The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-15
THE DOING,s OF COUNCILMEN
After Considerable Wrangling the Street
Car Ordinances Are Referred Back.
Action on Receiving BidA for Electric. Gas
and Other Lights Is Resfifmed-An 0rdi-
nance Increasing PeddIers' Fees Passed.

vacant when last nights session Of that body
was called 70 order, . few minutes after 8
o'clock. Two meetings in week were evil
IDENTIFY more than the lobbyists could stand.
Nine members Of the Council were also absent
without any excuse. Tbs strsss-car companies.
having so much ss stake, were all rspresen ted.
however, by their officers and attorneys who
were busy during every lull in business. button
holing councimsn. After the call for the meet
ing had been read, there was considerable
wrsneling over what business should be
considered. Councilman Darnsll moved to
take up the street-car ordinance. and
Councilman Swain moved to lay the motion on
the table. Councilman Long thought the Coun-
Gil could not legally take mp the ordinance. be-
cause when Council adjourned Monday night it
adjourned to consider the ordinances st the next
regular meeting The motion to lay on the
table Mas defeated. and the question OF taking
I'D the strestcar ordinances was discussed az
length.
CouncilrnAn Swain opposed taking mp the or
dinances for the reason that he thought none of
them were psrfe,sed yet The committee spent
much of its time in wranRline. and then dis
agreed. He thought the ordinance should either
60 back to the railroad committee or TO Especial
committee for revision. There was no necsssity
for being In q hurry.
Councilman Cummings agreed with Council
man Swain. Az . member OF tho committee he
felt sure that the ordinances were very imper-
feet. Several mistakes had been made. One
was in granting the right to lay track 10 Jack
son place. Councilman Thalrlan called atten-
ton to the fact that there would be no meeting
next Monday night On account OF all the KeDuo-
Iican members going TO Chicago City Attorney
Taylor announced that he had q conference with
the Citizens railroad company's attorney, who
had notified him that he had the complaint pre-
pared to enjoin the street commissioner from
interfering with the company's work on the
streets where the construction OF tracks had
been begun.
The Mayor suggested that IS the Dudley Or
dinsnce had been read . second time 1t would be
wise to pass the other two to second reading
and then refer tho three TO some committee.
Councilman Truser offered a. substitute Tor
Councilman Darnell's resolution that the Coun-
Gil take up the regular order of business. which
prevailed After some unimportant routine busi-
ness had been transacted, Street Commissioner
Ronsy submitted report relating his exper'
pany from work. In concluding the
report he stated that last evening
the company had begun work on Prospect
street, and that it had been stopped. Council
man Trusler offered resolution providing that
the com missoners report be recel we'd. and that
he be instructed not to interfere with the build
ing or the line on Prospect and Shelby streets
10 Offering the resolution Councilman Trusler
the Twenty first ward, who were anxious 10 have
street-car service. The line would open great
deal Of new territory and accommodate several
thousand citizens Councilman Stuclsmey-
company had violated the orders Of the
Council Councilman Kelley favored It, lie
said tho new panies desiring to come into
the city did not propose to build line under
year. The roll was called the adoption OF
the resolution, and II was defeated BY the fol-
lowing vote:
Yeas-Cummings, Davis. Finch, Hicklin, Kelley,
Marley. O'Connor. Pearson. Swain, Trusler-i0.
tNays-Darnell, Dunn. Elliott, Casper Gaul. John
Wilson-i2.
When the routine business was resumed, the
committee on public property presented q COM
munication from F. NJ. Chslett 81 Son. agreeing
to lay out the Garfield Park grounds, stake
sAme for $3.50. The committee recommended
that the proposition DO accepted, and the report
WAS adopted.
On motion of Councilman Swain, the city civil
for the paving with asphalt Tennessee street
between frat and Sew en- tn streets, nearly all the
property-ownsrs on that part Of the street hay
ing petitoned for such Improvement.
By suspending the rules an ordinance drawn
up by the Mayor, regulating psddiing in the
city. WAS passed. The ordinance doubles the
license fees for nearly all classes of peddlers
and hawkers who either go on foot or by vehicle.
charged $50 per year. or s25 for six months and
It is provided that they shall keep moving, ex-
cept whom making sale. Psddlers of dry
goods are charged 81. so per day, and OF jewelry
s2 per day. Neither are allowed to take out .
license for q longer period than one month.
The Mayor said the ordinance might work .
hardship against some worthy people. but it was
intended to reach people who came to the city
and sold goods on the streets
Councilman Thalman presented an arnenda-
tory ordinance to the ordinance concerning the
prevention of fires. The ordinance provides
that it shall be unlawful to fire any cracker,
rocket or other article Of that kind within the
city. 1t prohibits tho use OF stove-ppes passing
through wood work. and provides that on Fourth
of July and on any other day deemed wise the
Mayor may, by proclamation. suspend the ordi-
nance.
Councilman Thauran also offered the follow
ing: THAT the superintendent OF police be re-
quested to instruct the patrolmen to notify all
persons having signs suspended across. or over
the streets or sidewalks, and awnings hanging
lower than seven feet from the ground, to i'm
mediateiy remove them. and If not promptly
complied with. that complaints De filed against
them before the Mayor for obstructing the
sidewalks"
81 am in favor of that" said Councilman
Swain. 1.-The Harrison hats are high and We
| want no distractions"
The resolution passed, all tho Democrats. even,
| voting for it.
| The question of public light came ND for con-
| sideration on the reading OF the message from
| the Board OF Aldermen amending the resolution
| of Councilman Thalmau. offered 1T former
meeting Of the Council, so a. TO forbid the offer
| ing Of any bids except for electric light Coun-
| Gilman Thalman moved that the former action
| of tho Courcil be adhered to. He said he
surprised that any member of the Council or
| Board Of Aldermen should oppose getting all the
| information possible the question Of public
light By the Welsbaoh burner be felt assured
| the city could get light far ahead OF any
electric light and At q saving of $4,000 per an
mum under the offer Of the electric companies.
Councilman Swain favored the Council ad-
herring 70 its former aston, because be believed
| the new inventors should DO permitted to bid,
and because he was opposed to allowing the
| Board OF Aldermen to dictate TO the Council
what should be done. After considerable dis
cussion the former action Of the Council Was ad-
| hered to by q vote of 10 to 3. Elliott, Casper
| and Long voting in the negative.
On motion Of Councilman Darnell resolution
was passed providing for the appointments of a
committee to ascertain why the Trust company
| was not obeyng the orders OF the city engineer
with reference to the laying OF and inspecting
mains. The Mayor appointed the following
councilmen the COMMITTEES: MeCelland.
Kelley and Long.
When ordinances came mp on third reading.
the streetcar ordinances were read, and on mo-
tion Of Councilman Darnell, were referred back
| to the railroad committee for further considera-
ton. IL was also directed that the ordinances
should be made the special order for the frs'
| regular meeting in JuIy. unless a special meet