The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-12
PARK BOARD SUSPENDS
1T WILL DO NOTHING MORE TILL
THE LAW is PASSED UPON.
Employees Notified that Board VIII Not
BE Responsible for SaIaries-May-
or Taggart's Letter.

The Board of Park Commissioners gave
itself an indefinite leave of absence yester-
day afternoon after notifying all its en-
ployes that it could not be personally IL
able for salaries, pending a decision of the
validity of the park act by the Supreme
Court Of the State. 1t is the hope that the
Supreme Court will pass on the case by
July /, but there IS no telling how long
decision may be delayed. Ii is asserted that
there is nothing to preclude the court from
handing down decision in vacation.
Mayor Taggart wrote a letter in which
he urged that the board stop all proceed
ings relative to the purchase of new ground
and the assessment of benefits for park
purposes pending the decision. Mayor Tag
CART has been greatly harassed by bitter
complaints against the method of assessing
benefits and the Determinations Of the park
assessors who excluded the property of
some persons from paying anything toward
the Improvement Of he PARKS. In his let
ter Mayor Taggart admits that such dis
ordinations exist but blames the method
permitted by the park act.
Mayor Taggart's letter was addressed to
E. f. Claypool president of the board, and
was read by Secretary Spencer. There were
present at the meeting President Claypool
his letter the mayor said:
''As the case to test the constitdtfonality
or the park law Is now before the Supreme
Court deem 1t wise that your board stop
ali proceedings relative to the purchase of
new ground and the assessment of benefits
for park purposes pending the decision of
said court.
Although the present method of assess
ing benefits is permitted by law, and while
not questioning your action, my sympathies
are not with the method since it permits
arbitrary
necessarily creating determinations. Even
II the law of 1895 be held valid, hope and
nave every reason to believe that a method
of raising the required revenue may be
employed so as to adjust the benefits more
generally and with reference particularly
70 the enhanced value of the property af-
fected.
In regard to the parks which are now
under the control of the park board | would
advise that they be continued Just the same
as though the law covering them had not
been questioned as they are all owned by
ment of damages or benefits in connection
with the property in their neighborhood
beg to assure you that / fully appreciate
the time and labor spent by your board, as
Well as by the gentlemen selected by the
court as assessors
No action was taken with reference to
the mayors letter other than the adoption
of motion that it be filed. 1t is possible
that another meeting will be held, when
some action will be taken on it at a time
when all the commissioners shall be pres
ent. There seemed to be a feeling that the
mayors wishes should be respected so far
as the board is concerned. Park Assessors
Flack, Burton and Coffin have given notice
by publication that they would hear all in
terested property owners with reference to
the assessments June %. Mr.. Claypool was
unable to say what action would be taken
with reference to suspending this work 1t
Is, as matter of fact, outside the province
or the board, as the assessors were APP
pointed by the Circuit Court. The plan will
probably be to have the assessors 90 ahead
with their work even If a decision is not
handed down by that time. The report of
has to be confined by the park board and
Is subject to revision and rejection in it's
entirety If the board deems wise. This is
the course that will probably be followed
unless the law is held unconstitutional. in
which case the entire work done would be
set aside, including the steps taken by the
board to acquire the park lands. If the
law is held constitutional the park commits
stoners will still have the right to modify
other method of raising revenue in accord
ance with the plan at which the mayor
hints In his communication of yesterday.
ALL SALARIES SUSPENDED.
After the reading of the letter Mr.. En-
glish offered resolution with reference to
the employees of the board as follows:
Whereas The power of this board to act
is now being contested in the Supreme
Court of the State of Indiana in a suit i'm
which its creation is said not to be legal;
And whereas, This board is DESTROYS of
acting in good faith with all employees
under it, but declines to assume any per-
sonal responsibility,
'"They therefore give notice that any one
acting as an employe or official of the
board after the date on which the suit of
the Indianapolis Brewing Company against
the individual members OF the board and
the appraisers, namely: Joseph f. Flack,
Charles II. Coffin and Daniel Burton, was
lad inc n ca TO 70
ceiVing compensation from the board or
the city of indianapolis only in the event
that said act is in all things held constitu-
tional."
Mr.. English explained that the resolution
had been prepared at the advice of City
Attorney Curtis. 1t was made clear that
if the employees continued at work they
must do so at their own risk, depending
upon ultimately being paid by the city in
tional. The resolution was unanimously
adopted. Secretary Spencer read the notice
to the clerical force employed in the offices.
They were unable to decide offhand just
what to do One or two suggested that
they might as well continue working as to
loaf anyhow. Superintendent Power said
that he would stick at his post and remain
in charge of the work that has already
begun for which contracts have been let,
including the construction of the dam In
Garfield Park, even If he knew he would
not get his money. There seems TO be
general impression among the employees
that even If the Board of Park Commits
sioners is legislated out of office some plan
will be provided by which their salaries
will be paid. superintendent Power has
about sixty men employed in the different
parks, the monthly pay roll running from
$1,000 to $500. In the office, beside Score,
tary Spencer, Superintendent Power and
two regular draughtsmen, there are seven
temporary clerks employed.
After some discussion 1t was decided that
the board has power to pay all salaries up
to yesterday morning, as we'll as all bills
for supplies ordered before the filing of the
suit. Everything is in a chaotic state and
will be so for a few days until some plan
can be devised for running things until
the decision of the court.