The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-19
DEFENSE OF THE COMMISSION.
In Requiring Bond the Members
We're Merely OhexinG the Law.

In RECURRING Bond the Members
We're Merely Obeying the Law.
To he Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Indianapolis News, speaking of Mac
Monnies and the monument, bitterly con-
demned the monument commission because
they insisted on a group entitled Peace
instead of having one representing the
navy. The group of war represents both
the army and the navy; both part of
war, but 1t would seem certain emotional
gentlemen are in ignorance of the fact.
Mr. Bruno Schlnitz, when designing the
Indiana soldiers monument arranged for
two great groups, the representing
War the other Peace. There was no sug-
gestion by him, by the artistic and emo
tional gentlemen, or by members of the
board of commissioners of the advisability
of change Even the ''only member of
the board competent to appreciate work
of art when he sees it, acquesced. Mr..
MacMonnes well knew when he entered
into the contract with the commissioners
the nature of those designs. If his artistic
soul revoted at attempting to carry cut
the plans Of Mr.. Schmitz and followed by
the commissioners, why did he contract to
do the work at all. and after making the
contract at stipulated price, why did he
not go on with the work as per agreement
after he learned the bond was defective
justification of the board of commissioners
requiring a bond. Mr.. Forsyth, in a fiat
ulent article in the Indianapolis News, of
the 18th inst. says: THE great sculptor has
been treated like rougue. He must give
a bond, and bail, and security, and mort
gage himself to this and that, according to
a penny-wise policy In the general laws
of the State of Indiana, in an act authoriz-
ing the erection of the soldiers monument,
lowing: I'm all contracts the interest of
the State shall be protected by. proper
had no choice in the matter. Does Mr.,
Forsyth suppose for one moment that the
taxpayers of Indiana would have held the
commissioners blameless had they contract
ed 100000 of the peoples money and
CURED no security for the faithful carry
ing out of the compact? Had Mr.. Forsyth
studied art little less and common bust
ness principles a little more, he would never
have written the article from which the
to mandatory law and sound business prin-
ciples, the commissioners had no choice;
they were were eompeilesd, to require "a. bond.
of the 18th inst. Mr.. Steele makes bitter
personal attack on Mr.. English because he
SO persstently asked for the letter of the
an oath and give a bond for the faithful
performance of his duties as monument
commissioner, and one of those duties was
to obey the law and guard the peoples
money. Mr.. Steele seems somewhat sore
70 inspire the commissioners with the beau
tifui IDEAS of art, and l have no doubt he
agrees with me that the State has suffered
an irreparable loss in that it failed to Sc
cure his valuable services and
mature wisdom in connection
with Mr.. LangSdale, the only
man on the board who would recognize d
great work if he should see it,. The whole
matter seems to resolve itself into this:
The abolition of the board of monument
commissioners by the Legislature now in
session and the appointment Of Mr. Langs-
e eat Te ewe in h Il the
sions crown, the one man who fastened
himself on the State as did Ehe "Old Man
of the Sea- on Sinbad; the one man who
has drawn a continuous salary. the man
who resigns his position, when, according
to Mr.. Steele. his services are so essential
to the well being of the monument be-
cause he was placed on an equal footing
as to Section 7 with his brother commits
sioners. After looking over what Mr.. Langs-
dale has cost the State, and his valuable
services in return therefor the Legislature
will not be likely abolish the board of
commissioners because they wish to guard
the peoples money or appoint regent who
favors giving contracts to gentlemen in.
Europe amounting to 100000 without am
pie security l.. j. BRY Ant
IaPorte. Ind, Feb. 49,