The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-14
A PROBLEM IN LIGHTS
WORKS BOARD SCALES DOWN COUN-
CILMEN's ESTIMATES.
Refuses to Ask for More than &2,OOO-
Council Propose to Further
Investigate.

Yesterday Controller Johnson took up the
light question and asked the Board of
Works to grant conference with the
members Of the Council. which the board
magnanimously condescended to do, and
yesterday afternoon about half of the
councilmen were present to speak for their
wards. Every ward was represented either
by Councilman a proxy. Mayor Tag
CART and Controller Johnson were also pres
emit. The board tod the lawmakers that
not more than $1,000 would be asked for for
lights. and Controller Johnson said he
would not recommend the appropria-
ton Of a greater sum. The In
formation was also given by Mr.. Downing
that, on account Of the long delay caused
by the Council, $2OC0 would now enable the
board to pay for LIS lights during the rest
Of the year. There are so lights now in
use, and the addition would make 952. When
this was stated to the councilmen IL was
added that they would have to scale down
their estimates. At first they had given in
the figures that they could not get along
with less than 154 new lights but the ulti-
matum Of the board that only $500 would
be asked fer or used caused scale -,
along the line. and when the scaling pro-
cess had been completed 1T was found that
LII lights were asked for, although some
Of the councilmen objected to cutting down
their estimates.
In the Fourteenth ward Mr.. Smith wanted
twenty new lights. and asked that two be
changed from their present locations. He
was finally prevailed upon to allow this
Ohleyer. of the Fifteenth ward. asked for
twenty new lights and was also cut down
TO fifteen. In the Third ward Mr.. Payne
-fn I'D nf~ l~xxA
most Of the members present that the
Third ward Is we'll enough provided for
and this estimate was cut down to seven,
said he was willing to scale his estimate
in the same proportion that others were
scaled, but did not think 1t was just TO cut
him from sixteen to seven. Mr.. Wolcott,
of the Fifth ward. asked for eighteen and
was cut to twelve
Ii was then decided that the board should
take the the lists a as made out by the council
meantime the Council Is to pass the or
dinanee appropriating s2ooo It was spe-
board board would not consider itself bound , in In
any way by the locations Of new lights as
given by the Council. by the number
asked by each. but that wherever 1t was
deemed advisable the wishes Of the council.
men were to be respected.
The number of lights scaled down for
each ward from the requests OF the council
men is as follows; First ward. 10; Second
6; Third. z; Fourth. Is; Fifth. II: Sixth. q
Seventh, s; Eighth. 10; Ninth, II: Tenth. 8
Eleventh. 4; Twelfth. 8; Thirteenth. 4: Four
teenth, 10: Fifteenth Is.
About half or the members OF the Council
were present last night at the called meet
ing Of the COMMITTEES of the whole. Several
were present who did not attend the meet
ing In the afternoon, and they objected 10
the action taken. Mr.. Costello said 4,
showed scant courtesy the part of the
other members to attend such a netting
when the question was pending In the com
mittee of the whole The result was thai
the action OF the afternoon was practically
rejected by the committee and on motion
of Mr.. Shaffer IT. was decided to CAL an
other meeting OF the committee of the
whole for Thursday night and request the
Board Of Works. the Mayor and controller
to be present. The members presen,
thought the estimates for lights should not
be cut down. but that at the meeting TO be
held Thursday night each member should
present a list of the places where he wants
lights placed, including only such places as
he may deem in absolute need of light
and then ask the controller 10 recommend
a sufficient sum to provide the necessar,
lights. The argument on the motion of Mr.
Shaffer lasted about half hour. and wher
II was finished II was discovered that every
man present had argued for the motion
but each thought the other was against IL