The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-08
WILL GO TO THE COURTS.
The City Officers Not Willing to Step Down
and Out at the Bidding of the Democrats.

There was a general impression, yester-
day, about the city offices that whatever
the General Assembly may do in backing
up the Bigham police and the Curtis
board of control bills will amount to
nothing more than proving suicidal in an
attempt to throw the city under Democrat
ic control. The action of the City Council
and the Board of Aldermen III cOndemning
the provisions of the Curtis bill as de-
structive of the true principles of free
government, meets the appreciation of all
those citizens, irrespective of party, who
are sufficiently interested in the welfare
and safe-keeping of the city's rights.
Despite the passage of the bills over
Governor Hovey's veto, those who should
know say that they can be
proved to be unconstitutional, and that
in the face of their illegality they cannot
be enforced, or even attempted, without
the Democrats in the Legislature intend to
make the appointments to-day" said a
leading Republican in the city clerks Office
yesterday, but that is about as far as they
can get. l think we can make it so warm
they will want to 60, for there is no doubt
in my mind but that such bills are uncOn-
stitutiOnal. If that is the case, we will not
have the slightest difficulty.in showing it,"
What will be the outcome OF the whole
Il believe the bills will be instrumental
in giving the Republicans 1000 more votes
right here in the city. 1 have talked with
a good many men on the subject and l find
that it is a general idea that this police bill
will only tend to throw that department. of
the city government back into the hands
of the Common Council. There is one
thing the Democrats of this city, or at least.
a part of them, would like to see, and that
is the same disposition made of the offices
connected with the management of the po-
lice, fire and lighting committees as has
been made with those at the Insane Hos
pital, and / hardly think any welldisposed
citizen can sanction the infamies that have
been perpetrated in that institution
There was some talk yesterday that the
General Assembly had set an hour during
the afternoon in which appointments for
the Police Commission and Board of Control
would be made, and City Attorney Taylor
spent a good part of his time in the Capitol
building trying to keep run of the major
ity's purposes so as to be prepared In time
of need TO sustain the Council and Alder
men in their orders. Mayor Denny, who is
the additional counsel to act with Mr.. Tay-
lor as advised by the Coucil. but all the
steps necessary TO eliminate the party legis-
lation from the city control will be
taken at the proper time and no pains will
be spared to thwart the efforts of Bigham,
Curtis and their adherents.
Affairs at the police station are at a
standstill, while all the Democratic pa
trolmen are ambitious to become superin-
tendent, captains or sergeants on the city
force. Captain Colbert thinks he has the
first place even now, and in
his tracks comes Sergeant Bruce.
who is confident that he will
be rewarded with a captaincy.
The fact is, all anticipate a glorious har-
vest from Bigham's philanthropic bill, and
each is doing his utmost to make n record
that shall place him in a favorable light in
the eyes of the commissioners. If the Leg
i~slature has accomplished nothing else of
public good during this session, It can be