The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-19
A PLAN FOR ECONOMY
CHANGE PROPOSED IN NEXT YEARS
CITY APPROPRIATIONS.
Each Department Must Pay It's Own
Experimentation Avenue De-
clared n Public Street.
Each Del

At the meeting Of the Council last night
the report of the finance committee favor
ing a tax upon gas mains was received
and the city attorney was directed to draft
an ordinance providing for such a tax.
The ordinance under which the gas COM
panies obtained entrance TO the city, and
which was accepted by them at the time
without protest, provided that after a
period of five years the city might impose
a tax upon the mains, and the city charter
also gives the city the right to impose
such a ak. 1t is believed that a majority
Of the Council favors the imposition OF the
tax. although most of the members are
reticent about giving any expression as
to how they will vote when the ordinance
is before them. Several Of them evaded
the question when it was put to them di-
rectly. and a number of them gave in
direct answers. One member said he would
vote for the tax and another said he would
probably vote for it.
Councilmen Young and Allen both said
they would vote for the tax If it were
shown that the gas companies were earn
ing a fair rate upon the money invested,
and had paid dividends on their stock to
such an extent as would warrant the i'm
position of the tax. Mr.. Allen thought the
companies ought to be required to show
their books to a Council committee for the
purpose Of ascertalning If current reports
as to the profits made by them were true.
or nearly so, and If they were earning the
amounts that it was currently reported
they were the mains should be taxed.
The foremen of the street repair gangs
presented a memorial to the Council asking
that their salaries be raised from 81 to s.
a day. At present there are four districts,
each under the supervision of a foreman.
The men claim that in getting over their
districts much time and expense can be
saved to the city by allowing them the adj
ditional 81 per day, in consideration of
which they agree to furnish their own
horse and buggy. A motion was made to
suspend the rules and pass the ordinance
last night, but Councilman Costello OBJ
jected. He said: walking is good; let the
foremen walk when they have occasion to
go from one part Of their district to the
other" With the objection made the rules
could not be suspended and the ordinance
went to the committee on fees and sal
aries.
Al ordinance to authorize the transfer
of 5000 from the fund appropriated for
garbage and Sellers farm expenses was
introduced. The drafts on this fund Will
be 5000 less. than the appropriation. and
the Board of Works desired 5000 of the
hIlOunI III the Uiduh pOOh5 anu SldllOltIy
fund and $1,000 in the printing and adver-
Using fund. The ordinance was passed.
An ordinance providing for the improve
ment of Pearl street with brick, from
Helen TO Missouri street, was introduced
and referred TO the sewers, streets and al
leys committee. A resolution for the i'm
provement was passed by the Board of
Public Works, and a remonstrance signed
by the required two-thirds of the property
owners residing upon the street was filed
against IL.
An ordinance to permit e. II. Eldridge TO
erect a frame office and one-story lumber
shed at East street and the Big Four
tracks, which is within the fire limits, was
introduced and referred to the judiciary
committee.
The temporary. loan ordinance, reported
upon favorably by the finance committee,
was passed. The ordinance authorizes the
controller to borrow $4,000, as occasion
may require, in anticipation of the revenues
to be derived by the city upon the settle
ment with the treasurer in November.
The name of that portion of Miami
street lying east of Preston street was
changed to Marlowe avenue. The change
was made because there are three Miami
streets in the city.