The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-17
No Funds on Hand to Pay the Debts Now
Due, and Big Lump of Bonded In
debtedness to Meet Next Month.
HAWKINS'S MYSTERIOUS ACT
Will Not Surrender His ItemiZed
Statement of Estimates.
Board of Works Holds It's Last Meeting
and Resigns-A Brief Council Meet
ing-MOre Candidates Loom Up.

From the developments yesterday 1t
seems no great surprise that an honest
man like ex-Controller Woollen was anx-
ious to resign and get away from the gang
that manipulated the finances of the Suli-
van administration. The city is practically
bankrupt as far as ready cash goes, and
1t will require careful financering to put
IL In shape Mr. Woollen did the best he
could to conduct the city's affairs as far
as they pertain to his department, but
the pressure of the gang too much,
and the controller was thwarted. His res
ignation before the election was a perfect
ly logical one.
the city has in the neighborhood of
$1,000 in the treasury with outstanding bills
that amount TO more than this, not to men,
tion the excessive election expenses,
amounting to something like $4,000 There
Will be demands for money before the
month is out, and yet there is not penny
In sight with which to meet them. Between
Nov. 10 and 10 there will become due s14O,-
600 in temporary loans. Before leaving the
city Mr.. Woollen estimated that the taxes
TO come I'm in November would pay off the
temporary indebtedness and leave about
$4,000 for expenses for the rest of the half
the railroad taxes. which are now in liti-
cation and which may not be available
TO add to that, President Hawkins has
acted In a peculiar manner in the matter
Oh estimates for his departments, in such
manner in fact that the new controller
Is not able TO tell whether all the appropri-
ations Tor that department have been used
already, or whether none of them have
been used. Mr.. Woollen did not like Haw-
kins's style of doing business In this matter.
and did not hesitate to say So
Mr. Woollen told the Democratic Coun-
Gil that If they reduced the tax rate the
city would fall behind. The entire Sulli-
van machine prevailed against Mr.. Wool
len. and the rate was cut down for political
effect. AS result, the city's financial
condition Is deplorable During the last
yaer number of temporary loans were
made In order to raise money without in
creaSlng the tax rate and exposing directly
the Democratic manipulations. The machine
made no provision for meeting these obliga-
v yions t when they became due During the
year the Following sums were borrowed,
the date on which they become due also
being given:
s. A Fletcher Co, Oct. 1o.......... $4,000
;: A. Fletcher & Co., Oct 10 2250
Merchants National, Oct 1O.......... $50
New York Life Insurance Compa-
S. A. Fletcher e. Co Oct * 1890
s. A. Fletcher & Co., Oct. 15......... 10000
Total .....:...................... $4,000
On Jan. "a city bonds amounting TO
$lO95OO will fall due The encampment
ponds of $4,000 must be provided for with
IN In, the ne next year, and then there are the
Insurance Company is looking after for a
while. These bonds are provided for by
can osf tho ponds however and If the city
heWe her of that much of the indebtedness.
amnnn average 81 running expenses of the city
penses for the department of public safe
" Tor September amounted to 500 604 90 n
Is not known whether the expenses for Oc-
loDer Will De largely In excess of that sum
or not Thereby hangs the tale of Mr.
HaWklns's refusal to give Mr. Woollen the
| original estimates, which were first bandaS
20 the controller, then taken away from his
oince, ana hnally refused him when he de-
ssn % ano o them back: To stand against the
500 or SO that the city has in cash. is a
PHI or 1880 for the repair OF the Erie lad
The Board of Safety. in making IN -.
estimates for the coming year before elec.
uon, submitted the estimates i'm detail
controller Woollen went over these esti-
| mates before sending his recommendation
| 10 the council on the tax rate A few davs
| aIterwards Clerk Herrick came into the
| ControlIer's office and asked to borrow the
statement or estimates The table was
| given him. Some time afterwards Mr.
Woollen demanded of him the statement.
| Mr.. Herrick referred the Controller to
President Hawkins. who had the statement
| in his possession. When the ControIler
asked Hawkins for the statement tho nrae
t tbe e. OF 1ne Board OF Safety replied that
erty;; MIR. Woollen insisted it was a part
| OF the records of his office. and that he
| 1t II he had known that the return of n
| would be refused. Mr.. Woollen did not get
the original estimate, and Hawkins still
| has it. 1t would not do, however. to have
| no estimates at all, so Hawkins had n
| brief statement. punching all the estimates
prepared. and sent to Mr.. Woollen This
4 irnn v1nt1
| possession of Controller Trusler 1t is as
| follows: " ID
| For fire force payroll. s1Os COG 9o
III nre FORCE account. $4,000 90
Station-house account.......... 800 90
| Ofnce expense account-.............. 5000
| 1t would have been possible for the Roa rd
| of Safety. if it chose. to have expended a
] large part of the appropriations based on
the original estimates the few weeks be-
on a very narrow margin the rest of the
| year. 1t is not known that this has been
done; but II is within the range of posi-
| mended by the board for the year was
| $256. O94.95. which included a recommenda-
ton of 5000 for shed to cover the East
| Market square, $1,000 for an additional fire
company and 5000 for mounted police
| Hawkinss refusal to surrender the itemized
account of his estimates still remains a
| probably not return before Thursday
| While the Controller was wondering YES
| terday how long the $1,000 in the treasury
would last, a bill for s1,9Ss.S2 for the In
| dianapolis Dessicating Company for the
| month ending Oct. 10 came I'm. If this was
paid, it would wipe out the balance in the
| treasury. The $1,000 bill for the repair of
| the Erie ladder also confronts the balance
and the Board of Works owes several hun
| dred dollars for broken stone
Mr. Trusler had talk with City Treas
| urer Holt yesterday, but that official de-
| clined TO lend the city money to tide il over
Il cannot say just yet what steps we will
| take to get the city out of this unpleasant
fix" said Controller Truser yesterday
| afternoon. 81 understand Mr.. Woollen ia
vored the issuance of $4,000 or more of
| bonds. People a few years from now will
| forget the condition that exists at the
present If we issue bonds. and the cry is
| apt TO go up. We'll. you increased the bond
| ed Indebtedness of the city We will try
! to get the $4,000 OF encampment bonds
which in the hands of Colonel Lilly
! They belong TO the city rightfully The
| city's subscription TO that fund should be
l.regarded as supplemental to the private
| subscriptions. Then there is $1,000 on de-
| post in Frenzers bank which / think be-
| longs the city. AS as a city at
torney is appointed, l shall consult with
I Ia i'm, in, TO