The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-04-01
THE SCHEMEOFA ANNEXATION
Democrats Checked by Martindale's Vote
and His Refusal to Compromise.
City Attorney Bailey's Three Assistants In Re-
. yising Ordinances-IIis Opinion as to Sewer
Assessments-POlice Appointments
GENERAL MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Democratic CounciImen Again Forced to
Postpone Their Annexation Scheme.
The Democrats are having hard time OF
it in their effort TO rush their annexation
ordinance through the Council. Last
nights meeting was for the purpose of put
ting on the finishing touches, but after
they got there it occurred to them that the
meeting, being an adjourned one. was.
legally. only q continuation of Monday
nights meeting, and they were as power
less against Mr.. Martindale's adverse vote
as they were the night before. The city
attorney sustained this view of the case,
and there was nothing for it but to let it
90 over to next Monday night. During the
morning the Democrats had offered TO Mr.
Martinda!e to bring the lire back
to Fifteenth street and leave out
his property. but he informed them
that his fight was not made
on personal grounda Re vas up
posed to taking in any new territory and
taxing people when the city could give
them no return for liz but if the others
were to be muloted he wanted no exception
made in bjs fnvor. He pointed out how
ever, the fact that the county attorney had
gotten she better Of them at one point.
The ordinance as it stood. took in the
point where Grandview avenue reaches
the river. A petition for bridge to cost
S2o,Oo0 at that point is now before the
comfy Commissioners They saw the
point and made q new ordinance. putting
the line this eide of the river at that point.
there Is queer state Of affairs in regard
to the territory east of Rural street. An
ordinance taking this in passed the Coun-
cii some time ago. and as it was sure to go
through the Board of Aldermen, it was
placed upon the tax duplicate But the
Board of Aldermen died before 1t went
through, and there il is on the duplicate.
bat hot in the city.
There were only fifteen members present.
and the roll of committees " az gone through
without other mishap than p mumbled in
qulry by Mr.. McGill as to why the commit
tee on rules had held no meeting. Mr.. Pear
son retorted that it was for the same reason
that the judiciary committee had held
none. As soon the roll was gone through
Mr. Rsssman brought up the point that
this was an adjourned meeting. and said
they might as we'll let 1t 20 until Monday
night. motion to adjourn was made. but
MI. Pearson objected. He said they might
as we'll discuss this annexation ordinance
while they were there. He was in favor of
STRENGTHENING the corporation lines, but he
was not In favor of taking in another foot
of territory, If they did it would simply be
holding the people annexed up and robbing
them of taxes when it was impossible
for the city to give them fire or police pro-
lection. Instead of Strengthening out the
boundaries they had gone clear west to
Haughville and east to Rural street and
had taken in the homes of poor men for
whom they could do nothing but pile up
taxes. Mr.. Rassman and Mr.. Pearson took
a map, and as the other members crowded
about they traced over the new line.
Finally Mr.. Rassman took the floor and
withdrew the first ordinance, introducing
the substitute, leaving ont the Grandview
bridge.
Mr.. Rassman said he had an appropria-
ton ordinance for the Board of Public
Works which ought to be passed. but as it
required q twO-thirds vote it could not be
done. He therefore simply introduced it.
Ii appropriates for streets and alleys.
s4s, 412.37; sewers, $5,11S.13; csterns. 8, 1888;
fountains and wells, 800; electric
light, S4.165; total. S63, 1850. This
is the estimate made by the board for it's
expenditures during April. OF the amount
asked for streets and alleys. over $4,000 is
for contracts already let by the Council,
and nearly all the other appropriations are
for the same kind of contracts. This leaves
about CSC. coo for the board for new street
Improvement contracts. They declined to
state just what improvements they figured
on in making up their estimate.
inst before adjournment Mr.. Yontz re-
minded the Council that next Monday was
the regular meeting night. The Council is
operating under it's old rules until new ones
may be adopted. Mr.. McGill began TO make
q rambling speech to the effect that the
Council had no rules, but he was shut Oft
by motion to adjourn.