The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-03
WON'T STAND ANALYSIS
PLATFORM OF THE RECENT DEMO-
CRATIC CITY CONVENTION.
Some GIarinG FaIIacies shown Up
The Star Play of the City
Administration.

A-
Some declarations in the platform adopt
ed by the recent Democratic city conven-
ton will not bear analysis. and after con-
sidering them carefully a large class CT
voters, regardless of their own party afili-
atoms, have come TO the conclusion that
1t(would have been far better If they had
never been made. This is particularly true
of declarations on questions purely of local
and. municipal interest. Keeping in mind
recent events, some of the statements made
are said to be not only disproved by what
has occurred since Mayor Taggart was
elected, but also proved to be absolutely un-
true. Illogical differences are drawn. Fail
ures OF the most pronounced type, failures
that at the time caused the administration
a great deal of annoyance and embarrass-
ment, are turned to profit and to the ag-
grandizement of the mayor and his adj
visors. Credit is taken for many ideas that
were advanced during former administra-
tions, and discredit that properly rests on
the present administration is laid at the
door Of some other. To mention a few spe-
cifc instances will suffice.
The party, in the platform, expressed
itself as favoring the management of inu-
nicipal business upon strictly business
principles" and the administration of
Mayor Taggart was Endorsed as one which
has never been surpassed in the history
of the city for integrity, intelligence, vigor,
economy and general efficiency a few of
the things that have been done and i'm.
provements that have been made are then
mentioned, among them a perfect hospi-
tai" IAN improved fire department" that
has caused "a reduction in the rates of lire
insurance - - nom yolioo cta+i 10Y ava Y,oro
adequate police protection" "a modern sys-
tenn of collecting and destroying garbage"
The Board of Works, it is alleged, has eff
fected "a reduction of the cost OF asphalt
paving nearly one-half' by opening all con-
tracts to the widest sort of competition.
Credit is taken for compelling the telephone
company to pay 5000 into the revenues of
the city.
On the park question it is said that the
law providing for a park system was pre-
pared and carried through that body the
Legislature) by the last Republican city ad-
ministration. 1t contains many features
which are arbitrary, unjust, burdensome
ana Vexatious to taxpayers. We commend
Mayor Taggart for his stand against the
assessment of property owners under this
statute, until it's validity could be deter
mined by the courts
QUESTION OF LAYING TRACKS.
Other paragraphs of the platform demand
75-cent gas and oppose the laying of any
railroad tracks across or on any streets of
this city unless there should be great pup
lie necessity therefor"
Beginning with this last declaration rela-
tive to railroads across or on any streets"
it is interesting to recall the fact that a
few months ago a corporation laid private.
tracks in the west part of town. Instead
Of acting with the "vigor'' that Controller
Johnson displayed in a more recent case.
Mayor Taggart dallied along until the cor
p%oratiOn had time to get an Injunction pre-
venting the city from tearing up the tracks.
and they remained until it suited the con-
Venience of the corporation to take them
up voluntarily. Just a day or two after
the convention another railroad company
laid a track across Pennsylvania street
where Controller Johnson, a few days pre-.
viously, had sent a gang of city laborers to
remove a track laid in the night. Mayor
Taggart dismissed the subject with a wave
of his hand, explaining hat it was all
right, as it was only for temporary use.
AS to 75-cent gas, the convention received
its cue from a resolution introduced nearly
three months ago by a Republican coun-
Gilman, asking for information from the
city attorney as to the Councils powers to
regulate the price of gas. Mayor Taggart
ignored the resolution, failing to sign or
veto it within ten days, as the city charter
makes it his duty to Go. City Attorney
Curtis waited over two months before re-
porting on the resolution. With his report
was an ordinance which he had prepared,
making the price of gas rs cents. Being
%I@A a. H
to let the summer pass before giving the
Council the information asked. Mr.. Allen
had an ordinance prepared by another at
torney at his own expense. Learning that
he was about to introduce the ordinance
the Democrats resorted to a trick to get
the city attorneys ordinance read and num-
bered first. Mr.. Aliens ordinance provided
for 75-cent gas. When the convention de-
clared for gas at that price the Democrats
amended the city attorneys ordinance to
make it conform with the Republican meas
ure. Democrats will claim the credit for
originating a movement they were tardv to
recognize.
IMPROVED ] DEPARTMENT."
The statement that the present admins
tration has never been surpassed for
"vigor, economy and general efficiency is
N-C A%oNOA VI Ill CNGIV
movement it has undertaken. In the first
place, nothing has been initiated by the
mayor and his advisors, and he has onlv
seen fit to act when public clamor has
arisen to the point that it could not be
stilled. Take the history of IAN improved
fire department" for instance. That sub
ject was taken up by the Commercial Club
and Board of Trade, and it is a matter of
history that it was not due to anything the
administration did that a reduction in the
rates of fire insurance was secured. While
the administration was inert and Indifferent
many disastrous fires wiped out some of
the most valuable business buildings in the
city. Rates were advanced. New appa-
ratus was bought and the entire fire de-
partment was reorganized, a tried and eff
cient man being superseded as the head of
the department by a man who's abilities
were questioned. Other disastrous fires
followed, and rates were not lowered, in
surance companies declaring that the de-
partment had not been sufficiently i'm
proved. Then the Commercial Club took a
hand and, by threatening to ask for wider
competition, forced the board companies
to make concessions. Since then there
have been no great fires to test the ability
of the fire department, with the possible
exception of the Park Theater, which was
completely destroyed, and the Denison
House fire, which demonstrated the inabil-
ity of an inexperienced fire force to do any,
to let it be badly damaged.
Credit is claimed for a modern system of
collecting and destroying garbage" The
failure to collect and destroy garbage is of
.VraIA -aAnnE no