The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-17
IN A "QUIET, DECENT WAY,
City Administrations Apology for Not
Protecting Citixens.

From being supinely Indifferent the day
before to the lawlessness of the Citizens
Street-railroad Company and its agents, the
city officials awakened yesterday to the
fact that they had been and were neglect
ing their official duties as conservators of
the peace, but not until many citizens had
been subjected TO outrageous assaults, and
not until things had become so serious that
riot and bloodshed were imminent. Even
when they did awaken nothing very radical
was done. At roll call last night patrolmen
were directed to make arrests where Off
GERS of the company violated the Scent
fare law and violently elected passengers
in their presence. This was when it was
known that no further lawlessness on the
part of the company was to be anticipated
President Mason having instructed his en-
ployes to allow passengers to ride for
cents.
In the Journal yesterday morning it was
pointed out that both the judge Of the Po-
lice Court and the states prosecutor de-
clared the law should be enforced by police
officers so long as its operation was not
terminated by the courts. During the night
the mayor himself had had similar opin-
ions expressed to him Judge McCray, in
instructng the grand jury to investigate
the actions of the company, referred TO the
inactivity of the police, saying that If COM
motion existed it should be checked, as 1t
might lead to grave results. He found 1t
necessary TO direct the jury 10 inquire into
disturbances to the end that peace and
quiet might prevail and public order be
maintained in a city that paid Sll0 6sS.g6
last year for police protection. While all
this was occurring blockades of street cars
were resulting from unlawful Efforts OF
conductors of the company 10 coHect o.
fr1Cf aea
hand-to-hand conflict between enraSed PAS
sengers and employees of the company at
the corner of Illinois and Market stfeets,
one of tne busiest corners of the downtown
region In a short time there was a big
blockade and fully 200 people were .lHea lfnTaS
'Runors of various such conflicts came 10
the ears of the mayor. He consulted with
SUPERINTENDENT Colbert. The latter in
formed him that he had instructed his men
to arrest all conductors they saw eJecting
passengers. After conferring with the chiei M
thar something must he done 10 still the
public clamor for protection from the as
saults of lawbreakers, tne suptaditeiioel p oe,i
ductor for ejectng a blind passenger VINO
refused TO be held up and robbed, even
though it might be OF only couple Oh
MaVor Taggart finally concluded to strike
at the source. He telephoned Tor Augustus
r. Mason president of the company. TO
come to his office. Mr.. Mason appeared at
1890 o'clock An hour before II had peen
giy bX the company NildN IL "ohiN
sccent 2 cents although under protest.
Mayor Taggart and President Mason Mason were were
closeted about five minutes. Mhen they
emerged from the mayors private ofilce II
WAS announced that until the courts de-
cided the question finally, the company
would accept the legal fare
Mayor Taggart said yesterday afternoon
that the conference with President Mason
was i'm line with his efforts TO secure an
adjustment of the difficulties the night be-
fore when he conferred with City Atttor-
ney Curtis. as announced in the Journal.
when the determination to enforce the law
was reached Some people had suggested 10
him that officers be placed on every ear
and employees of the company arrested al
the first attempt TO collect more than ;
cents The mayor said that any such radical
action would have led TO unseemly com
bats. He believed it better to proceed in
quiet, decent way to settle the question.
He thought that the course pursued was
better than If the officials had jumped in
heedlessly and without considering just
what their course might lead TO.
| Mr.. Mason said that the position OF the
company that ''5 cents iS the lawful
fare but the company had nevertheless in
structed conductors TO put no one off for