The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-26
A LUCKY ADMINISTRATION.

Mayor Sullivan's administration is re-
markably fortunate in its inheritances.
Among the things of value it has fallen
heir to are a well-organized fire depart
ment, with engine-houses, engines and
all equipments. including fre-alarm tel
egraph. etc. This was the work of pre-
vious Republican administrations. In
taking possession of the fire department
it was not necessary for the present ad-
ministratIon to do anything in the way
OF planning, organizing or e~quippings
The work was all done. The changes
that have been made have been for per-
sOnal reasons, and have added nothing
to the efficiency of the department. 1t
is an inheritance.
The police department was inherited
in a similar way. 1t was better or
ganized and under better discipline
when the present administration came
in than it is now. 1t has deteriorated
visibly since the adoption of the new
charter and the appointment of the
present Board of Public Safety. This is
not the fault of the charter, but of the
administration. 1t is in pursuance of
the Democratic policy of running things
on a wide-open plan. The discipline
and morale of the police force have not
been as low for many years past as they
are at present. At no time In many
years have they shut their eyes to as
much that was going on under their
noses or winked at as much law-breaking.
If they had had a straight tip from the
Board of Public Safety not to enforce
the saloon law or interfere with gam
blers they could not act differently. 1t
was a much better force when the pres
ent administration inherited it than it is
now. The discipline under the Metro
poIitan board was far more rigid than it
is under the Board of Public Safety,
and the laws were better enforced.
In the way of public improvements
the present administration inherited
Tomlinson Hall, the City Hospital, the
new market-house, a dozen engine
houses, miles upon miles of good streets,
bridges, culverts. etc. The Virginia
avenue viaduct project, for which they
claim so much credit, was we'll under
way before Mayor Sullivan came in.
He had nothing to do with originating
it, and has not contributed in any ma
terial way to its success. He has SIM
ply awaited himself of the labors of his
Republican predecessor, and carried out
the ideas and plans of others. 1t will be
time enough to claim the credit of great
public enterprise for Mayor Sullivan
when he shall have originated or ac-
complished something outside of inner
tied ideas.
The schedule of valuable assets inher-
tied by this administration would not
be complete without mentioning the
new charter, the Barrett law, the in
creased saloon tax and the new tax law.
The new charter, the gift of the Legisla-
ture, brought about through the efforts
of the Commercial Club and citizens COM
mittee, is the best form of city govern
ment in the United States. but Mayor
Sullivan does not deserve any of the
credit for it. He was elected by the Sim
10Y gang, anu VIC ChaiVei ComcS JuS1 LII
time to make his administration respect
able. So with the Barrett law, another
gift Of the Legislature which came just
in time to enable the present admins
tration to make street improvements at
the expense of the property-owners.
The increased saloon tax, passed by a
Republican Council over the solid Dem
ocratic vote, came just in time to add
about $4,000 n year to the revenue. and
now comes the new tax law with its
largely increased appraisement to insure
n full treasury ext year. Surely there
never was an administration that owed
so little to its own merit, and SO much to
| good luck and what it has inherited.