The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-22
MANIPULATING THE COUNCIL
The Influences That Have Been Put Be-
hind the New Water Contract.
The Company Get the Ear Of Coy and the
Democratic COuncilmen and Make
Steadfast Friends of Them.

pany $50 600 and more per year. for there has
been an annual increase of payment to the water
company under an old contract, when there is
absolute need for economyl The second consd-
Grafton was. will not the officers of the water
company, recognizing this need, manifest their
interest as tax payers by accepting short time
contract, with minor concession or two? The ma
jority of the committee said this is due the city
for the liberality it has shown the water company
In the privileges of the charter granted it. 1--WE
can said member Of the committee, "enfcrce
the requirement of the charter relative to plac-
ing ire-plugs at every 1000 feet. This has not
been followed as strictly as 1t ought to be.
but the opinion that prevailed favored giving
the company all the encouragement possible.
Plugs were voted unfortunately. until now the
city is paying for 6OS, thirds of which are
never opened. The rule has been to put one
down at every 500 feet Of main, thus giving the
company 304 more than the charter contemplates.
If the company does not accept short time con-
tract at $780, with drinking fountains free at this
time, when we must begin to cut expenses some
where, am in favor of doing away with one
half the fire plugs. We can do it without en-
dangering the fire protection of the city, and
thus save $15, 400. 4 short time contract will
carry us to a date when we can see our way
clearer than now, and ], for one, will insist on
the company making some concessions for what
the city has done it, II, In q few months we
can do better, all right"
This sentiment was fought persistently by
friends OF the company, which for some cause or
another has stronger support now than it did
the evening of Aug. 16 last, when the new con-
tract was adopted by the Council without a dis
senting vote. This contract proposed a sixteen
months term at $50 per plug, with drinking
fountains free A liberality was so far shown
that not even a suggestion came to the front
about the unnecessary number Of plugs. When
the Board of Aldermen met Sept. H. it amended
the contract by cutting down the $50 to $45.
The Council refused to concur in this, and more
interest than formerly appeared on the Demo
cratic side. The question was again referred to
the finance committees of the two bodies, and
the company began to get In its fine work by
appealing for delay, because General Morris and
Major Abram Hendricks would like to say
word or two in regard to probable compromise.
Nobody appeared on behalf Of the company at
the first meeting but it's attorney, Mr.. Wishard,
and at the second no one came forward except
its secretary. This official had nothing new to
oHer IN three quarters OF an hour speech but
he impressed every Democratic member of the
committee except Lorenz Schmidt After sew.
eral propositions looking to unanimous report
had been voted down, the motion was made to
amend the contract by giving the company three
years time at $45 per plug. This extended the
time nearly twice that in the ordinance first
passed by The Council. Reinecke and Howes,
Democratic members of the committee, voted
against it, after refusing, on previous motion,
to stand by their action in the Council when
they favored the $50 per plug and sixteen months
proposition. 1t was complete backing down
from their original position. they refused to
sign the majority report, and when the question
came up In Council, on Monday night, they
went sQuarely against immediate consideration
an act in favor of the coupapv
That afternoon Secretary Davis came to the
Mayor and intimated that the company would
have Its five years contract at $50 per plug and
drinking fountains tf.-ssee. He no doubt relied
upon what Attorney " isnaTTs ton MN could be
zone with Sim Coy and the Democratic council.
t neI "hom ne can influence, all of whom voted
1oi &c shoTt-term contract Aug. l6. Since that
time Wishard and Coy have been in almost
daily consultation They have been seen to-
gether early in the afternoon, at the fall of even
ing and late at night 1t was suggested yester-
day, Possibly Wishard. attorney of the
evening the two talked together frequently in
the lobby Of the Council, and when
the motion to defer action until the
next meeting, which will, no doubt,
his Democratic adherents voted again in favor
of the company's wishes. To secure these votes
the presumption is that political deal has,
with other considerations been made with the
little boss It is stated a majority of the water
works employees are Republicans, who are, in
view Of Coys hasty change Of opinion in regard
to the contract, to be voted at the dictation of
their employers for the Democratic dctator's
ticket Then. again, appears the significant
statement of an employe of the company in
saying: There will be no trouble about five
years contract at the old pricef When the
time comes $500 is ready to be used on
councilmen." Coy is leading the Democratic
councilmen to help the water company
in extorting from the city whatit cannot, in JUS
tice to the tax payers, give. The company re-
fuses three years and $45 because it can make no
money at that price, and Coy and other Demo
Gratis are willing to place it in position where
it can get profit out of the city, the only profit
able customer, it claims, it has, this, too, at a
time when the city must reduce expenses if it ex-
poets to go through next year without deficit.
Under the present contract the yearly increase
Of water expenditures is on an average of So 600
per year. Last year it was $32. 600, and follow
ing the rule unless the useless fire plugs are re-
duced one half, the expenditures will reach $34,
600, and in three years, at this average, cause
an annual expenditure of about $40.
600. With this profitable resource the
company can get credit for the loan it seeks, and
be Indifferent to an increase of private consum-
ers. AS long as the city furnishes the money to
run the works. tho company can do as it pleases
in regard to private consumption. 1t will make
no difference whether it has !, 700 or 4 600 con-
sumers For taking its own admissions, it is
consumers is not more than $40, 000 There is q
| regular list of prices relative to this class of
customers, but it is not observed If man can
find favor, his water rents may be charged at
the regular rates but otherwise exactions will
be made at ridiculously high prices, and sur
| rounded by such conditions as the
officers may see fit to impose In
one part of the city gentleman
has been charged $40 for sprinkling purposes,
| when directly across the street another mar with
| space fully as large pays only SIG per year. A
| lady some days ago moved into a house that had
| two sprinking connections. She at once ordered
| them to be cut off, but delay of two or three
| days occurred. The company sent in its bill,
when not a drop of water had been used. A
consumer received his bill, and went immediate
ly to settle in order get the benefit of re bate
| He was told that it made particular differ
| ence just then-that payment next day would
answer. He was taken sick and confined to the
| house two or three days In the meantime the
company turned the water off.