The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-17
SOME MORE PIE
MAYOR TAGGART HAS ADDITIONAL
APPOINTMENTS MADE.
DIR. Courtney for Police Surgeon and
Geo. Herpfck, street Commissioners
As to MansfeId's Eligibility.

The new Board of Works organized yes
terday afternoon in the private office OF the
board. with Mayor Taggart present. After
the board had spent half an hour in the
private chamber the Mayor emerged and in
vited the reporters to come in and look at
the board. 1t was announced that Colonel
Downing had been elected president and
that Bart Parker would be retained as
clerk. Colonel Downing was asked as to
what policy the board would pursue regard
ing public improvements.
1--WE are in favor of the policy of public
improvements he said. "As to whether we
will keep it up at the rate of the old ad-
ministration, we cannot say lust yet. There
will not be much done this fall, as it is too
late in the season for good work. We have
not had the opportunity yet to decide what
plans we will map out this winter for work
next year."
"Wil the board refuse to order improve
ment where a majority of the property own
ers are opposed to the Improvement"
That will be largely a matter Of what
the board thinks necessary. I will just say
we favor improvements"
The board has not reached any conclusion
in regard to civil service. 1t is apparent hat
Mayor Taggart is not in sympathy with
civil-service rules, although his utterances
yesterday would Indicate that he believed
in them as far as they applied to the police
and fire forces. When asked if the rules
would be adopted for the street department
he said:
Il do not know what rules the board may
adopt. 1 don't think the civil-service rules
have worked very well in this department.
l haven't been able to find that any rules
were in force at all as far as the Board Of
Works office was Immediately concerned. 1
learned that they proved unsuccessful in
The street department. Whenever Mr.. Fish
er wanted a man he would nave to spend
half a day looking up some man on the ELI
gible list. perhaps only to find that the man
had another job. Much time was wasted in
this way. 1 do believe, however. that the
police and fire forces should be kept out
of politics and that merit alone should be
the sole qualification for appointment. /
have no objection. Of course, to having the
forces divided politically. 1 believe police
examinations"
How about civil service in the Board of
Il haven't noticed that civil service was
in vogue there. All the sanitary officers are
Republicans"
1t was suggested that, perhaps, the rea-
son for this was that no Democrats could
pass the required examination. Perhaps
said the Mayor with a smile.
Engineer Mansfield was closeted with the
board all afternoon. Late in the evening it
was announced that George Herpick, a
contractor, living at No. AZ Camp street, had
been appointed street commissioner, to sue
coed Joseph L. Fisher, who resigned a few
days ago. Michael Burns, formerly an Of
fetal Of the street car company, was an ap-
| plicant for the position. but the board, de-
spite the pressure brought to bear, would
only give him the assistant commissioner
ship. They will both take Office Monday
morning. Herpick, like Burns, is an ex-
street company officiaL stf