The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-07
A LOCAL BOND ISSUE
THE COMMON COUNCIL PASSES THE
NECESSARY MEASURE.
An Ordinance Taxing Gas Mains-City
Attorney Thinks Present Gas
Contract Sufficient.

The Common Council last evening passed
the ordinance authorizing the sale OF $4,000
in 4-per-cent. bonds to run seven years, by
which money is TO be raised in order to i'm
prove the fire department and the City
Hospital. The ordinance appropriatinsr Si5.-
0e5 for the fire department and $4,000 for the
City Hospital passed without discussion or
objection. The hospital appropriation is
left as it was fixed by Controller Johnson
and the finance committee, against the
wishes of the Board OF Health. No provi-
sion is made by the ordinance for nurses
quarters. Members OF the Board OF Health
say they will have nothing to do with the
expenditure of the appropriation, but they
had hoped that the Council would take some
consideration Of their wishes before passing
the ordinance as amended.
Councilman Clark's fortune tellers' ordi-
nance did not come up for passage, neither
was there a report received from the sub
committee which investigated the needs OF
such an ordinance. This subcommittee is
composed OF Codncilmen Coulter, Murphy
and Shaffer. who visited fortune teller
and had the future foreshadowed in order
that they might be prepared to act. Mr.
Golfer was told that he shall be given great
riches, while Messrs. Murphy and Shaffer
were told that wealth is theirs but they
will have to struggle for ii. Mr.. Golfer.
who weighs two hundred pounds and looks
as healthful as a man can well appear,
was told that he stands in great danger of
consumption, for the disease was believed
to be hereditary in the family. All OF his
ancestors have reached the age of eighty,
however. The subcommittee, which belongs
to the committee on public morals, recon-
mends that the section prohibiting fortune
tellers from advertising be stricken, from
the ordinance, and that the license be re-
duced from $3.50 to $50.
Councilman Clark revived an old ordi-
nance by introducing 1T in a remodeled
for all mains laid within the city. The ordi-
nance was referred 10 the committee on
finance. The gate ordinance was revived
ana introdueea' SO changed t as 70 pro Sbam
not swing only outward. This ordinance was
referred TO the committee on public safety
and comfort. Councilman Ohleyer intro
duced an ordinance changing the name OF
Grand avenue to Minnesota street, which
went to the committee on sewers, streets
and alleys.
compelling owners and occupants OF prop
erty TO clean snow from sidewalks came
from the committee in very bad shape
The original ordinapce had been amended
so as 20 allow twenty-four hours in which
to clean walks. Dirt was included in the
section describing what shall be removed,
and ice was omitted while In an effort to
compel owners of vacant property to clean
walks the language was not such as to be
readily understood. There was some confu-
sion in the minds of the councilmen and
second reading did not hep matters. A
motion was made to strike the ordinance
from the files. A friend of the ordinance
offered several amendments before the vote
was taken. The ordinance was killed on
account OF the unsatisfactory manner in
which it was drawn. new one Will be
prepared.
The ordinance giving the Board Of Safety
the right to prepare rules concerning cleo
tric-light wires and to grant police powers
to an inspector, to be paid by the insurance
companies, passed with little opposition.
Councilman Allen objected on the ground
that any compulsory rules would have to be
embodied in the ordinance, the Board OF
Safety not having the authority to formu-
late laws.
There was some surprise when the finance
committee recommended that the ordinance
increasing the salary of chief clerk or the
assessment bureau from $1,000 to 81 500 be
stricken from the files, for it was known
that the passage of the ordinance was de-
sired by Mayor Taggart' who withheld tba the the
sition in order that he might obtain the
benefit of the increase. Yesterday, IL seems,
1t became known that the ordinance was
not to pass for some reason, and Mr..
Hughes was appointed at the old salary.
The recommendation of the finance commit
tee adopted UNANIMOUSLY.
Councilmen Allen and Payne objected to
the passage Of the ordinance granting the
Big Four Railroad Company the right to
lay and maintain a switch across Leota
street. They asked that final action be de-
ferred until it was ascertained If the COM
pany has complied with the wishes of the
Board of Works in lowering the tracks from
the company wanted some return favor
from the city, unmindful of the donation of
the Delaware street sidewalk. Council,
1and
stated that it would not lower the tracks
without the city would lower the grade
crossings at the city's expense. but since
then letter has been received by the board
grade. The ordinance was passed giving
the railroad company portion Of Leota
The ordinance introduced by Payne, MAX
ing 1t an offense for any one to cry out
fire at a public assemblage in theater or
hall. or to strike match in any such place.
and affiXing a penalty for a violation,
passed after an amendment had been made,
the result of which is to make it an offense
to strike match only In theater where
to cry ''fire" in any hall or theater. The
ordinance fixing the salary of sergeant-at-
arms of the Council at 500 year passed
City Attorney Curtis sent to the Council
a report on the resolutions passed at a
former meeting. instructing him to investi-
gate the price of gas, the pressure of which
should be furnished. and decide if con-
sumers are compelled to pay when they
do not receive a sufficient amount of gas.
Mr.. Curtis quoted from the natural gas
ordinance showing the prices set by or
dinance. The company should furnish a
said If consumers are not getting what
they contracted for, they have the right
to bring legal proceedings. Mr.. Curtis does
not advise the Introduction Of a special or
dinance, as the original ordinance very
clearly sets forth what is expected of the
companies.