The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-29
NO RECOMMENDATIONS
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE SIMPLY
REPORTS FINDINGS.
Made with the Mayor and Resig-
nations Are Looked For.


making a report on it's work to the Coun-
Gill; No recommendations for removal are
made in it. The report merely reviews
the testimony furnished the committee.
rms viii be surprise to many who ex-
pected the committee would demand sew
erai removals One member of the COM
mittee informed the Journal that there is
an agreement between Mayor Denny and
the committee. The latter were to make
no recommendations, but they quietly In
formed Mr.. Denny that they desired two
or three designations. Mr.. Denny, this
member says. has agreed to have these
designations forthcoming, and thereby not
faint any mans name by mention in the
investigation report. This is said to be the
mutual agreement, and all members of
the committee seem to accept it, They re-
fuse to say, however, whose designations
they desire. Mr.. Young said upon the sub
ject:
me Mayor has been very considerate
or the committee, and we thought it would
be well to show him some consideration"
so 1t seems that any removals, if any, will
be made by the Mayor and he will have
TO shoulder all the responsibility.
Mayor Denny says he has made agree
ment to take any definite action. He said
tents Of the report To-day he purposes
to read it, after which he will consult the
members of the Board of Works and decide
upon any changes that may be necessary.
There was feeling at the meeting of the
Council that should the members of the
board not be asked to resign that body will
recommend their removal and that Mr.
Denny will advise their resignation rather
than have such proceedings begun. Mr..
Young last night said that there is nothing
in the report upon which the Council can
begin impeachment proceedings
The report says that the committee took
testimony which covers 1923 typewriter
pages. The committee endeavored to be
as impartial and fair as possible. The COM
mittee held eighteen sessions. After
formal introduction, the report reads:
"A careful analysis of the evidence shows
that there has been no dishonesty or cor
ruption on the part of the Board of Public
works. or any member thereof, or on the
part of any subordinate or employee of such
intend any reflection ON the integrity Of
any person. 1t is apparent, however, from
the evidence. that there have been errors
and It is also clear that there has been
In some cases imperfect execution of
%e leave plans opsn as sor tber stated
sideration the question as to whether
or not there is sufficient evidence to Justify
the presentation of charges for the i'm
parchment or removal of any officer or en-
Dloye.
ERROR IN LETTING CONTRACTS.
"The evidence shows that there has been
an error in the plan adopted for the letting
OF street sweeping contracts. Bids are
called for per lineal foot on each street
to be swept in a certain district and the
contract awarded to the bidder whose bids
for the entire district are the lowest in
the aggregate. This plan often results in
the contract being let to the contractor
whose bids on one more streets in the
district are the highest instead of the low
est. In the letting Of sweeping contracts
the board has been careless in that they
did not tabulate the different bids and as
certain the aggregate amount of each bid
IN the several districts.
The evidence shows that the change from
letting street cleaning contracts by streets
70 letting them by districts was mistake.
There has been no effective effort to COM
cations of the sweeping contracts. The
sweeping inspector has failed to perform
his duty; he has not made a single deduc-
ton for imperfect or poorly performed work
or for work not done during the ason,
while the evidence shows that certain
streets under sweeping contract have been
purposes for weeks at a time and that
other deductions should have been made for
THE evidence shows that in one instance
a sweeping contract for one district was
awarded to the lowest bidder and such
bidder refused to enter into such contract,
claiming he was unable to secure bonds
men, and by such refusal forfeited his right
to the certified check for $500, which ac-
companled his bid as a guaranty that it
was bid in good faith; that simply on his
representation that he was unable to enter
into the contract and furnish the bond and
was poor man and unable to lose the $500
the board returned him his check This
was contrary to law and in violation of all
business principles.
there has been any improvement in the
cleaning of the streets since the first of
June, the date OF the present contracts, but
the Improvement. if any, has not been in
proportion to the increased cost 1t is to
be noted, however. that there are over
ninety miles of streets to be sprinkled. and
over thirty miles of paved streets to be
cleaned, all of which one man is supposed to
inspect.
1.-THE charge or rumor that the superin-
tendent of street repairs has received COM
missions the purchase of stone or other
supplies for the city is not sustained, and
we do not find any evidence of dishonesty.
The evidence shows, however, that an at
tempt was made to corrupt another of the
city officials but that the attempt failed.
employees under the superintendent of
street repairs, and said employees have been
discharged therefor We are of opinion
of dirt taken from the streets when 1t can
be sold at a profit and thus be made a
source of revenue for the city.
NOT MUCH DEFECTIVE SEWER WORK.
Your committee has made as thorough
investigation into the rumors concern
ing defective sewer work as was possible.
The evidence, in the opinion of your COM
mittee does not justify the widespread i'm
preston that a great deal of defective
sewer work has been done.
IA hat he
winter of 1893 and 1894. numerous catch
basins were very imperfectly constructed.
The specifications were not followed and
many catch basins We're villainous frauds.
They were built in the night by subcon-
tractors. and at time when the engineers
and inspectors were new to their duties.
There is no evidence that the inspectors
were present when they were built. 1t is
also in evidence that many other catch
basins are 1eaky and have other minor i'm
projections, and all such work should be
thoroughly inspected and located, and con-
tractors should be compelled to put the
same in frst-class condition before the ex-
piraton of their guarantees. The evidence
also shows that there is much imperfect
work in making house connections.
1.-THE evidence dscloses the fact that
much of the cement sidewalk work has not
been constructed in accordance with the
specifications. 1t is evident that contracts
for this class of work have been let at
about the cost of the labor and material
required to build them. This work should
have been closely inspected The engineer
called the attention of the board to this
situation of affairs. but no effort was made