The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-14
THE COW AND THE ALDERMEN
The Board Summarily Disposes of the
Councils Impounding Ordinance.
The Objections of South Side Citizens To the
Amended Union Depot Ordinance
The New Water Contract,

committees of the two bodies, with power to act
on the matter Of leasing not more than four lots
in different sections of the city, for pound pur
poses. Vce-president King whitfield the odor of
cow pasture afar off, and. calling Alderman
Prier to the chair, was ready before the c1e-'-
got through readino to saw. q. q, w.,,, III
Know what that resolution is Going in this body
1t ought still to be with the committee move
10 non1concur in the action of Council"
II move to amend" said Alderman Pritchard,
ito concur in the action of Council"
II move to lay that on the table, promptly re-
sponded Vicepresident King, and the vote be-
ing called, the Board sustained the motion by
five ayes to four nays. The question on non
concurrence prevailed by the same vote, when
Alderman Brown quickly said. II give notice of
q motion to reconsider"
81 move" remarked Vice-president King, ''to
reconsider at once This was Immediately met
by Alderman Laut with a motion TO lay the
question of Reconsideration on the table. which
Vice-president King readily seconded.
'But, Mr. President" explained Alderman
Brown, who was unwilling to give up the con-
test, II have given notice to reconsider a week
from tonight"
'As you did not vote in the affirm alive" re-
piled the acting president "you cannot move to
reconsider at any time" Alderman Pritchard
raised the point of order that the acting pres-
dent was wrong, but that officer held to his de-
csion and entertained the Laut motion to lay
on the table, which was carried, Brown King
Crosby, Laut. Rail and Prier voting faye" and
Pritchard Schmidt and Wright mo" Alder
man Brown then moved to reconsider this
action which the acting president decided was
not in order. It was insisted that he was wrong,
and Alderman Brown appealed to the Board,
which sustained the chair by the vote given
above, except Schmidt who voted AYE" aud
Brown, who went to the negative side. This
settles the question of cow pounds for the time
being
Under suspension of the rules, the tax levy
and appropriation ordinances were passed with
out amendment, except in one instance. Vice
president King heard something about $18 for a
cow pound. It referred to charge for lease
of ground for that purpose from July, 1885, to
July, 1886 He said it was the first time he knew
of the existence of such lease, and wanted an
inquiry made. On his motion, this was referred
to the finance committee. Having thus be-
friended the cow, the vice president resumed the
chair.
REMoNsTRANCE FROM SOUTH SIDE CITIZENS.
The ordinance passed by the Council amend
ing the ordinance vacating Illinois and Meridian
streets in the interest of the Union Depot pro-
ject by narrowing the proposed viaduct and eff
fecting Encouragement of expense in improv
ing the Illinois street tunnel came up on first
reading
Alderman Pritchard moved to refer it to spe-
cial committe of FIVE to De appointed by the
Chair
Alderman Schmidt presented remonstrance,
signed by 352 citizens of the South Side and bust
ness men on Meridian and Illinois streets, say
ing that before anything done it would be
we'll to hear from General Coburn
The privilege of addressing the board being
granted the General, he said the width of the
viaduct as provided in the ordinance already
passed, is small enough, too small, perhaps.
Dwelling upon the blockade OF streets caused by
trains at the Union Depot and elsewhere along
the tracks within the city, he impressed it upon
the board that not only great danger to life lay
in these blockades, but they caused great appre'
hension to people, especially ladies. who were
compelled to 60 from tho north to the
south side of the city or vice versa.
1t was supposed that the viaduct would furnish
a safe and convenient way of communication be-
tween the two sections Of the city. Fifty years
hence there will be ten times as many cars on
these tracks, and it behooves the people in con-
structng this viaduct to look ahead. 1.-The work
is to be permanent" he continued, land if it is
made narrow now, it will remain. A width
of fifty feet will be inadequate but If it is re-
duced to thirty feet the viaduct will be a
failure The public will not be served
at all. When the city surrenders
two of its important highways to railroad COR
poratons, and gets only thirty foot alley in re-
turn, it is considerable of a backset It is posi-
BILE the Council has no power TO vacate two great
streets. AS railroad corporations want to make
money, in order to pay large dividends, il is not
surprising that they should also seek to get Pc
cuniary advantages through the peoples repre-
resentatives. An effort is made to
have the Illinois-street tunnel i'm
proved by the Union Railway Company
paying $4,000. and the citizens the balance by
voluntary contributions. The tunnel cost
100000 in the first place, and is partial fail
ure. Now the company wants to pay only one
fourth of the probable cost of the improvement.
Voluntary contributions to the amount of $10,
900 even cannot be raised and as the company,
under this amended ordinance is not required
to pay its share until the citizens have raised
their amount, it can be that the tunnel will
never be improved by this plan"
Alderman Schmidt, as substitute for the
Pritchard motion, moved to strike the ordinance
from the files; but as it had only reached it's
first reading this could not be done, unless by a
two-thirds vote. He characterized the tunnel
improvement aud the narrowing of the viaduct
as ''slick piece of business on the part of the
railway ompany." The Pritchard motion passed
by unanimous vote. and the ordinance, with
the remonstrance and all other papers in the
case went to a committee consisting Of Pritch-
ard, Schmidt. Brown Laut and Rail.
THE cITY's WATER CONTRACT.
Two reports were submitted in regard to the
water contract, one by the water and the other
by the finance committee. The first stated that
the two committees could not agree, and recon
mended the adoption of o resolution referring
the matter to arbitrators, two TO be appointed
the four to be non-residents who shall select the
by the Mayor and two by the water company,
fifth, also a nonresident These arbitrator
would be required to meet within thirty days
after their selection which must be within ten
days after the adoption of the motion. The
finance committee recommended the passage of
the Council ordinance, with no amendment ex-
cept reducing the price of fire plugs from
$50 to $40 each.
II am informed said Alderman Pritchard,
by Mr.. Wishard, attorney for the company
that it will not accept such contract. The res.
olutions are designed to meet this emergency,
and the whole question can be speedily settled
by the arbitrators."