The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-29
THE NEW CHARTER.
General Coburn Points Ont Additional Objec-
tions to the Measure Now Under Discussion.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
Let me apologize. Some days since / was
invited to 60 to q meeting Of the committee
of the House to whom was referred the bill
for q new city charter. and when there all
persons present were. time and again. in
vited and urged to make any objections or
criticisms of the bill that occurred to them.
This invitation was accepted, and various
points were referred to as indicative of de-
fects in the bill. Among others, Iventured
to suggest that too much power was put in
the hands of the Mayor and his appointees;
that this was q radical departure from free
republican institutions, and cursorily re-
ferred to many passages, in my opinion.
showing this. Instead of this being treated
fairly. it became evident that certain per-
sons were irritated, and this soon cropped
out in speech. / hope this irritation is over
with. 1t VAS not intended to be reused by
myself. only meant to frankly state my
views.
What we want is q fair discussion; but in
his answer to my objections. which were
printed on Monday in this paper, q writer
says that 'if the bill isdefeated i will prove
to be the worst enemy the city ever had"
This is not discussion; it is to be classed
with the making of mouths and saying bad
words about those with whom naughty
boys are displeased. / decline such things.
The proposed bill is bad enough in its gen.
eral features to call out any ~dcnunciations
1t may command. The essence of self-gOv-
of the people is not in it. One
man is to appoint and remove, at will, the
most important officers; he can do so with
out charges against the persons removed
from office, with as absolute right as the
Emperor of Germany put out Bismarck n
put in Capriva. An officer doing his duty,
In spite of the Mayor. may be removed In d
moment to suit his whim. This Is the very
essence and bitterness of despotism,. but
the writer does not seem to know it. Why
have executive, judicial and legislative de-
partments if you have such q form OF gov
ernment over the most important branches
of city management The President and
the Governor of the State have not the I'M
limited and absolute control in their spheres
that we propose to give the Mayor. The
seventh clause of Section Al contains this
power. After removal be is to send a mes
sage Co the Council and aldermen, stating
what he has done, and there it ends.
Sections % and 80 provide for investiga-
tions and the taking of testimony concern
ing delinquent officers against whom
malities of q trial are properly required.
when the legislative body must act, but
not so with the executive. He may strike
down the best public servant, and blast his
character, and ruin him, possibly, without
a shadow of excuse. and there 10 no redress.
is it right that officers of high response
bility shall be under such surveillance as
thatfs Is that q proper specimen of the ex-
ecutfve authority Of q great and free cltyf
Here is the shell of executive authority
with o very bitter and poisonous kernel in
side,I The autocrat may stamp out his
creatures. his minions, his tools, at once;
and with such powers in his hands they
never can be anything else. Do we want
TO inaugurate such q system herei A bad
and dangerous man may get into power,
and we ought not to construct a machine
that will enable him to do infinite harm to
the public. VIVA t call is there for this alb
solutismf Why must we crown a despOti
Are we so puny that we have to lean on
doing his duty in Office fairly and honestly
he ought not to be put out without cause.
Even In the army a p~eremptory dismissal
is rare. and thiso only by the highest au-
thority. Military government and methods
are. OdIous in civil life, at least to the OBJ
jectors to this bill.
Section 20 contains some singular features
that j had not noticed before. They give
inquisitorial powers to the Council and al
dermen to overhaul and look into the af-
6eirs of any corporation, department OF
board in which the city may be interested,
or to which it may have granted q fran
'chise, or may be about to grant the same,
or with which it may have entered into o
SOh "a huoy Oo " W Wv W III 0oSA
cases they have power to m records.
compel the attendance of witnesses, the
production of books. papers and evidence,
at any meeting of the body or q committee;
they may Issue subppnas and attachments,
and have the court compel the attendance
OF witnesses. Now, these large powers OF
inquisition have. ordinarily, been ex-
ercised by courts. and not legislative bod
les, and some persons have q notion that
courts are established for suoh pur-
poses, among other things: that
courts who understand the long-established
and Just rules of evidence, who understand
the rights and relations of persons and the
rules as to their property. which rest upon
long lines of decisions, clearly defining and
guarding them carefully. are the proper
tribunals to max such inquisitions. 1t
would seem that the great departments
were getting q little mixed in their func-
lions, but ] may be mistaken about all this.
Did any one ever before hear of forcibly
overhauling the affairs of any corporation
a city was about to deal withi / still lave
faith in our courts of justice. n believe
r~ations, are more secure in their hands than
in those of unlearned committees or coun-
ellis. i draw the line of these judicial, OF
~semi-judicial, investigations about at this
point. OF course, n investigationsOf the
conduct of city officers. CT employees, or
servants are properly made in the legis-
lative bodies of the city.
/ relteraue the demand of attention to
the enormous powers of the board of pub
lie works. Take street contracts as an
instance. The board never consults the
Council q moment as to what streets will
be improved, or the character, or cost of
the improvement; nor does the board have
to openly discuss or give information as to
what they propose to do. The people must
stand like sheep before the ehearer. A con-
tract Is let for an improvements; the money
for the crossings. to be paid for by the city,
ought to be In the treasury or under the
control of the board. The contractor goes
on to do his work. He may nave been in
formed that there were ample funds to pay
for the city's portion. The liabilities of
the city must be numerous for public works,
and it will be the most difficult matter in
the world to ascertain Just what they are
or may be at any given time. There
may be litigation over the mat
ters that puts in doubt the
amount of money on hand. Nothing
will be more difficult to ascertain than this.
If under such a case. when the contractor
had not information that was true, but
which had deceived him. he could. l be-
lieve. collect his debt. And in the confu-
sion that must get into the management Of
SO many contracts. it will be next TO impos-
would be to provide that the Council aud
aldermen should vote upon the improve
ment, and make the appropriations for the
crossings, and take ND each case on its own
merits, than lodge a general and uncertain
fund in the hands of board of public works.
/ think the election of these boards by
the Council and aldermen preferable TO
their appointment by the Mayor. But q
beftar olau than this would he In elect