The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-29
BURKE GROWS SARCASTIC
New District Attorney Answers The Crit
icisms Made on His Appointment
Installed in Office-J0hn E. Lamb Declares the
Story of Combine with DistIllers
Fake-Political Notes.
HE Has NO APOLOGIES TO MAKE.

Burke Says His Record IL All Right-xn-
stalled in Office.
Hon. Frank B. Burke. the newly-ap-
pointed district attorney of the United
States for the State of Indiana. arrived
yesterday morning and declared himself
ready to take ND the work of the office. He
was received courteously by the retiring
district attorney. Hon. Smiley n. Cham
bers, and was ushered into the office
of Clerk of the Courts Noble c.
Butler. Mr.. Butler administered the
oath Of Office In the presence
of attaches of the Office. Mr.. Chambers and
Judge Woods, of the United States Circuit
Court. The proceedings TINS became o
matter of record of the Circuit Court min
utes. Mr.. Burke was congratulated veyy
heartily by the witnesses of the scene.
Mr.. Chambers at once turned over the
keys to the Office and desks to his success
sor, and also large number of letters adj
dressed to the district attorney. Mr..
Burke announced that, as there
is no special business on hand.
he would leave last night for his home at
JeffersonvIlle, and would not return to re-
main permanently until the last of next
month. He intends of course. he said, to
make this city his home. but added. face
tiously and ironically. abiding in that
slow speech of his. TO the opposition In his
own party to him:
II don't want to move my family here IN
til think they are safe from the indi gDant
populace. i have n wife and three helpless
little ones. and when they come here
want IL TO be so that l will not have to be
mt of IN W
mercies of my Opponents."
What is to be your policy" was asked.
To do my duty under my oath." said he.
Politics will be unknown In this office"
who will be your deputyT
Il am sure do not know. 1t is matter
in which the wishes of my friends Will be
considered. am under pledges to no one"
did you not have an understanding that
in case you were appointed Elmer Carr. OF
Bloomington. would be your deputyP
NO, sir: have never met MIR. Carr, but
hear he Is highly recommended"
Mr.. Burke. In talking of the SentinePs
opposition 10 him. remarked with caustic
irony that of course il he had known his
aspirations would displesse the Sentinel he
would never have allowed them TO break
the shell. Speaking of the publication in
the Sentinel and News that he had voted
against the school book law he sara:
That statement IL absolutely and mali
ciousIy false. The editor of the Sentinel
was In the Senate chamber when that vote
was taken. and knows how voted"
DO you refer to DunnP was asked.
Dunn, who is be"
why. Dunn. Jake Dunn. late State Lii
brarian."
lis he editing tho Sentinel nowf 1 sup
posed from what heard that be Was study
ing up the books. getting ready to be APP
pointed tax commissioners"
Having uttered this in more of the sar-
castic drawl which characterizes him, Mr..
Burke went on to say:
oh Urfh ad
labor. but have no apologies TO make for
any vote / cast In the Senate. / was Op-
posed to the Inman bill for the reason that
believed that there should be no rule aD-
tiOps. which dad not apply to the
employees OF c0partners or private
individuals. l voted against the city
charter of Indianapolis: because IL granted
the Board of Public Works power TO con-
tract for purchase of electric-light and
water plants and for street railways. 1
offered an amendment to the effect that
such contracts should not be consummated
until after a succeeding election. so that
taxpayers and voters might have the OPP
portuDity to express themselves. My
amendment was squelehed by demand
for the previous question"
How about the Australian ballot lawf"
1T Is true l vcted against TINT as orig
iDally offered In the Legislature of 1889, for
the reason that i denied the right OF the
General Assembly TO restrict the voters OF
the State to the candidates OF an Official
ballot / insisted that every citizen has
the right to vote for any one be peases for
any office. No man can DO bound by the
action of any political convention. The
Legislature of 1891 had to amend the law
in order to prevent its being declared un-
constitutional, and it was done to obviate
tho lines of my opposltion."
THE civil-service reformers have
grievance with you" was suggested.
''Yes. They wanted o bill passed which
gave the State Board of Charities power to
select the employ es of the State institu tons.
| was opposed to that because 1 believed
that DIR. Wright. hero at Indianapolis. and
the several boards OF trustees. were more
competent and better equipped for this
work than the board of oh srities."
Mr.. Burke was the quest of Mr.. Cham bers
at lunch. which was taken ut the Columbi
Club. He was shown every courtesy, and
was personally presented to all the off,
cials about the federal building. except
Judge Baker, who is out Of the city.