The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-17
HERPICK'S HELLER FUND
DEMOCRATIC CoUNCTLMEN GIVE So
900 OF CITY MONEY TO 1T.
First Boost of the TacEart CamDai~D
Finnnces-Afraid to Risk the
Other Ordinances.

Before the meeting of the COUNCIL last
night the Democratic members stood about
In the city clerks office anxiously caucus
ing as to what course they should pursue
with reference to the ordinance appropri-
ating $4,000 for the Posues run and bridge
funds. Mr.. Dewar had refused to sign the
finance committees report recommending
the passage of the ordinance, and it was
generally understood he would not vote for
it. 1t would take their entire strength to
pass it. Mr.. O'Connor was not present and
double danger threatened them. They
were afraid the Republicans might call up
the ordinance and force action on it, in
which event it would be killed, even if Mr..
Dewar voted with them, as they would
still lack Mr.. OConnor's vote. Mr.. O'Con-
nor is one of the councilman at large who
were turned down in the city convention by
Mayor Taggart's machine. He was not
renominated. In the emergency that con-
fronted them they arranged with the chair
man to pass only the ordinance transfer
ring $4,000 from the garbage fund to the
street repair pay roll fund, after
which it was made the plan to
Immediately adjourn. This programme
was carried out and the new ap-
preparation ordinances are still pending. 1t
is doubtful whether they will ever see the
light of day. Mr.. Dewar voted for the
transfer with the other Democrats.
The Democrats go on the theory that
while ordinances transferring money from
one fund to another are virtually new APP
preparations they are not so technically,
and that they can be passed by majority
vote. Mr. Allen questions this. lie says
transfers are virtually new appropriations
and require a two-thrd vote. Without Mr..
Dewar's vote they had more than enough
on the majority theory Mr. Dewar had
never said that he would not vote for the
transfer, although he looks upon it as a
campaign scheme. Foreman of Street Re-
pair Herpick was in the Council chamber
last night, and he was considerably elated
when the transfer ordinance passed. 1t
Will enable him to keep large gang OF
Taggart heelers at work on the streets UNI
til after the election. Mr.. Herpick has
personal interest in the matter. Unless the
mayor is reelected he will lose his job. This
accounts, among other Things, for the fact
that only Taggart heelers can get employ
ment in BrightWood, HaughVille and West
Indianapolis as we'll as in the old city.
The Republican members of the Council
look upon the passage of the transfer ordl-
nance as a broad bid for votes in the sub
urbs. Early in the year Controller johnson
said that he did not propose to recommend
appropriations for the suburbs until he as
certained whether there would be enough
revenue coming from them 10 the city to
colt was primed for the occasion last night,
and intended TO show how the admlnlstra-
ton had received something like $20OOO
from the suburbs The Republicans were
prepared for this, and would have SHOWN
that the funds received from the suburbs
have been exhausted in taking up SUBURBAN
school bonds, Water-WorkS bonds of Bright
wood and other debts that the city mad TO
assume when the towns were annexed. IN
der the pressure brought to bear on him
by Mayor Taggart the controller consented
to recommend transfer OF Iunds, instead
of a new appropriation. On the race OF IL
he has stood by his original determination
not to recommend expenditures in the
suburbs in the excess OF receipts, put IN
reality more money by far Will be pald out
made no effort to stop the passage of the
transfer ordinance other than to vote
against it., realizing the futtlity or wasting
time and breath in arguments that would
not have stopped the Democrats no mat
ter how forcible they might have been
One effect of the sudden adjournment by
the Democrats last night was TO prevent
Councilman Payne from calling up the ordl-
nance restricting saloons from the north
committee that drafted the ordinance were
present to see what became of 1t.
STREET NUMBER CONFUSION.
James H. Deery, superintendent of city
delivery at the postoffice, was also among
the spectators. He is very anxious to have
the Council dispose of the ordinance chang
ing street names in the suburbs as we'll as
about fifty in the city proper that were not
included in the ordinances of last year. Mr..
Deery says that City Engineer Jeup has
delayed putting up the new street numbers
on the streets in the city that are affected
until it is known whether their names are
to be changed After they are finally
changed they will be numbered according
to the street number line along which they
trend Many of them are not really on
any number-line at all, but the majority
in the Council seems anxious to make as
many changes and to prolong the agony
residents have in getting used to the new
street names and numbers as long as pos
IF they don't hurry up" said Mr.. Deery,
"I will be tempted to adopt the method
taken in Chicago, where an ln@uncton was
much dalying and delay that the mail serV-
ice was badly crippled.
Are you thinking seriously OF getting
out an injunction?
ooh, no, | was not in earnest about that.
Seriously, though, we are greatly hampered
by this delay. 1t prevents our getting our
distributing system completed The Council
ought to dispose of this question"
Mr. Deery has attended Council meetings
and committee meetings for the last two
months, hoping that the subject would be
disposed of so that the new numbers could
be put up. Complaints from citizens are
President Costello introduced a new cur
few ordinance by request. Alexander Hoge-
land, of Louisville KY, who has been
here recently agitating the passage of
curfew ordinance, was accorded the privi-
Iege of addressing the Council on the sub
iect He talked at some length, reciting
the usual arguments in its favor.
The ordinance introduced last night pre-
vents any person under fifteen years of age
from being upon the streets after o'clock
at night from March to Aug. 81 ana after
s o'clock at night from Sept. to the last
day of February following. unless accom-
panied by parents or guardians Excep-
tions are made in favor of minors going to
or from work and those having a Legitimate
orfo A foa If H.
atty Parents and guardians are held re-
sponsible for the violation of the ordinance
by the children. Police officers are re-
quired to accompany any child arrested to
his home to ascertain whether he is law
fully abroad. Warrants are to be procured
for every arrest. Police judges are required
to investigate any case where parents or
guardian denies responsibility for the ac-
lions of, the child and to take proper steps
1t appears that the child is incorrigible or
about to grow up in mendicancy or va
grancy The ordinance went to the COM
mittee on public morals.
The resolution requesting city officials to
al la1sa ~ hn ar a