The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-11
LIABLE TO a HEAVY FINE
POSITION TAGGART ADMINISTER ALTON
HAS PLACED EMPLOYEES IN.
City Attorney Admits the Charter Has
Been Violated on Account of the
Free-Silver Club.

City Attorney Curtis practically admits
that several of the city employees have
violated the charter and made themselves
liable to a fine of $500 by joining the City
Administration Free-silver Democratic
Club. The charter provides in Section 105
that no member of the Board of Safety or
any of the boards appointees shall take
any part in partisan politics. This has
popularity been supposed to refer to the
police and fire forces only, but it is per-
fectly plain that it refers to all the men
appointed by the Board of Safety.
One of the prominent men at the club
meeting last Tuesday night, and one whose
name appears near the top of the roll of
members is Building Inspector Bunting.
He is enthusiastic member of the club
and is working hard to secure other mem
bers Then there is e. NJ. Goble, market
master, who is appointed by the board, ana
is officer i'll the club. This has made
him liable to a fine of $500 and imprison-
ment not to exceed six months, at the dis
erection of the trial Judge
There is some talk of impeachment, but
1T is plain from the charter that this is
not a question of Impeachment. The Of
Tense is made a misdemeanor and is pun
ishable by the courts and not by the
Council. 1t is a matter for the grand jury.
There many employees of the market
master who are also liable tc this fine and
Imprisonment. Then again, the inspectors
in the health department. are all appointed
by the Board of Safety and would come
under this law. Mr.. Jeup, one of the Off
GERS of the club, has raised the point that
these offenders are not offenders against
the law, because they have not yet become
members Of the club, but have merely
made application for membership and will
be rejected at the next meeting. This rea-
Souing, however, is not of much value, for
these men have done all in their power to
become members of the club. regardless of
the fact that the directors may go through
the formality of taking their names from
the roll next Tuesday night.
1t is not all of these men that are in
favor OF silver, and those who are really
for sound money now 'cussing them
selves because they allowed the admin
istration whip fMr. Spencer by name) to
pull them into line and place themselves
on record for silver against their wishes,
and at the same time make them do some
thing that may cause trouble.
City Attorney j. Il. Curtis says It Is a
clear case that they have violated the law
and doubtless others who read the law will
agree with him. The section referred to
reads follows:
TT shall be unlawful for said Commits
sioners of Public Safety, or any persons
appointed by them or their predecessors,
or holding any position on said fire or
police force, to solicit any person to vote
at any election for any candidate, or to
challenge any voter, or in any manner at
tempt to influence any elector al such
election, or to be delegate or candidate
for delegate to any political convention, or
to solicit for any candidate for, or dele
gate to such convention, or to be a member
of any political committee. Amy person
violating the provisions of this section shall
be fined in any sum not exceeding $780, to
which may be added Imprisonment for a
period not exceeding six months.