The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-28
CHANGES IN CHARTER
HOUSE PASSES IMPORTANT INDIAN
ApOLIs MEASURES.
Street Railroads to Pay Five Per
Cent. of Gross Receipts to
Park Fund.

The city of Indianapolis occupied much
Of the time of the House of Representatives
yesterday afternoon. the charter amend
ments having been made a special order
for O'Clock. All of those heretofore de-
scribed, with one exception, were passed,
and other measures affecting indianapolis
went through, with only a few scattering
votes against them. The bill granting Judge
McCray. of the Criminal Court, $3.50 a
year salary passed, with thirteen votes
against it and sixty-nine for it. and that
official took occasion to glance over the
Clerks shoulder during the call of the
roll, contrary to the rule of the House,
which forbids either members or other per-
sons from standing near the Clerks desk
during a roll call The original Senate bill
fixing his salary at $4,000 was stolen from
the Clerks files some time Tuesday after
noon, and could not be found, although
Clerk Brown offered a reward OF $50 for
its recovery, together with the name of the
person who distracted 1T from the hles.
Judge McCray, who was on the floor in the
interest of his bill almost the entire day.
talked very unguardedly about the theft,
and even went SO far to intimate to one
of the officials that one Of the most promi-
nent members in the House, and a man
whose integrity is far above par, had
hand in making away with the measure.
There was some talk of the Judge demand
ing an investigation, and several of the
members expressed the wish that the Leg
islature would investigate the entire matter
of increasing the salary of the judge of the
Criminal Court. After the new bill fixing
the salary at $500 had been passed Mr..
Farrell arose and made the following caus-
tic remark:
II would like to know if there is enough
m OF IN or
had in this county two years ago.
Almost simultaneous with the passage OF
relieving the Criminal Court judge of much
of the work that has been handled by
Court iud Mas OF ofe this eity Concurrent juris
dction with the Criminal Court judge in
petit larceny cases and msdemeanors.
TAXING STREET RAILROADS.
Perhaps none of the indianapolis bills is
of more interest than that of Mr.. Board
man, which taxes the gross receipts of all
street-car companies per cent, this reve-
nue. to go to the park fund of the city.
The park bill will create a commission
without funds and Mr.. Boardman thinks
fair WY of raising revenue will be by
bill IL this kind. He first proposed a 10
per cent tax of the gross receipts, but the
indianapolis committee cut this amount to
5 per cent
Most cf the amendments were punched In
one bill, and were not debated, as the COM
mittee the city of Indianapolis had
agreed to the bill. Senator Kern is the au-
thor of the bill increasing the powers of
the police Judge of Indianapolis.
One section of the bill amends the annex
alton section Of the charter, and is a VIC
tory for the property owners of Woodruff.
In the case of inplatted ground rs per cent.
of the persons owning property in such
territory" instead Of resident property
owners" may make remonstrance effect
i've; but in case of an incorporated town
an effective remonStrance may be made by
two-thirds of the qualified voters of such
town.
The sewer assessment amendment has
been changed somewhat. Where general
sewer is constructed local sewer assess
ment is to be made against owners of abut-
ting property and the remaining cost Is to
| be paid out of the public funds, the city
being authorized to levy tax not exceed
ing 10 cents for that purpose Senator
Kerns bill concerning sewers. like the one
| just described, was also passed under sus
pension OF rules. 1t exempts indianapolis
| from the general sewer laws, which allows
Improvement bonds 10 run for twenty years.
The Regulating" amendment was. equally
| as successful. This section legalizes nu-
merous acts of the Board of Works which
have been questioned to some extent 1t
legalizes annexations and street-paving as
sessments. The Mayors action in the HiY
night case is also legalized, and this will
| shut off the saloon keeper from a. damage
| suit in case the Supreme Court should de-
| eide in his favor In the suit to prevent the
Mayor from revoking his license for violat-
| ing the laws.