bragg patent also passed. and the action of the
Council appropriatins $4,000 as part payment
was concurred in. The action of the Council
appropriating So, 1928. so to pay fire department
bonds due Jan. l, 1886. was concurred in. The fol-
lowing were also passed: Awarding contract for
steam heating at the City Hospital to Kelly
Jones & Co.; to gravel first alley south of Nc
Carly street, from Illinois Maple; to gravel first
alley south of Prospect street. from Olive to
first alley west; to bowlder south gutter of
North street, from Pennsylvania to Meridian; to
gravel first alley south of Bickng from Davis
street to first alley west thereof; to pave with
brick the north sidewalk of Walnut street, from
East street to Park avenue; to construct an
Akron pipe sewer in and along Michigan street,
from Massachusetts avenue to the first alley
east of East street.
The committee on City Hospital reported, fully
and freely generating Superintendent Wishard
from the charges brought against him.
PRESIDENT RoRIsoN's FAREWELL ADDRESS.
President Rorson said he wished to make a
few remarks to the board. He then spoke as fol-
lows:
AS this is the last occasion on which we meet
as board, 1t is an appropriate time to congrat
ulate ourselves over many things, and among
them the harmony and uniform courtesy that
has prevailed among the members Of this body.
In all our discussions, which have at times been
very earnest, We have kept within the rules,
n
the decision Of the chair. Our legislation may
at times have been unwise, but I believe
| it has always been with an earnest purpose to
best serve the city's interests. The city govern
ment has had among its members men who lack
a well-adJusted sense of right and wrong; doubt
less, also. men who would take brides But the
action of such men, On the first few doubtful
measures. generally serves to mark them and
to the credit of these bodies, it has likewise
| served to draw line on their influence; at least
during the past i've years the city has not failed
| of saving majority. A total stranger to the
! city explained his attempted purchase of a
vote by saying hat the fact Vt 'uen accepting such
| positions presupposes their possible purchase
| That statement ought not to 20 unciallenged
for if there is the color of truth in it it concerns
| every citizen. The interest OF every citizen OF
| Indianapolis is more nearly affected by the acts
| of his representative here than by those who
represent him in the Legislature. or even in
| Congress. Why, then, are only younger men oc-
| cupying these positionN Why is it that such
| prominent names as Wallace, Wiles, Foster,
| Coburn. Layman, Chandler, Hamilton and others
no longer appear onthe roll of this board2 The
newspapers, the guardians of the public, ought to
| consider that QUESTION. If they answer it
honestly there will be much of selfcondemna-
| ton. The best snd most experienced business
men are needednere. But men whom expert
ence has laugh are slow to become members of
| a body which he press, as witness the Times of
| this of morning. holds responsible for all the
acts of individual members. 1t is at best
| thankless t.sk, and if man does it faithfully
| he will be surprised to find how many friends
| he has ofpnded and enemies re warded
| We ouht not to adjourn without few words
concerning the main single work of this term,
viz, tie planning and pushing forward to nearly
its COMPLETION of the City Hall. The contract is
| so guarded that, it is safe to say, the building
! wiiIoe completed within the sum originally ap-
J prQriated. With its opening believe we will