The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-08
THE ACTIONS OF COUNCIL
A Report from the Ex-Fire Chief Causes
aCOuncilman to Question Its Accuracy.
Mayor Denny as to the Board of Health Wran-
gle Maintains that There is No Ordinance
Providing for That Organization.


to order last evening, but the absentees
nearly all dropped in later The lobby was
unusually large, one hundred or more cit
liens, interested in various kinds of legis-
latiOn, being present. Considerable time
was consumed in hearing various annual
reports, the salient points of which have
already been published. City Engineer
Shearer reported that he had passed
the necessity for the employment OF
natural gas inspectors, and had, therefore,
discontinued their services on December
81. He also reported that he had appointed
w. c. Phipps assistant engineer, and the
appointment was approved by the Coun-
Gil. A recommendation that q new sweeper
for Washington street be purchased was
read and referred to the Board of Public
| improvements and committeeon streets and
alleys, with instructions to report at the
| next meeting
j. II. Webster, ex-ehief of the fire de-
partmeut, submitted his annual report, in
which he stated that the running expenses
of the department for the year were Sls-
1926, with credit of 81, 1923 received
from the sale of old material and paid into
the city treasury, making the actual outlay
| S17,245.52. The department., he represented
was in good condition. In conclusion, the
retiring chief stated that after service OF
| twenty-nine years in the department. ne
hoped he left it with the confidence OF the
citizens of Indianapolis.
Councilman Trusler objected to the re-
port being received until it was examined.
| He did not think it was honest, as no books
had been kept by Mr.. Webster during the
| last year. This led Councilman Thalman to
| criticise Councilman Trusler very severely
| for his attempt to cast doubt upon the
! honesty of Mr.. Webster's statements. lie
| said the ex-chfef had the confidence OF the
citizens of Indianapolis, and he certainly
| should have the respect OF Council. Inc
| report was referred to the fire committee;
| After the reports from city officers had
| all been received, Councilman Finch moved
a reconsideration of the vote by which. at
a former meeting, the ordinance giving
| the MOnOn railroad right-Of-way into
the city, was passed. The vote to
Gilman Finch then moved that the
ordinance be recalled from the Board of
| Aldermen and referred to the city attorney
and committee on streets and alleys, with
| instructions that it be returned to Council
at the next meeting with proper amend
/ ment. The motion prevailed.
The quarrel in the City Health Board
came up for consideration by Drs. PettijOhn
| and Hurry submitting their account OF the
| proceedings of the last two meetings of the
/ board. 1t was set forth by them that Dr.
| Hurry had been honestly elected secretary.
| Councilman Thalman moved that the COM
municatiOn be referred back to the members
| of the board, with instructions to
| settle the quarrel as they saw proper
He thought the quarrel arose among q few
| physicians who wanted a little cheap no,
tOriety, and he did not think Council should
| notice them.
Mayor Denny called Council Pearson to
the chair and took the floor to make
statement regarding the DEADLOCK. He
claimed that the city of indianapolis had
| never created board of health by .ordl-
nance. In 1881 the Legislature passed the
law creating a State Board of Health, and
by Section s it was provided that THE
Mayor and Common Council of each incor-
Dorated city Except where regnlarly-con
stituted board Of health by the council
| now exists or shall hereafter exist shall
constitute board of health,
ex otiicio for each of the, several
| cities of the State, Continuing the Mayor
said that he believed the action of the joint
meeting of the Council and Board of Alder
| men in selecting "a board of health on Nov.
Is was illegal, and that the Council was in
realty the only health board the city now
| had. The Mayor then offered the following
resolutions:
Resolved, by the Common Council and Board
of Aldermen of the city of indianapolis that tho
action OF the Common Council and Board OK
1888 in electing and assuming to elect the said
| o. b. Pettijobn, Samuel Z. carp and John N.
|
said city, to serve for two years from Jan. l.,
1889, be and the same is hereby annulled and
set aside, and ali actions taken at any time by
said persons or any of them while assuming to
| act board OF health on and since said 1st
day Of January, 1889, is hereby declared to be
hereafter att ATTEMPTED by them or any of them
while assuming to act as such board of health
by virtue of the pretended election aforesaid, or
under any certificate issued to them or any of
them by virtue thereof shall be null and void.
Resolved, further, That the, Mayor, Common
Council, Board of Aldermen and president OF the
Metropolitan police commissioners of the city OF
indiana pOlis meet in the Council chamber of said
city, ON the evening of JAN 10, 1889, at the hour
81 O'Clock, for the purpose OF organizing as
board Of health for said city, and for the further
purpose of electing "a secretary of said board.
After introducing the resolutions, the
Mayor said he felt confident that the three
gentlemen who had been put upon the
board would not agree upon anything
ard therefore it was not likely they would
give the city the kind of service desired.
For that reason he believed it would be
better for the Council to act as board of
rather than create one by ordinance: After
the situation had been thoroughly dis
cussed. Councilman Markey moved that
the resolution offered By the Mayor be re-
committee, with instructions to report at
next meeting. The motion prevailed by a
vote of IL tot
Councilman Hicklin offered resolution
proposing that the Council recognize DIR.
carp as the temporary secretary of the
board pending the settlement of
the quarrel. Some of the council
men did not believe such resolution
should prevail because, according to Mayor
Denuy's resolution, there was no legal
health board in existence The resolution
passed, however, seventeen voting for it,
and six against.
| The much-discussed question of public
light received passing notice. The COM
mittee on public light recommended that
ten or twelve new lamp-posts in different
parts of the city be remantled. Councilman
Thalman, chairman of the finance commit
tee, protested against any more lamps being
contracted for until the city finances were
in better condition. He especially opposed
contracting for any more vapor lights, fol
which the city is still compelled to pay SIS
each. COuncilmen Kelly Long, OCOnnOr and
| others urged that men who lived near the
city limits and paid taxes should be pro-
vided with light as well as those Presiding
in the central or fashionable portion of the
city. The recommendations were finally
adopted.
A good deal of mfscellaneous business
was introduced.
Councilman Darnell presented resolution:
requiring the Citizens Railroad Company
to remove the turn-table at the corner OF
Illinois and Tenth streets, to run regular
cars to Twelfth street and to take up the
track on Seventh street, between Illinois
and Pennsylvania streets. They were
passed by u vote of fifteen to five.