The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-17

THE pompous and supercilious statement
from the Board Of State-house Commissioners
will only add to the public impression that
these gentlemen are conscious Of the weak
ness of their position, and are attempting to
strengthen it by the assumption of airs that
are out Of place, in view of their standing and
position The question of the character Of
the State-house plumbing is not "contro-
versy" between the commissioners and the
Journal. The Journal would bevery glad to
know that the plumbing is all it should be,
and if that be shown will be as much pleased
as the Commissioners are with the work
The Controversy" if there is any,
is between those who claim to
be experts on the one hand and a board which
is not expert on the other, but which has
shown itself to be stubborn and childish to a
degree. The Journal has been merely the
medium through which the criticisms upon
the plan and execution of the plumbing could
reach the people who are paying the expenses,
and in doing this we believe we have been
serving the best interests Of the public. The
Commissioners seem to be laboring under the
impression that the new capitol building is
their own private enterprise; that if they are
pleased and satisfied no one else has
the right to dissent We beg to
say to these gentlemen that this is a
mistake. The capitol belongs to the people
Of the State; they are paying the bills. The
Commissioners are merely hired men, and it
is their duty to take all proper precaution that
their work be Of the best character. Now in
this matter doubt has been cast upon the
plumbing, both as to plan and the manner in
which the work is being carried out. This
dispute cannot be settled by the commission
ers standing off and making faces at those
who criticiss it. An offer has been made
to have it examined by an expert.
the expense to be borne by those who
find the fault if it shall be proven that they
are wrong. Could anything be fairer or more
directly in the interests Of the public and the
tax payers? But the Commissioners assume
their infallibility, and every time word is
uttered against their work they instruct their
secretary to write mass of irrelevant and
top loftical rubbish. Mr.. Commissioners this
sort of treatment will not settle this 'contro-
versy." You may slap at the Journal all you
please; but the Journal is not the
party in interest. 1t would be a
pleasure to us if it were demonstrated
that the taxpayers money was being we'll
and wisely expended; but the wind Of the
secretary, ''by order of the board" proves
nothing.
We call attention to the Commissioners
card, and also ask the same attention to
what is further said in our city columns.
The superintendent statement is piece of
pettifogging on its face, about equal to the
bubble of the Commissioners respecting the
offer on behalf of the plumbers associ-
alton to pay the expenses of the
expert examination. The original copy of
the paper, published in the Journal shows
that that offer was made, and copy Of the
paper was filed with the board. Dr. Metcalf,
secretary of the State Board of Health, and
others who heard him, corroborate the state
ment raade in the Journal Of what the super
intendent said There may be other and
more conclusive evidence upon this plumbing
matter before it is dona with, and sooner or
later the commissioners will have to recede
from their untenable position.
ATLANTA Constitution: when we read
of lynehing parties at the North we are in