The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-17
CHANGES IN CHARTER
MANY RECOMMENDED AT CITIZENS
CoMMITTEE MEETING.
Increase in Engineers Salary and
Change in Manner of Making
Assessments.

Judge Martindale's charter committee met
last evening, at the Mayors office and for
two hours and a half discussed proposed
changes in the city charter. The meeting
was an important one, but the proceedings
We're dry and even the most jealous MEM
bers showed signs of WEAKNESS before it
was ended. w. P. Fishback was not pres
ent, so the mmi regarded his resig-
nation, rendered last Friday night. as bona
ide. The subcommittee, composed of A. c.
Harris, Judge Elliott, Mayor Denny and
City Attorney Scott made a report upon the
suggestions which have been made to them.
They recommended that the salary OF the
city engineer be fxed at 81, 800, with power
given the Council to increase it to 5000.
John III. Holiday offered to amend the re-
port fixing the limit at 1900, and the re-
port of the. committee, as amended, was
concurred in. The subcommittee did not
agree with City Engineer Browns sugges-
ton that the Board OF Works be given au-
thority to inspect plumbing and house con-
n%ections, taking this work from the Board
of Health. The subcommittee expressed the
opinion that the Council had ample au-
thority to provide for inspection and no
amendments to the charter are needed.
The suggestion of the engineer in pro-
viding for a new method of making assess
ments was approved by the subcommittee.
Inc proposed new MetnOu VIII SIMPLY pro-
vide that assessments for avenue intersec-
tons shall be made against property own
ers one square each way upon the street
intersected. John S. Spann made a motion,
but it failed to- meet with approval. He
asked that the assessment for intersections
be made against property a distance of
four hundred feet only from the intersected
the first parallel street Mr.. spann said
he was assessed upon property which was
two squares away, because it was the first
parallel street to the one improved, and he
asked what benefit the Improvement was
to him. Several members tried to show
Mr.. Spann how he was benefited, but it
was impossible to change his view of the
matter. His suggestion died for want of
a. second. The proposed amendment provid-
ing that the city may appeal a case to the
higher courts without bond passed without
discussion.
The subcommittee proposition. however,
to grant the Board of Works the power to
lay the White river sewer thrugh Green
George Tanner said the proposition struck
him as a Dissertation of the graves of the
proper for the city to make some provision
J for the bodies buried in Greenlawn Gene
| terry, and remove them to some other place.
| necessary money. The suggestion of the
subcommittee was finally accepted.
| The subcommittee reported unfavorably
| upon the suggestion, made by Judge Mar
tindale, compelling. contractors to file affi-
davis at the completion OF a contract that
49,
ing to specifications. Mr.. Tanner objected
to this on the ground that it would be i'm
possible for a contractor to tell whether
every brick and every shovelful of dirt
was placed according to contract. The
suocommittee proposed a SUBSTITUTE reaoing
the affidavit"
The recommendations and resolutions of
the Labor Legislative Council were read
by Judge Martindale and promptly laid on
the table. The resolutions denounced the
amendment committee as unfairly con-
structed and recommended that it be re-
constructed, with labor and the small prop
erty owner represented. The council also
recommends that Improvement work be
done by the city, instead of by private con-
tract.
the bill drawn up by Judge Elliott, de-
signed to put the city improvement bonds
in such shape that they will be market
ments to Sections 10, 81 and IS of the city
charter. It proposes to make property as
the appraisement laws: that property sold
for assessment shall not be sold for less
amount than the assessment, and that
their bonds with the city treasurer. The
objects hoped for by these amendments is
Holiday suggested ten separate bonds,
payable one each year, instead of one bond
IN ten a, installments He also recommended
the interest. James A. Wildman suggested
that the controller should not De placed
which the amendment would cause him.
The draft was referred back to the SUBJ
committee, with the recommendation that
the suggestions of Mr.. Holiday and Mr..
Wildman be embodied in the bill.
Judge Martindale's suggestion made some
weeks ago, prohibiting the Board of Works
for sewer and Improvement purposes Vas
also reported upon unfavorably by the com-
mittee. AS a substitution Mr.. Scott read
the draft of a bin which the subcommittee
had prepared. It provides that in cases
where the board proposes to construct
sewers canals, water ways or other i'm
provements which may benefit or injure out
size property, the board shall file with the
judge of the Circuit Court the declaratory
papers and property owners which the pro-
posed Improvement will effect shall be
given an opportunity to appear before the
court ana show cause why the improvement
should or should not be made. After the
Improvement has been made, three assessors
shall be appoints by the board to consider
the questions of benefits and damage and
fix the assessments against outs de property.
| The draft proposed by the ub-committee
was adopted by the committee.
Tn suggestion of Judge Stubs that the
charter be amended so as to empower the
Police Court to try petit larceny cases,
and at the same time increasing the sal
ferred to the subcommittee with recon-
mendation that such a change i'm the
| charter be made. The subcommittee was
also asked to consider changes in the
| charter upon the two matters recently de-
| cided as unconstitutional, that is the power
the power of the city to annex outside
property without hearing from nonresident
owners. 1t was thought the work of the
committee would have ended last night, but
it has been decided to hold another meet
ing Monday night, when a final report from
l tho nhnnrnrpitfnn will hn JaorJ