The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-12
CHANGES IN CHARTER
MIR. FIsHBACKss LIMITATION SCHEME
REJECTED BY COMMITTEE.
A Lively Discussion and Hot Words
Follow. and MIR. ishback Re-
signs-City Affairs.

The citizens committee having in charge
the proposed amendments to the city char
ter met last night at the office of Mayor
Denny and held a lively session. The sub
mmitt composed of A. c. Harris, Mayor
Denny, City Attorney Scott and w p.
Fishbaek, having under consideration the
different propositions. made a partial report.
Mr.. rishback submitted a minority report.
but he gained small support, having TO play
the role of the lonesome man. But Mr..
Fishback said he didn't care, for the mi
nority is generally right while the majority
is, as a rule, mistaken. Mr.. Fishback adj
vised a change in the charter so the city
would have to pay the cost of alley and
street intersection improvements. When
the vote was taken Mr.. Fishback's hand
was conspicuous in favor of the proposition
by the absence of others. Mr.. Fishback
thought it would be a wise and just poIcy
to limit the expenditure of street improve
ment of $500, 900 annually, but he alone
voted for the suggestion. The minority
thought it would also be we'll if three bids
were received by the Board of Works upon
street improvements and the property own
erS allowed to vote upon their choice be-
fore the contracts are let. Again Mr.. Fish
back was a small, but persistent, minority.
VI IltS4 q NV ~
treat his propositions with friendliness, Mr..
Fishback began to express his opinions
more fully. But the members of the COM
mittee ignored the opinions, and the owner
of them was led TO remark that he would
be thankful if he were permitted to go
home without being knocked down and
jumped upon. He rendered his resignation
as a member of the committee and asked to
be excused from further elaboration. When
asked to withdraw his resignation he re-
piled:
My presence on the committee would
but cause friction. Let the others go on
with their work, and then | can make out a
minority report. 1t would be just the same
if I worked with them"
Mr.. Fishback said some very sharp things
which made the Mayor and members of
the Board of Public Works squirm under
subcommittee he said, seems to be to
increase the expenditures of the city gov
he thought the expenditure for street i'm
proyement should be limited to $500, 600, but
last last Years war,.s'a report artts showing wv t the expenditupe
had not amounted to that much. Mr.. Fish
back continued:
'It turns out we have been swindled in
every job which has been done. The adj
ministration, so far as the Board of Works
Is fo s Do feo mue Is and a ia, eonseo ueeH ha she w sr1ea
has not been done properly. There has not
been a job done according to specifications.
capacity of these gentlemen cannot stand
more than $500, 900 worth of improvements
streets. The theory is that one man is re-
sponsible for the work" Turning to Mayor
Denny and shaking his finger at that Of
fetal. Mr.. F1shback continued:
G. on If you like. The people will be
heard next October; The Board OF
the Mayor Also
The majority report recommended the
5000 a year. Mr.. Ffshback was with the
majority upon that one subject. George G.
the increase, but the report was concurred
in by a vote of seven to six. Further a
city sanitarian was recommended, whose
the Board of Health. The sanitarian shall
be a graduated physician and an expert
records and have charge of the sanitary
force. His salary shall not exceed $1,000,
to have one member of the Board Of Works
elected at large; to make changes in the
garbage law; to compel Policemen to fur
elective and to ELECT the members of the
Board of Public Works at the regular
election. were reported upon unfavorably.
MIR. Brown had a few suggestions to make
regarding the assessments for avenue
intersections, as the present method. he
said, is unjust. Mr.. Tanner said he wished
the committee would consider the advisa-
bility of abolishing the vehicle tax, as at
streets and then pay for using them. The
mint adjourned to meet again Wednes-
i ddy.~ lie Ot16T ftldlIefS WHICH nave De6n
suggested. will be reported upon by the
subcommittee.
Small Per Cent. of Poor CITY Work.
City Engineer Brown, acting upon the
| advice Of the Merritt committee, has been
investigating the reports of defective work.
He has failed to find any faulty work of
consequence which has been done other
than that reported by him to the commit
tee. Mr.. Brown has been doing some fig
uring upon these reports, and finds that
one-sixth of / per cent. of all work done
within the past year has been poorly done,
and this is being repaired by the con-
tractors. Yesterday Mir. Brown said:
Taking into consideration the amount
ton, the small force which this depart
ment had at its disposal. that is not a bad
showing. If all. city improvements could
make as good showing, it would be well.
1t has been found that some catch-basins
have been poorly constructed, and that is
about all. But the has done one
tractors who regard city specifications as
matters of little Importance"
| broad Ripple Hearing Next Monday.
Judge L.. c. Walker, William L. Taylor
and DIR. Light. representing the Broad
Ripple Rapid-transit Company, which is
asking for a franchise, presented them
selves to the Board of Public Works yes
| terday afternoon, prepared to tell why the
franchise and right of way On the streets
| should be granted. Mayor Denny, City At
torney Scott and John NJ. Butler. who rep
be present, so the hearing was postponed
until Monday afternoon. The board re-
quests all property owners who have an
way TO be present at that time.
Stationery for January.