The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-19
THE SHORTAGE TO THE CITY.
The Finance Committee Considers the
Question of Pattison's Shortage.
A Frank Statement of the Ex-0ficial's Affairs
The Opposition to and Reasons for
Granting an Extension.

my l0l0R DuL an lmLucOldto sossiC"cns
and his bondsmen met and we're addressed by
several persons. Among them, Mr.. Seidensticker
is represented as saying that suit should be in
stitutsd at once on Mr.. Pattison's bond. He
urged that this should be done for political effect.
This meeting. it is presumed. was held to infiu-
ence the action Of the joint commit
tee on finance from the boards of AL
dermen and Councilmen, who met at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon, according to the
order Of adjournment Saturday evening. At
the hour named yesterday the committeeman.
Ma9sk Denny, City Attorney Taylor, Mr.. Pat
tison and his attorney. Roscoe Hawkins. met to
hear further from the ex-treasurer. Mayor
Denny presided. and, without any formal pro-
eeeding, Mr.. Pattison was called upon to tell
the committee what he could do in the way of
settling the claims of the city against him. That
gentleman referred the committee to Mr. Haw-
kins. who said Mr.. Pattison did not have the
money. s'There is no desire on his part" he
continued. Ito conceal anything. The books will
show the exact condition Of the treasury
under his administration, and where the money
has gone. His connection with the tile-works is
such that he cannot make any statement now
"a y" o"OuAA NV ochohs Az wv ~ "
him any good to explain it to the committee and
the public are present. There are pending in the
Supreme Court questions involving the legality
of the tile-works and Harrison receiverships.
These questions have been submitted to court.
and a decision is expected that will materially
benefit Mr.. Pattison's interests. This con-
dition of his affairs is no new thing
to him. He has had it under consid-
GRAFTON for the past eighteen months. Now
the Circuit Court will not do anything in refer
ence to the tile-works until these questions are
settled by the Supreme judges. / may state
that a majority of the tile-works' creditors-all.
IN fact, but one or two-have agreed to scale Is
or forty days, when, no doubt, the decisions will
be reached, Mr.. Pattison can tell what he can do
exactly. Neither he nor his bondsmen can pay
now. If suits are begun by the city against the
bast, will be only to throw the property he
holds into the possession of the city
at probably a deprecated value. He asks
for a delay of only thirty or forty days, at the
end Of which time he will be in situation to pre-
sent his condition and terms in a tangible shape.
The bondsmen will enter into any agreement the
committee may see fit to adopt in securing the
extension
Councilm.n smith-what will De done thenG
Will short or long. time paper be asked fort
Mr.. Hawkins-The bondsmen cannot raise
500, 600 within sixty days. Mr.. Pattison does
not owe a dollar in the world; he has no debt or
creditor of any kind, except in this instance.
Alderman Laut inquired rs to the $25, 600 in
notes which Mr.. Pattison proposed to turn over
to the city. 1t seems there was some misappre-
hension as to the exact purport Of Mr.. Pattison's
statement on Saturday night in reference to
these notes. Mr.. Hawkins said: ..Mr. Patti
son is willing to consent to an arrangement by
which the benefit of these notes can De secured
to the city. He does not wish to turn them
over absolutely. or deposit them as collateral.
They ar, in such shape that he cannot realize on
them Immediately, and it is not advisable to
bring snit."
Dir. Thalman said: 'If Mr.. Pattison is sue
cessful in his tile-works claim he will get $l40.-
O00, which, in addition to the $40, 600 in property,
viii make the claim Of the city secure If this
was simply a question of loaning Mr..
Pattison the amount of the city's claim,
] would not consent to further extension, but
the matter is in such condition that it is not
advisable to push him and his bondsmen to the
wall. That would entail suits to be prolonged
for two years or more, and. in the end, the city
would doubtless lose n e.half OF the amount. /
favor giving him time. He has his property to
turn over, he has his bcndsmen, and the claim
Is as safe as it can be made. will, then. make
q motion that Mr.. Pattison be given further
time"
Councilman Smith, would not do that.
Alderman Laut-I think I presented q motion
at the last meeting. which was laid over.
60 tAU cCCECt0Lyy ILL otutbut VI ALL OU0 CtScs
did not seem to know what became Of the mo-
ton, the question went over.
Mr.. Pearson-The bondsmen are not in shape
to present anything now. / saw Mr.. Byram, and
he told me that he and the other bondsmen
would not shirk the responsibility. They were
few, he said. as some on the bond were not
worth anything. hut those who could and would
bear the burden want to have q satisfactory ar
r%angement. They would not transfer their prop.
erty. or in any other way seek to shirk the debt.
Alderman Schmidt-Mr Pearson Snoaka ahouf
the bondsmen. An attorney of one of them
came to see me to day, and wanted the Pattison
proposition accepted at once. If not, then he
urged that suit be instituted Immediately. If
this is not done the city will get nothing.
Alderman Laut-I want the bondsmen to set
tie the matter among themselves. l do not favor
an extension, as at the end the same trouble will
arise. l want the city to take Dir. Pattison's
property.
Mr.. Hawk,us-What an effect that will have
on Mr.. Pattison's credit, to have it go to the
world that he and his bondsmen have been sued
for 800, 600.
Alderman schmidt-The public knows all
Mr.. Pattison-The you want to ruin a man
beyond remedy.
Alderman Schmidt--Mr. Pattison whose fault
isiU You know you ought to have turned over
the money on Jan. /.
Mr.. Pattison-I want to pay. It is nv inn
pulse to pay, and all l seek is to have the debt
settled SO the city will be satisfied, and leave
me q little to begin business again
without placing the responsibility upon my
incumbrance subject to execution. Immediate
action will upset all my calculations. which will
not benefit any one. / know all this. as Mr..
Schmidt says. 1 have walked night after night.
thinking over my condition. and how to meet the
responsibility honestly, without endangering the
interests OF my friends. / know where the money
has gone. every dollar of it None of it has
been lost in margins. I ana unfortunate. but it
Is an honest Indebtedness.
Alderman Schmidt-Why don't you turn over
ut once your property to the city. il YOU mean all
thatl
Mr.. Pattiscn-I have just explained why. 1
have plans by which tie city can be better
secured, II the matter is deferred for a little
while. If these are discouraged by immediate
proceedings the city and myself will be the
losers.