The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-22
MAYOR DENNY WILL ACT.
Changes in City Departments to BE
Made without Impeachment.

The Council investigating committee
closed it's work last night with a short
meeting OF a private nature. at which it
was decided to discontinue the investiga-
ton. The committee will attempt to have
a report ready for the Council at it's next
meeting, two weeks hence. Members de-
cline to say what recommendations will be-
made. 1t is a certainty, however. that
several removals will be asked, but it is
not thought that any impeachment pro-
ceedings upon the part of the Council will
be necessary. Mayor Denny has notified
the members of the committee that he
would like to have a conference with them
as soon as they have reviewed the evil
dence and made up their minds what
should be done. 1t is understood that he
will act largely upon their recommends
tons, so the removals may be expected
before the meeting of the Council. Mr..
Denny is not inclined to put all the blame
for poor work upon the Board of Works
and the engineer. A member Of the COM
mittee last night said that Mr.. Denny be-
neves the inspectors are principally at
fault for the shoddy work which has been
of Works not be asked to resign it is GER
tain that they will be officially censured
for their leniency to contractors. Mr. Den
ny was asked last night if he had decided
mo- he replied" I have declined all
as the committee has finished its work and
1 can have talk with its members 1
and do my duty fearlessy. I will say
frankly that the Investigation has brought
out many new facts to me: 1t Is my wish.
the city. and l would be, pleased to have
the city attorney consulted also"
Yesterday afternoon the committee made
further Investigations of the reports that
the West Washington-street sidewalk was
not constructed according to specifications.
onfn II oil
other developments of the investiga ton,
evidence to prove that all of the cement
-ork done within the past year is faulty.
The committee could not find one section
If the walk which was according to spec
walks, built at the low contract prices
which have prevailed, have been construct
ed in the same shoddy manner.
The committee cut. eight samples from
the walk In tra all Of these the surface face
in thickness. The specifications call for a
one and one-fourth inch surface. The con-
was coarse, some being coarse enough for
use on roads. The agreement was that
specifications the committee should pay
the cost of repairing the sections torn up;
should the work be found faulty Mr. Keller
should pay the cost, Mr.. Young asked that
one block or stone be removed, but Mr..
Keller refused to comply. He said it was
sWeli, I am satisfied" remarked Mr..
Young. meaning he was satisfied that it
was poor work; Mr.. Keller construed the
remark differently and he told several that
the committee had inspected his work and
were satisfied with the honesty Of the
work. Mr.. Young says that if all the
walk Is constructed in the same manner as
the portions examined, it amounts to a
saving of 20 per cent. to the contractor.
He says he now understands how con-
tractors can take contracts at IL cents a
square foot, while the material called for
in the specifications costs nearly that
much.
Mayor Denny was much surprised to hear
of the result of the cement investigation.
He will see If there is not some means by
which the guilty contractors can be made
to replace their work according to con-
tract. The specifications are to the point
upon the matter, and each contractor
places himself under bond for a faithful
compliance to the specifications All of the
work done is guaranteed and there seems
to be no reason why dishonest contractors
cannot be brought to account.