The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-12
STATION HOUSE BONDS
CITY OFFICIALS WILL ISSUE THEM
REGARDLESS OF LEGAL POINTS
A Ten Years Contract for Removing
Garbage to BE Awarded by
Board of Works To-day.

Controller ohnson has advertised for
sealed proposals for the $50, 900 issue of
new station-houso bonds, which are to be
known as Indianapolis public safety bonds
Of 1897" Bids will be opened and the con-
tract for the whole or a part of the bonds
awarded May 27, 1897. Considerable sur
prise was expressed by members OF the
Council when the advertisement appeared
yesterday, and questions have been raised
as to the legality of the sale. The notice of
the bond sale ends with the statement that
they are offered under General Ordinance
"a, 1897, passed by the Council May 3, and
approved by the mayor May 7. 1t is true
that the ordinance was passed on that date
by a vote of fourteen to sixteen, but the
printed proceedings of the Council show
that Mr.. Payne at once changed his vote
from no to aye, and filed a written notice
that he would move to reconsider the vote
by which the ordinance passed at the next
regular meeting, before the vote was an
%nounced." Mr.. Woody Immediately after
ward voted for the ordinance appropriating
the money, and at nee filed written notice
of a reconsideration at the next regular
meeting. 1t was supposed at the time that
no further steps could be legally taken
toward f~oisting the Scherrer plans on
the city until the vote had been at least re-
considered. Some of the councilmen were
wondering yesterday how the ordinance got
to the mayor for his approval. Mayor Tag
CART was present, and was cognizant Of the
entire proceeding. After the meeting adj
journed members Of the Council who voted
against the ordinance said that it would
have to lie over" until another vote was
taken.
Within a very short time the city has had
- - ~ -%.o-,a aan- L--l
buyers take to see that every detail Of an
issue and sale of bonds is legal and techni-
cally" correct. The Indiana Trust Company
refused to take the $3.50, 900 issue of park
bonds because a question as to their
legality was raised. Albert Lieber, a direc-
tor of the trust company, was also one of
the park commissioners, A section of the
charter was unearthed which makes it I'M
lawful for any official or employee of the
company to be directly or indirectly inter-
ested in contracts with the city. While no
one pretended to say that Mr.. Lieber had
a particle Of interest the question was
raised, and attorneys for the company adj
vised against the purchase. 1t was probably
true, as asserted, that no one had ever
thought of Mr.. Lieber's connection with the
trust company, and that no one was to
blame for the loss the city sustained. 1t is
said to be different in this case. Mayor
Taggart knew by his personal knowledge
what had taken place, beside which he had
access to the records.
Those who know anything about parlia-
mentary usage say that when a written
motion to reconsider a vote has been given
its effect is to suspend the legislation until
another vote has been taken. If this is
true the question is How did the ordi-
nance come TO leave the custody of the city
clerk until its final disposition? =
City Attorney. CturIis was consulted with
reference TO the proposition. He holds that
the issue of the bonds would be legal, as
the courts have established the rule of not
going behind the record of legislative pro-
ceedings to determine how a law or ordi-
nance has been passed. After it has been
signed by the president of the Council and
the mayor he says that ends the story. The
motion to reconsider he does not consider
as operating to impede the legislation.
What if the vote We're changed on re-
considerations he was asked.
'Tha would raise another question. If
the ordinance were defeated on reconSidera-
ton that would end it, and the course would
then be to stop the advertisement. / sup
pose the controller has advertised the bonds
TO gain time
1t is supposed the mayor determined not
to be baked in his purpose OF having the
Scherrer plans carried out, and decided on
this move, confident that he would have
the support Of the majority in the Council.
Democrats in the Council have SAID that
the present administration IS responsible
for everything that occurs, ana this has
been their excuse FOR ignoring the Repub-
leans and quietly trampling down their
rights.
Controller Johnson's advertisement says
that bids will be received for the bonds
May q, when they win be awarded and de.
livered to the buyerfJune 10 at the office of
Winslow, Lanier d Co, at New York city.
They are to be in denominations OF $1,000
each, and bear interest at 4 per cent, in
terest coupons payable July L and Jan. 1
of each year. They are to mature Jan. /,
1927. Propositions will be received for a
whole or any part of the issue. Bids are to
be accompanied by certified checks in the
sum of 212 pei. cent of the amount OF the
bid. The right to reject any and all bids
is reserved.
The Board of Public Works will receive
bids next week for tearing away the old
station house. The contract for the new
building will shortly be awarded. with
Adolph Scherrer as supervising architect.
His ugly plans will be followed regardless
of ali protests from those who want a
building adequate in interior arrangements
and not altogether like a barn IN external
aDDearance. -4--