The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
LEGISLATION. FOR THE CITY.
The Council Takes Steps Toward Guard
ingthe Interestsof the Municipality.
Another Temporary Loan of $780, 600 Author
ized-Changes in the Salaries of City En-
pl0yes-Peddlers Ordinance Amended.

The Co uncil, in regular session, last evening
took the first formal step toward securing .egis-
lation for the city during the approaching ses-
sion of the General Assembly. 1t came up on
recommendation of the Mayor to have the
Council and Board OF Aldermen appoint COM
mittee to take charge of all matters pertaining
to the preparation of bills, and that the city
attorney be chairman of the committee for the
purpose of calling meetings and keeping mem
bers of the municipal bodies advised as to the
progress of such legislative measures The
recommendation was approved and the Mayor
appointed as the Council branch of the com
mittee Messrs. Haugh, Newlani, Rocker and
Thalman.
City Attorney Taylor reported that action
was necessary at present to compel the Citizens
Street Railway Company to complete the North
Mississippi tracks, as the work cannot be done
on account of the frozen ground.
Gottlieb Muhleman, being unable to carry out
his contract in supplying the new market-house
with stalls and fixtures. because he could not
give the required bond, the work was awarded
to Z. d l.. G. Eden, they being the next low
est bidders, at So. 400. George w. Moon and Jo-
siah B. Dill are the suretes.
The finance committee having estimated that
$40, 600 will be needed by the city on the 1st OF
January, over and above all the money on hand
or in contemplation from the regular sources of
revenue, asked power to borrow this sum for
ole year at not more than per cent interest.
the Mayor and city clerk to execute
the necessary obligations for the
loan. The money is TO be used
in meeting outstanding obligations and defray-
ing current expenses until the city is in receipt
of her first installment of taxes for 1886. ma
jority of the judiciary and water committees,
acting jointly. recommended that action on the
water companys non-acceptance of the new con-
tract be deferred for the present. The recon-
mendation was approved.
The salary ordinance returning from the COM
mittee to which it was referred its first intro
duction in Council, offered an opportunity for
talk on economy and the worth of services of
the officers whose compensation was fixed by it.
Councilman Smith, with an amendment. was the
first to break in on the clerks reading. He
thought $3.50 a year too small for the work
Foreman Casper. OF the chemical fire company,
did Mr. Casper, he said, in addition, kept the
chiefs accounts, and this alone was worth $3.50
year. He wanted this salary placed at
$1,000. The vote by yeas and nays stood nine
to eight in favor of the amendment For the
East market-master Councilman Reinecke
thought ST. 200 too much. This brought
nearly every member to the front with views
for or against the amendment to reduce the sal
airy to 81 900. The opponents had the advant-
age in arguing that out of the salary, whatever
1T is, the market-master must pay for his own
assistants. Ii this is done his salary would be
materially reduced The other side did not re-
gard it as strong argument, as butchers and
occupants of stalls should be compelled to do
their own cleaning. Councilman Swain looked
upon the place as requiring man of some abil
i.y and education. and said while number of
men were anxious for the position it was not so
easy to get the man who altogether suita-
BILE. Eyes, retorted Councilman Thalman, MAT
Cummings worked on Mr. Aldridge week before
he could get his consent to accept the position"
Those in favor of a reduction weakened under
the explanation of what the market-master had
to do, and Councilman Stuckmeyer then with
drew his second TO the amendment, and the or
dinance was finally passed, with only TWO votes
in the negative. The salaries remain as they
were the past year, except in the instances noted
and the fixing of salary for the West market
master at 5000 per year.
Councilman Marley introduced motion re-
quiring the fire chief to look after the fremen
who cut hair for cents each and make boots
while on duty, and to take steps stop them"
He said this interfered with legitimate trade,
and that there was good deal of grumbling
among BARRIERS and bootmakers on account of it.
Councilman Cummings thought they ought not
10 act hastily in this matter, and wanted the
motion referred to the fire committee. His wish |
was granted
An ordinance Investing g. W. Howell with |
the privilege of erecting and maintaining tow |
ers, masts or posts necessary for the purpose of
supplying Indianapolis and its inhabitants with |
electric light and power" was referred to the |
committee on light. 1t provides for the usual |
grant of franchise for this purpose, with the |
usual protecting clauses. but it further, and
says the city may, at any time require Mr.. |
Howell to pay to the city, at stated times, |
proportion of the gross earnings of his plant as
may seem to the Board of Aldermen and Com |
mon Council a reasonable compensation for the |
rights and privileges granted by the ordinance. |
The calling up of the ordinance providing for |
a building inspector caused Councilman Thai |
man to move to lay it over until next April, as |
TO building of any consequence was going on, |
and he did not believe in creating an officer to |
do nothing until the building season began. The
motion prevailed
The ordinance amending the hucksters' and |
peddlers ordinance by reducing the license for |
those using horse and wagon, TO $40 per year |
and $6 for six months, led Councilman Swain to |
warmly oppose any meddling with the ordinance |
recently passed. The object Of that ordinance |
he said, was to confine the business to reputable |
men. and he would not consent to reduction !
that would encourage thieves. in the character
of peddlers, to raid the city. It was this class
who made the business nefarious. Council |
man Cummings did not favor anything
that tended TO crush the honest !
labor of poor men, and 'among peddlers there is
just as much honesty as there is among insur-
ance men," Councilman Marley said he was
sorry that he voted for the first ordinance and
he did not believe a low license encouraged bad
class OF pedders. The ordinance was passed by
Burns. Coy, Cummings Dunn Markey McClel
land, Mc;iroarty, Newlaud, Pearson, Reinecke
and Smitner III voting for it, and Dell. Smith,
Stuckmeyer, Swain, Thalman, Waterman (6)
against.
A five years extension of the Brush electric
light&ranchise was granted.