The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-28
MR.. TAGGART'S PIECE"
HE RECITED 1T TO A RATHER SMALL
MEETING on HILLSIDE AVENUE.
Crowd Not One-Tenth the Size of the
One at the Republican Gather
ing Last Night.

10 memory, ana last night IL was QeNN6Feu
at meeting on Hillside avenue, at which
perhaps three hundred people were present
including a number of small boys and quite
a number of employees from the City Hall,
who were there in the capacity of
'claquers." They performed the work that
was expected of them well and succeeded in
raising a good deal of noise when the diff
ferent dramatic points were made by the
mayor in his "piece." Voters who went
there expecting to hear the mayor refute
the serious charges of unbusinesslike meth
DDS. not to say corruption, which have
marked his administration, were disap-
pointed, and a number were wondering who
was the author of the mayors weak de-
Tense. He dismissed the most serious
charges that have been made against him
with the assertion that his opponents are
conducting a campaign of "vilification" and
Misrepresentation
There was some surprise in certain parts
of the audience when Police Judge Cox was
seen on the stage. The audience was not
aware that there had been a very serious
discussion in the Democratic city commit
tee as to the propriety of allowing Judge
Cox to appear on the same platform with
the mayor, nor of the fact that Judge
Cox's friends had strenuously insisted that
he be recognized to this extent His brief
talk was devoted more to the unpleasant
ness and hardship that surrounds the office
of police Judge than to urging the claims of
the present administration for reelection.
People who know of the league, offensive
and defensive that has been formed be-
tween the mayor and City Clerk Stuck
meyer, regardless of the necessities of the
police judge, were rather surprised to see
the latter sitting with the two other candi-
dates They would not have been so much
surprised if they knew of the heroic efforts
that Judge Cox's friends had made to Sc
cure this recognition for him. The Reach
annex was given to understand that if
Judge Cox was completely ignored that the
silver Democrats would begin an active
campaign against Taggart and Stuckmeyer.
There was some confusion about the
lection of the chairman of the meeting. AL
bert e. Rauch, resident of the ward and
candidate for councilman at large, nomi-
mated ''Cadi Buskirk, who sat on the plat
form. The latter was disinclined to serve,
saying that he was not resident Of the
ward. The crowd clamored for him. and he
consented gracefully. The ''Cadr' has got
bravely over the idea Of ''eating the goose
that fattens on the grass that grows over
mayor to the crowd as 1.-THE man we all
like. All love and all expect to see re-
elected
Mayor Taggart smiled and bowed in re-
spouse to the shouts that were led by the
City Hall "claquers'' when he appeared
and said that he hoped nothing may say
tonight will make my throat sore This
was regarded as satirical allusion to
Candidate Hardings misfortune. and was
received with yell; he IS said that two
business administration" and then pro-
ceeded to reply to the charges that have
been made against his administration.
THE MAYORS DEFENSE.
'It has been said by our opponents, and
particularly by Mr.. Harding, that this has
been an extravagant and unbusinesslike adj
ministration. They have made general
charges of extravaganza, but up to this
time they have been unable to point to a
solitary item or single dollar that has
not been legitimately and judiciously ex-
pended, and for improvements pertaining
to the welfare of the city, which had been
neglected by former administrations"
Beginning with the fire department, one
of the first improvements made, the mayor
said that at the beginning of the administra-
ton Its equipment was absolutely made
quate. We at once proceeded to the better
ment of the department" This cor7isted OF
the erection of four new houses, The pur-
chase OF apparatus - among other things
the water tower, which has already saved
ten times what it cost" the mayor said the
purchase of new engines and hose. Plans
are being made for additional Improvements
that will make the department one of the
finest in the world, he claimed In 1896 the
cost was $4,000. To prove that the money
was wisely spent, he said, it was only neces-
sary ito point to the fact that the insur-
ance companies have reduced the rate Of
fire insurance 10 per cent
Then he contrasted the former dilapidated,
unsatisfactory condition of the City Hospital
with the present modern institution. In
stead of being referred to as disgrace, it
is pointed to with pride by the medical fra
ternity Of the CITY," said he. These inn
provements, he said, cost $346S4.
The administration had been charged with
standing that $4,000 was paid for street
sweeping that had formerly been borne by
abutting property owners. Under former ad-
ministrations street sweeping cost u cents
for ten thousand square feet. This has been
reduced to IS cents, saving in 1896 of $4,000
on the same number of square feet. Another
item of expenditure was the cost of two hun
dred electric lights and fifty water plugs.
These he regarded as necessary and was
only sorry that 1t had not been possible to
place lights in other quarters where they
are needed.
In the matter Of street improvements, he
said, the guarantee period had been extend
ed from five years on all classes of streets
to nine years on asphalt and seven years on
block and brick, this without increasing the
cost of construction. Indeed, he said, the
board by opening the doors to competition.
had reduced the cost of asphalt pavements
% per cent. He spoke of the work that had
been done toward getting the electric wires
under ground and declared that, although
revenue of $1,000 a year was being paid by
the Telephone Company, it had been given
no franchise, Notwithstanding charges to
that effect. He said that the Phoenix Tele-
phone Company was responsible for the fact
that 1T is not now enjoying franchise,
it refused to confer with the Board of
Works after the contract was returned from
the Council. The mayor mentioned the fact
that garbage is being collected free of
charge and that the nuisance has been re-
moved to Sellers farm. He devoted some
time to parks, reiterating his views on the
assessment plan for raising money for inn
provements and declaring himself in favor
of raising money for that purpose by SELL
ing bonds. The mayor said that charges
that land belonging to him has been in
are absolutely false and are dsproVed by the
records of the board and statements of the
commissioners and assessors.
Il stand here tonight and defy Mr. Har-
evidence tending to show where a single dol
lar has been Incorporated or where they
can establish their charge of corruption and
dishonesty"
City Clerk Stuckmeyer spoke like he re-
garded himself as a two times winner"
regardless of facts and good English. He
admitted that he was not as smart as some
lawyers. that he could not make records
but that he could keep them, and he de-
clared that his books were all open to in
potency he said that Ito cut it short they
are lies" He invited everybody to look at
his records and then say whether they were
correctly kept
WHAT JUDGE cox SAID.
Judge Cox disclaimed any intentions of
making speech His words were listened
RI closely eyeryhodv in the crowd yvondar