The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10
The Holt Sewer Transaction Bran
dished as "a Club over Mayor
Taggart, Says He.
Mr.. SEIBERT WAS SENT FOR
MIDNIGHT MEETING BETWEEN HIM,
TAGGART AND JOHNSON.
InterceptOr Was Accepted by Jeup,
Else the Rolls would Not
Have Been Completed.

The sewer scandal grows in proportions.
Royal Robinson, vice president of the Full
mer-Seibert Company returned from Bluff
ton yesterday, and the persistent efforts of
the Taggart organs to treat the matter SIM
ply as a corrupt deal between Holt and the
company instead Of III its true light as
hold-up and highway robbery, with the con-
nivance of the administration, brought from
him another statement
In dealing with the subordinate members
of his administration Mr. Taggart has en-
forced a strict observance of the eleventh
commandment, "Thou shalt not be found
out" When Austin was found out he had
to CO. though he declares that the mayor
had long been cognizant OF the deal between
himself and Colonel Downing, involving his
connection with the firm of Austin q Tripp
When superintendent Colbert made public
exhibition of the desire to defeat Cox, Col
bert had to go, though everybody knows
that the mayor understood Coiberts weak
ness and knew all about the conspiracy to
trade Cox off for his own benefit. When
Holt was found out he had to go, though
the long business association and close per-
sonal friendship of the two men argued
strongly that they understood each other
thoroughly, and now Mr.. Robinson declares
in no uncertain terms that he is able to
prove that the mayor knew of this Holt
deal and made desperate efforts before the
public had any inkling of it to smother the
matter going to the length of summoning
Mr.. Seibert here from Bluffton and holding
a secret conference with him at night in
house in a remote part of the city. lie
further declares that certain inducements
were held out in the way of extra compen-
sation Mr. Robinson's statement is as fol-
lows:
THE editor of the News insists that
Mayor Taggart had no knowi edge OF Ine
Holt transaction and did not fear any as
closures regarding that AFFAIR. v. M. BACK
US must smile as he recalls that the Ger
mo-Kentucky Asphalt company was & 4e-
MED admittance to the competition IN TINS
city and was only allowed to come in when
he brandshed that club in the face Oh the
administration.
IF the mayor denies this. as he probably
will, it can be confirmed by =. M. Johnson,
city controller who was the go-petWeen
and who had known of the Holt affair for
many months.
IF Messrs. Taggart and Johnson had no
such knowledge or fear, why did they a
week ago secretly summon George w. SER
bert to the city and meet him, near mid
night, at house in a remote part of the
city, and there. urge him TO smother the
disclosures about 10 be made?
And if they did not fear the result OF
such disclosures, why dld tney eniist ae nne
with Mr.. Seibert and promise MIN that IL
successful he could get anything he might
want to further his business interests
''That sucn meeting was held and such
promises made l am prepared to prove.
VIII they deny that also?
responsibility of this business administra-
ton, and relying upon the potency OF ms
good name and high standing in the COM
munity. sought to discredit Statements
which / made and swore to, and which did
not in the least reflect upon his honor. AND
he did that with a full knowledge of the
truth of what / said, and after having
handled the currency which redeemed the
Holt check. His good name and reputation
are used to bolster up the waning fortunes
of the mayor. With these facts estab-
lished his strength is that of broken reed.
Mr. Taggart declares the sewer was not
accepted because incomplete, and the News
says no extras have been allowed. l viii
prove the work was virtually received and
the sum of $1,000 allowed in addition to the
amount of the contract, and no deduction
made for the unfinished work. l can also
prove that Mr. Seibert asked to have the
deduction made and the city engineer sa- d:
Never mind that; there is a little work
l want you to do down at the river. 1t
does not amount to much, but L will let it
offset the unfinished plastering. Mr.. Sci
bert demurred to that and said: Make the
deduction and pay what the other work is
worth
but the engineer made up the memoran-
dunn of cost on which the assessments are
based by multiplying the ag length !, by by the the
extras and deducted little over $400 for
excavation not done on account of the two
IOOL cndnSe Ill STduS
ION this memorandum, which I have
seen, the assessment bureau went to work
and on that basis has apportioned the cost
of the sewer over nearly 10000 pieces of
property. That work occupied the time Of
Mr. Hughes and his assistants about two
months, and any change In the figures
would involve the doing of the same work
again.
ANY one familiar with the work knows
it is never done until the rate is known. and
that cannot be known until the cost of the
work is tablshed. Will any one believe
that this assessment roll would have been
completed unless it was to go to the Board
of Public Works for approval? And is it
not clear that when we finally demanded
it's approval as made, and the administra-
full amount expended by us for extra la
Dor and material. they were simply playing
for time and were not honest in their
promise to allow it if approved by the city
attorney"