The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-01
HAVE RESIGNED
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF WORKS
STEP DOWN AND OUT.
They Write a Long Letter to Mayor
Denny, Setting Forth Their Rea-
sons-Others to Follow.

rendered their designations TO Mayor Den
ny last evening. The three gentlemen de-
cline to make any statements other than
those found in their letter of resignation.
MI. Denny says the designations were made
voluntarily, for the sake of harmony, and
IN answer to the demands of the Council.
he also says the outgoing board has been
a good one. He asked for their ~resigna-
IONS more than a week ago, before the
Merritt committee had filed it's report. The
members of the board refused to resign at
that time. The notification came to them as
a fhunderbolt from a clear sky. They say
that up to that time they regarded Mr..
Denny as friendly to their policy. They say
that he was consulted upon all matters Of
importance and the board tried to keep in
close touch with him. As soon as the report
was nsade known, and they realized that the
ccuncI and Mr.. Denny were against them,
they prepared to withdraw. They have
agreed to remain in office until the new
board Is appointed, which will probably be
within a few days. But the investigating
committee is not satisfied with the ~resigna-
tlon OF the board. Mr.. Young, when he
heard of it, said:
Is thai all? There has got to be more
~resignatlons before the committee will be
satisfied
0AAaC otOOo that the cOmmlIIe6 de-
slres to see City Engineer Brown, Assistant
Jeup' Street Commissioner Fisher and
,Sprinkling Inspector Scholl go. Following
Is the letter of resignation of the members
of the Board of Works:
In reviewing the Council Investigation
commlttee's report, who were instructed by
the Souncil to make a thorough and inn
department of Public Works and its SUBJ
oruinates, We stand by the report fully
T Tha enno as to integrity and honesty.
errors OF Judgment, which all human be-
lngs are liable to make, the investigating
committee not excepted. The committee
charges that we did not tabulate the
sweeping contract bids. In explanation we
WIS., to say that this must be an over
showed them the tabulation. All bids were
tapuIated except j. Dobson's, whose figures
on the race OF his bid were so low and APP
parent that we did not deem it necessary.
The committee charges an error in the
plan adopted for street sweeping contract.
consulted the former Board Of Public
works on the method now in use, and they
aeiiy agreed with us that the Specifications
as adopted and the district plan were tke
pest, II this system is not desired, but the
1000 square feet method is wished. and
tract, which is for one more season, can,
IN the opirfon of the board, be easily re-
We do not deny the charge that a $500
cpsck was returned to one James Dobson,
Hho could not give the requested contract
I pond. We did not think it morally right
10 Keep this poor mans check. The records
snow that his property is assessed at 81, zoe,
on which rests q mortgage of $500. The for
given his note, meant ruination, leaving his
| wire and four children homeless. We will
let r the people pass Judgment on this act.
the financial fnadeQuacy in the engineer
department was no fault of ours. When
we called for more money, it was denied us.
We were compelled to lay off much needed
men IN This 0AD9rfmonf for want IF funds
| we did not appoint any one as inspector in
this department except those recommended
1T is charged that the board did not have
| the assessment rolls made up at the time
prescribed by the charter. To this we can
onIy say that 1T is an utter impossibility to
comply ant Y with Wit rt the charter n this respect.
which was not provided for in the original
contract. and assessed against the district
or the Fourteenth street sewer. The Four
| teentn street sewer was let by the former
| BOARD, and this Y was overlooked by the
Former engineer, but we found this " an
a small ravine into the Fourteenth street
sewer. The apportionment of this extra
| work eauaied only % cents additional cost
justified in paying this sum out of the city
FUNDS. we apportioned it over the district.
to do. was 'ne pest tnins
The charge Of allowing. in one instance,
a private sewer opening into a local sewer
"a AliHO importance That we dc
defense. ' ns ~
The board has given instructions to the
city engineer and foreman of street repair:
to have all streets entered into BY contrac,
tors and corporations to be placed in proper
condition. and when not done by them, ani
the city force did the work. to make {
PHI against the parties and leave with the
In some cases, and a remedy for this defec
mas been pointed out in our report.
soon as We discovered leaky catcf
tractors subletting the building Of catcl
basins in violation of their contract, We a
once made a rigid order to the engineer
stopping this violation, ordering all catcf
basins thoroughly inspected and put in first
class condition according to specifications
by the contractors.
."Inasmuch as the committee did not men
ton the achievements which stand in favo
OF the board, we cannot agree with the com
mittee that this is an impartial report. Ac
cording to the engineers figures, we save
petition on asphalt. we saved our CITIZEN
nearly $4,000 on s%prinkling. This with tn,
mos. alhlcult conditions confronting us. sucl
as we nave set out in our annual report
70 which we hereby refer, by carrying GU
the sewer system laid out by expert Herring
way, at this time when labor is cheap, com
petition strong and materials extremely low
people at least 800 600 by carrying out tn
this time. There viii not be the necessit
SF III VIE L
as We're made by the board the past wear
We have felt that the work for the yea
1885 would be comparatively light upon tn
people.
This Investigation was started at a tim
wnen assessment dues ran high, and ende
with the sweeping assessment. which ha
also had its effect to create and invite dis
satisfaction. 1t has been the purpose 3
each member of this board to give the cit
OF Indianapolis, in which we had a pardon
able pride, honest and faithful service. an
with that end in view have devoted aimos
our entire time. 1t has been apparent tina
there was not the harmony between som
of the departments that there should be i
order that the best interests of the cit
might be subserved. A appointe
from the Common Council to investigate til
affairs of the Board OF Public Works re
port that after a thorough and impartfa
investigation a careful analysis of the ey
dence shows that there has been no dishor
esty or corruption on the part of the Boar
of Public Works, or any member thereo
or any employe or subordinate of sue
board, and we herein neither make or ir
tend no reflection on the integrity of an
one.
I'VE feel that the first duty of ever
American citizen is to be a patriot. Tn
best interests OF the city of Indianapol
are far beyond the selfish interests of an
Individual or individuals. In reviewing tn
whole situation with your Honor we ca
see no encouragement for this board for II
future. As it is in your opinion best. undo
existing circumstances. to retire. we hereb