The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-27
AIR FULL OF MYSTERY
SECRET MEETING OF THE MAYOR
AND BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
RumOr of Controller JOhnsOn's Resig-
natiOn-Action of Board of Pub
lie Works Yesterday.

Mayor Taggart had a long secret confer
ence with the Board of Public Safety yes
terday afternoon. Reporters who called at
the office while the conference was In
progress were blandly informed by Secre-
tary Herrick that the board is having
little private meeting and will be out in
few minutes" Instead of a few minutes
the conference lasted two hours. When 1t
ended Mayor Taggart referred waiting
newspaper men to Mr. Herrick, who was in
the Office with the board. President Ma
guire was hunting for his hat.
What did YOU do this afternoon, Mr.
Maguire?" asked a reporter.
Mr.. Herrick can tell you all about the
meeting" he answered. I'VE were talking
about the subpolice stations and about
making places of detention in some of the
engine houses using the old iron cells from
the old station house."
WAS there any discussion of the Game
well question:"
mo, that was not discussed"
did you get that opinion from City At
torney Curtis?"
Mr.. Mcguire did not answer immedi-
ately. He looked toward Mr.. Herrick who
volunteered no answer to the question.
Captain Curtis is out of town, isn't he,
guire.
With that the president of the board left
and Mr.. Herrick went on to explain about
the plans for the substation houses, say
ing that an architect had been present to
confer with the board. The architect,
however was not admitted until long after
newspaper men had been denied entrance
to the boards office 1t was not plain what
reason there could be for secrecy in dis
cussing the substations, as that question
has been placed before the public long ago.
Mayor Taggart discussing it freely with
the board when reporters were present.
Another effort was made to learn from
the mayor What had takel, place. He con-
firmed President Maguire's statements and
said that the Gamewell system was not
discussed and that no communication was
received from the city attorney on that
matter He said that there was really
nothing done that required secrecy and
that reporters might as well have been ad-
mitted as not. The mayor further said that
when anything is to be done in the Came
Wen matter it will be made public
1t is considered rather strange that there
is so much delay in getting an opinion as
to whether the action of the board was
valid in the matter of letting the contract
for the police patrol system to the Game
Well Company before an affidavit was re-
CURED from the bidders showing that there
was no cOlluSlOn among LneIns as the CldT-
ter requires City Attorney Curtis left the
city yesterday for MorristoWn, n. j., to be
gone two weeks. Deputy City Attorney
Bell says that the Gamewell question was
under Mr.. Curts's supervision and that
they had not conferred about it, After the
conference yesterday afternoon Mr. Bell
had short consultation with Mayor Tag
CART. 1t was whispered that Mr.. Curtis
had informed the board that it's action in
awarding the contract without requiring
aftidaVits, the charter requires, was in
valid and that it would be necessary to re-
advertise for bids. While the charter SIM
ply provides that afiidavitS shall be re-
quired, it does not specifically stpulate that
they shall accompany the bids, but it is
generally conceded that this is the inten-
ton of the law.
1t is understood that Mayor Taggart is
anxious for the board to begin the work OF
putting up the new substations at once, in
order that they may be completed and
ready for occupancy by the time the CEN
trail station is finished. Mayor Taggart
intimated as much. There is some differ
ence of opinion as to whether there is suf-
hcient room on the Brookside triangle to
build a substation next the engine house.
The board will meet Friday morning to
consider charges made recently against Pa
trolman Stevens. The case OF Harry Wal
lace, charged by Mrs. Sarah Bishop, of 500
Kentucky avenue, with abusive conduct
when he came to her house in answer to a
call made by neighbors who asked her hus-
bands arrest for being drunk, will also be
taken I'M.