The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-25
FUNDS TO DRAW UPON
COUNCIL PASSES AMENDED APPRO-
PRIATI0N ORDINANCE.
Only $1,000 for Garfield ~Park-Strcet
Repair Fund Also Reduced-Mr.
Rauh's

AtSth special meeting of the Council last
night the appropriation ordinance was
passed after being amended according to
the recommendations of the finance COM
mittee. The proposed amendments of the
committee caused considerable discussion
in the Council, especially upon the Garfield
Park and vapor light amendments. The
sections of the ordinance amended are Sec
tons /. s. % and %, under the heading. DE
partment of Public Works" Section l was
as follows: "For the maintenance and re-
pair of streets, including street repair pay
roll. the sum of s45, 0OO." 1t was amended by
adding the words, which sum shall include
the sum in the city treasury on the first
day of January, 1895, derived from the We
hicle tax or vehicle license
tax, said sum SO found to be
in the city treasury derived from such
source on said day being hereby appropri-
ated. together with a sum sufficient to
make the whole sum appropriated In this
item S45. 000."
Item eight was as follows: For the
maintenance and Improvement of Garfield
Park the sum of $40, OO0.' 1t was amended
so as to make the appropriation $1,000. Sec
ton % read: For vapor lights the sum
of $1,000" 1t was amended by adding the
words: But this appropriation is not to
be taken or deemed as a ratification Of
any contract or alleged contract heretofore
entered into by the Department of Public
Works of said city which may not have
been authorized by previous appropriations
theretor or by other action of this Council"
Section - was amended by adding the
same words. All of the amendments recon-
mended by the committee were adopted.
Inc frst of the amendments was adopted
without debate. but the others produced a
spirited discussion. This was especially
true Of the Garfield Park appropriation,
which was cut down. When this amend
nent was read Mr.. Drew arose and quoted
statistics showing the amount of money
which had been expended on this park by
the city to be nearly a half million dol
lars. He then said: IF a business man
purchases an article and afterward sees
that II is not what he thought he does not
sit calmly down and lose what he has in
vested. he invests more money and tries
to make something out of the purchase or
save a part Of what he has invested. This
park Is not a South-side park. as has been
said; 1t is a park that belongs to the whole
people. III II was properly fixed up Ii would
be visited as much or more than any park
in the city. 1t is said that we ought to
wait till We have better fire and police pro-
1 take issue with those making such state
ments. | think money expended for that
park would be we'll expended. 1t is also
said that we ought to wait till we nave bet
ter street-car accommodation for the park.
This i do not think need be, but / think
St,VSJ 10 Suliticul " dI tEaI is neeQeQ at
the park"
Mr.. Koehring said the street-car company
would build its lines to the park as soon
as Ii was put in such shape tina ii would
attract the people end make it profitable
to the company to extend it's lines. Mr..
Young said he would favor a larger appro-
priation If the city had a park commission
er. and Mr.. Rauh also said he would then
favor a larger appropriation.
The amendment to the vapor light sec
ton provoked some opposition. Mr.. Young
objected to this appropriation for the rea-
son that the city attorney, had held the
be invalid. He said the threatened litiga-
ton was not to be feared because, while
the city charter was new: it was to be
and the sooner all questions relating to the
charter Were settled and the city knew ex-
actly what It's powers were the better it
appropriated for vapor lights would pay for
eighty electric lights. and he favored cut
ting off the vapor lights altogether. He
was not sustained by a majority of the
appropriation for the gas lights was the
same as that to the appropriation for the
vapor lights. When it came to the vote
upon the appropriation ordinance Mr..
Young voted against it. saying in ex-
PLANTATION that ne was opposed to voting
for the fulfllment of any invalid contract
made by the last Board of Public Works.
The following resolution was introduced,
just prior TO adjournment, by Mr.. Raul
Resolved. That the finance committee
be and is hereby directed to take under
consideration the ACCESSIBILITY and practical
biiity OF the city, at an early period. pur-
chasing from the indianapolis Water Com
pany its buildings, machinery, pipe and cor
porate rights and privileges, pursuant to
the option reserved to the city by the con-
tract with said company, and make such
recommendations in the premises as may
be deemed to the interest of the city. The
Mayor and city attorney are requested 10
acf with said committee