The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-30

Some Needed Changes Expected I'm the
Courthouse Basement.

Some Needed Changes Expected I'm the
Courthouse Basement.
Hope is expressed about the City Hall
that when the new custodian takes charge
of the basement of the courthouse next
Monday he will inaugurate some much
needed reforms During the last summer
the County Commissioners spent nearly $780,
900 to make the City Hall habitable. The
first improvement was to cut away the
yard and remove stone barriers that kept
light and air from streaming in at tbs big
windows. Then the entrances to the base
ment at both ends and on the south side
were remodeled The result is that the
basement is much less foul and dark. Much
is to be desired in the way of janitor serv-
ice. The main corridor of the City Hall
has not been scrubbed out and mopped for
two or three months and the tile floors are
very dirty. 1t is said that the present GUS
todan has depended on his two assistants
to do all the work, a task that was almost
beyond their ability. While his salary has
been $50 a month, his two assistants re-
oeived but $37. 80, and a good many Of the
city employees hoped there would be a
change in this respect when the new GUS
todian was employed. They declared that
the two assistants ought to get anyhow
$40 month, which would still give the
custodian $45 month. The custodian
whose resignation has been accepted has
done nothing more than to deliver a few
official documents from the various depart
ments His assistants have to keep clean
and in order about twenty large rooms, be-
sides which they have made some efforts
to keep the corridor clean. They were
handicapped in this by the filth and dirt
dragged in by loaferS who insist on hang
ing around the basement. 1t has been sug-
gested that the custodian or one of his as
sistants ought to wear a uniform and have
r.Nls 70 1ola1 n
the loafers and ought always to be found
at the main entrance of the basement in
order TO direct taxpayers and citizens who
have business In the City Hall where to
find the different offices. Every day hun
dreds of persons enter the courthouse who
do not know where to find the various de-
nartments. In other cities q Waterman is
always to be found who give any In
formation that is wanted. What seems to
custodian be provided with a roster of all
city officials and clerks in order to direct
busy people who now have to spend a good
deal of time making a yeXatiouS search for
officials they desire to see.
OF the great numbers of people that go
to the courthouse but few know there is an
elevator and they wear out their patience
and shoeleather climbing long flights of
stairs. Half the time the elevator man sits
in his chair waiting for something 10 do.
4 lawyer who was In the City Hall yester-
day wanted to so to the Circuit Court or
the second floor. He spent about ten min
utes trying to find the elevator shaft with
out success and finally climbed two long
flights of stairs. There ought TO be some
sort of sign boards put up on the walls d.
recting citizens how to find the elevator.
City employees have long complained about
the unsanitary condition that abounds In
the lavatories In the basement. One OF
them IL is claimed, ought to be dispensed
with and the other ought to be given some
attention by a carpenter and a man with
a whitewash brush.
Every one says that the courthouse has
been greatly improved by the work that
has been done on the exterior, but they say
that until something is done in the City Hail
the Headquarters OF the great throng OF
city officials and employees will be but H.
tie better than before. About the most