The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-09
AFTER WRATH AN APOLOGY
Property-0wners Deny They Said Hard
Things of the Board of Public Works.
They Try to Propitiste the Big Three, but Fail,
Except in Receiving an Explanation as
to the Seventh Street BID.

That protesting resolution OF the Sew
enth-street property-owners against the
asphalt contract. ell neatly typewriter.
was lying on the table of the Board of
Public Works yesterday morning before
the meeting began. 1t was signed by II.
X. Allen, Charles Z. Coffin. George n. Cat
terson. Jacob Huber. per Catterson, j. L.
Ferguson, Eliza j. Jones. jerome Allen, A.
Kiefer, w. HI. Talbot, A. p. He~ndrickson.
S. Muhl, {. A. Ferguson. n. Byram, w. j.
Richards and ID. M. Bradbury. The pug
nacious Major Richards, DR.. Allen. Mr..
Coffin, Mr.. Catterson, Mr.. Bradbury. Mr..
Kiefer and Que or two others were there
to present it and try to explain away the
hot and hasty words that had been uttered
at the meeting at the Capital Bank the day
before. Before the members had gotten
seated DR.. Allen addressed himself to
them, but they were busy with some
papers at the time and he had to wait q
few minutes. 81 desire to preface my re-
marks" he said when he finally got the
boards attention, by saying that the
newspaper reports did not convey properly
the animus of our meeting yesterday. 1t
was not the intent of the meeting TO reflect
upon the integrity of the board. and not q
word was said to lmpug the character or
you gentlemen. The newspaper reports
were cOlOred.o
The complete surprise and indignation
which these remarks had caused at
tho reporters table illuminated at this
point, when one of them, who was present
at the meeting, sprang to his feet. DR..
Allen" said he, every word that appeared
In our paper In regard to that meeting was
correct. and You know it, and l do not pro-
nnan IN tnf nnnh M nnhn
lenged."
This created some little excitement, and
DR.. Allen paused a moment. Did you take
a stenographic reportf" he asked.
NO." replied the reporter, lit was not
necessary. L could not use all that was
said, but what l did use was entirely cor
rect"
Il doubt it," replied DR.. Allen. "At least
the reports did not show the spirit OF the
meeting as / understood it,"
1T was, if anything worse" retorted the
reporter. You had TO keep the harness on
Major Richards all through the meeting to
keep him from saying worse things than
he did" This brought the doughty Major
rush: us that young. man the spokesman
for this board3' he cried. Cannot we ex-
plain our business to the board
without being interrupted by that
savageIy. very much enraged at the idea
that a young man whose only wealth is his
reputation for truth and accuracy, should re-
fuse sit quietly by and see a few prominent
citizens make a wreck of this reputation; >,
HE is not the spokesman of the board"
replied Mr.. Defrees. He is merely defend
ing himself az he has q right to-"
AN INNING o THE BOARD.
The Major sat down. DIR. Allen, after q
few more words, handed the resolution to
President Conduit, who read it over aloud.
"The board. said he. and his voice trembled
just q little from suppressed anger, was
very careful about letting these contracts.
1t is true that they look high,
but when everything is figured
curbing, the price figures out just what it
has been for asphalt heretofore, $3.50 per
square yard" DR.. Allen said they had not
been advised about the wings or street in
tersections being prorated upon the prop
erty. but the board replied that the charter
makes this obligatory. to prorate the
charge. the city bearing its proper part of
the expense. Then Mr.. Coffin came to the
front with the figures on Pennsylvania
and Meridian streets, but the board showed
him profiles and explained that no wings
had been paved on Meridian. while on
Pennsylvania the paving did not even go
TO the crossings. but ran flush with the
curb at intersections; Then the milk OF the
up the subject of brick and said the petit
tion had been for that material.
How many signers had that petitionP'
asked Mr.. Conduit.
"Only four" replied Mr.. Coffin, but you
said no more were necessary, as you intend
ed to improve the street, and would select
the material without reference to the petit
ton"
lyon did not demonstrate against
asphalt" suggested Mr.. Scherrer.
mo" retorted Mr.. Coffin, because you
said it would be of no use." A moment
later he said he believed the right of prop
erty-owners to petition should be respected.
Il agree with you" said Mr.. Conduit.
You had the right to petition, and your
petition was given due consideration"
Yes" put in MIR. Defrees, land you exer-
else the right to damn those who grant the
petition
Mr.. Byram here put in o word. to the
effect that he wanted TO bring in a petition
for brick. but had been told by the board
that il was useless. and Mr.. Null said he
also had pleaded in vain for brick. While
these gentlemen were talking. Mr.. Defrees
read over on account of the street
meeting. as published the previous after
noon. When you have any such false
charges as this to make" said he. with
flashing eyes. TO Mr.. Coffin. why don't you
come and make them here like a mani"
Mr.. Collins reply was too low to be heard.
Then Major Richards came sweeping to
the front, and made q long speech. in
which he doubted the ability of any
iVPoAtCA W SVo obg III OAAV ibhOu
stenographic notes. 1t any such existed
the News would like to hire HIM. He had
no intention of rejecting upon the boards
integrity, What he had said about the
paving companies had been twisted about so
as to apply to the board. He had said that
he did not believe the board would foist
upon them such n contract with this
enormous bid. Such action would be mon
strous and ridiculous. He thought this high
price was due to the overthrow of brick as
a competing material. Then the Major
went on to tell that he knew all about brick.
having travelled extensively to look into
the subject, and he would rather pay 10 per
cent. more for il than asphalt.
AN
When the Major had finished, DR.. Allen
begged time for a word. and made a general
apology. Il believe it right" said he. Ito
honestly say to. You that, since talking
with these gentlemen here, / believe WE
are all satisfied that these bids are no
higher than they have been in the past. l
believe in the golden rule, and 1t is only
right to say to you that our petition is
largely wrong. / believe we should have
first come here and listened TO the explana-
ton of these prices before taking any
action. Whether you want asphalt or
brick is another question. / make this
statement because | believe IL only right to
correct any injustice done. no matter how
honest was the intention in doing
the wrong" That was all very well,
but DR.. Allen neglected to apologize to the