The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-30
THE CHARTER AND POSSIBLE SCHEMES.
Some Peculiar Things About Reform Methods at
Which the Gang and Other People Wonder.

A Democratic councilman. who has q way
of learning things that is denied the ordf-
nary politician, regards the reform element
of his party with extreme distrust. I'VE
are for the people," said he yesterday to o
Journal reporter, but the other fellows
are for themselves. We have nothing to
get out of franchises granted by the city to
large corpor ations. except what may come
through them as benefits to everybody.
But the other fellows are rich enough and
of such influence as to turn everything they
do to personal account" This comment on
reform methods in Council zane as a reply
to the reporters question regarding the
street-railroad franchise. and while the
councilman did the talking over a much
wider field the reporter listened. 1t was
gathered from what was said, with periods
well emphasized and sentences punctuated
with an aggressive forefinger, while over all
were shed smiles of trust in the people that
can only come from broad humanity, that
somebody wanted to take all the pie:
Il tell you" said the councilman. becom-
ing excited as the topic grew upon him,
that if the amendments the people want
made to the charter bill are not granted In
the House, the whole scheme will fail In
Senate. There are better politicians among
the Senators, and they see ahead a contest
of corporations under the charter as pro-
posed. There is not a corporation enjoying
rights from the city that is not figuring on
packing the board of control. The street
railroad people wouldli like to be represented,
but those opposed to extending their fran
chise have a very good chance OF being IL
the majority. There never was o better
street-railroad charter framed than the one
our reformers knocked ont"
done In this matters" the reporter asked.
1T will come up again, for before long q
light will be shed on the motive of this
violent opposition that will astonish the
people. There has been a great deal of
tearing of hair n shouting against the
street-railroad ordinance. but do you know
that many who are doing most of the swear
ing in behalf Of the opposition never read
the ordinance"
IF ignorance of the ordinance has much
to do with it. what are the motives of its
opponents. who know all about It'll"
Its . shake down; a squeeze. They want
to drive -Shaffer out of town. and of
course before he can go he
must sell ont. There will be somebody
ready to buy and hold for speculative pnr-
proposed board Of control appearing. There
are certain men opposing the street-car
company because they want to be in official
position to settle the matter themselves.
Other large corporations. too. are putting
their hands into the kettle, with the hope
of fishing out 9 good deal of the meat.
There is the Cooper naturai-gas bill, for
instance. 1t provides that the city can
issue 81, OOO, 600 in bonds to create q manu-
facturers' natural-gas line. Two years ago
the people owned most of the Consumers
gas company's stock. That. under legisla-
tion of 1889, has passed into the hands
of seven men, and they would no doubt
transfer the plant to the city to enable it
to have one under the Cooper bill. without
waiting until a new one was constructed.
Reform methods have some peculiar feat
ures about them, and none more so than
for HIMSELF
This is a very fair specimen of the man.
ner in which the unreformed politician is
meeting the reformer's charges of gang
rule and corruption. which the new charter
proposes to obliterate. IN