The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-04

able (then) the orators and the
organ saw nothing to condemn. Editorial
in News
What conveniently short memories these
apparently blind and deaf defenders of the
mayor have. Where have these WORTHLESS
been that they have seen and heard so lit
tie? A comparison of the recollections of
this citizen" with the recollections of the
citizen who writes this may be of interest.
While Mr.. Taggart was auditor severe
criticisms were made through the press and
by citizens committee at the time be-
cause of the largely increased and unjust
appraisement of real estate; also the reck-
less increase of the county Indebtedness,
which occurred during his term There was
no election pending then. During Mr.. Tag
CARTS term as mayor the columns of the
Journal and also Of the News have fire.
quently testified to the violations of the
charter, not only knowingly as in the case
of the civil-service clause, but ignorantly
violated in some Of its other provisions Of
plain duty
Tne reimbursement of the liduor law as
against saloon keepers who purchase their
beer from the Lieber-F'renzei syndicate,
and the way in which those who aid not
SO purchase their beer have been harassed
by spies and police interference, frequently
resulting III their arrest and prosecution tat
least II has been SO charged by other brew
ing and saloon interests) have been the town
talk Tor the past year and finally culmi-
mated in a public meeting of indignation
held by the corporations and persons so
unJuStly treated, and was recorded III the
city press at the time.
During the past year numerous public
charges of frauds in cement walks, the dip
ping OF paving blocks in so-called creosote,
the letting OF contracts without conpetl-
quently publicly made, anterior to even po-
litlcal conventions.
The News itself, with damned iteration .
.vatxr
the station house, which was an architec-
tural abortion, unsuited for the purpose,
and would have been standing ADVERTISE
ment of the administrations stupid folly as
eXempl1tied by its suppression of all COM
peuuVe plans and the effort to reward a
political favorite. Companion scandals to
this are the outgivings from time to time
as TO the doings in the building inspector s
bureau.
The charge Of manipulation of the gar
bage contract and the Gamewell fire alarm
signal scandal occurred before a convention
was held, being discussed and DENOUNCED
in the city press, yet Citizen" and the
News would have us believe they were
asleep at the time.
There was persistent attempt which at
one time was apparently consummated, to
place seven additional Pennsylvania Rail-
road tracks across Delaware street, in
which matter the Board of Public Works
gave the citizens committee less than two
hours notice to prepare for and state their
case before the board. 1t subsequently de-
veloped that the contracts to lay these
tracks was at the time of that meeting in
the office of the Pennsylvania road at Phil
adelphia for confirmation, thus trif..
the Citizens Committee. Finally the
only influence that headed off
this contemplated outrage to the citi-
zenS right to an unobstructed street be-
tween the two main sections of the city
was a free OutpOuring of protesting South
side residents at Mozart Hail. wherein the
matter was denounced by many of Tag
CARTS political friends and citizens general
~. out OF this attempted wrong and main
~ through Democratic sources, In re-
venge, came the first exposure of the
browning scandal of the many that afflict
this Observation-Disclosures plan then just
Matched to include the almost worthless
bog land of the mayors in the park scheme.
BY turning to the files of the Journal Jan.
27, 1887 time no election was pending the
following reference to this land is found:
Some of the small tracts Park Engineer
Power refers to as being on the South Side
have evidently been thrown to that much
neglected section as a sort of sop to gain
support for the entire scheme He also re-
fers to tract lying south of the Belt road,
This embraces some of that beautiful low
bog usually denOminated as No Mans
Land which half the year is infested with
mosquitoes and so mirey that 1t will not
support the weight of COW. Rumor has it
the latter piece belongs to a prominent city
official and is linked as park land with bet
ter pieces adjacent
Here is printed evidence that as early as
last January Mr.. Power stated that the
Park Board had included the Taggart bog
in the scheme and which fact the mayor is
now attempting to suppress. 1t is a pretty
scandal as it stands. Yet with all these pub
lished and notorious charges in existence
prior to any political convention this
worthy 'citizen" whose name the News
states I'VE are not at liberty to use," ig-
nores them all and the News terms his
statement 'unanswerable." Is the umbilical
cord connecting this papers blind defense
of Taggart in contradiction of all it's hereto
fore outgivings of reform and law uphold
ing nature--political, social or financial?
Gold or silver) If half the laundering and
scandal had been laid at the door of a
Republican mayor asking reelection as has
been the the case of the present city exec
utive, a very large section of the Repub-
lican party would demand a withdrawal
from the ticket. CITIZEN
INDIANAPOLIS Oct g