The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-10
TWELFTH WARD ASTIR
NEARLY TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE AT
REPUBLICAN MEETING LAST NIGHT.
Mr.. Overstreef Spoke in Place of Mr..
Harding, Who Was Suffering
from Throat Trouble.

The Harding meeting in the Twelfth ward
last night was big success, although the
popular candidate Tor mayor was unable
to address the great crowd that gathered
to hear him. However, there were other
good orators present. The meeting was held
at Morris street and River avenue, in West
Indianapolis.
On the soft grassy commons seats had
been constructed for large crowd, but not
more than half the attendance could be ac-
commodated. There were decorations of
Japanese lanterns in profusion, which bril-
liantly lighted the grounds and gave the
red, white and blue banners and flags a
pretty effect. By O'Clock there were be-
tween fifteen hundred and two thousand
people on the ground eager for the speak
ing to begin. When it was announced that
Mr.. Harding would be unable to speak on
account of a severe throat trouble, a muir
muir Of regret swept over the audience.
Jack" Holland, a leading Republican of
West indianapolis, presided as chairman
and explained to the audience the cause of
Mr.. Harding's inability to speak The chair
man intimated that the candidate might
be on hand later in the evening and would
give his friends a glimpse Of himself even
if he did not speak This statement was re-
ceived with applause.
The meeting proceeded and had been in
progress nearly an hour when Mr.. Harding
arrived He wore handkerchief about his
neck and his coat-collar was rolled up
about his throat. He was recognized as
soon as he stepped upon the platform and
acknowledged the hearty cheer that went
up. He sat on the platform until the close,
but did not attempt to make speech. The
few words that he uttered showed that it
would be utterly impossible for him to talk
any length of time. He thanked the people
for coming out and said that the size of the
meeting was conclusive evidence to him that
the people are with him in this fight. The
principal speakers of the evening were Rep
reSentatiVe OVerStreet and J. 3. Healing.
Mr.. Healing discussed the issues of the
campaign in general way, but Mr.. Over
figures that tell their own story He quoted
from the annual report of City Controller
Johnson to Mayor Taggart.
QUOTES CONTROLLER FIGURES.
IF there is any evidence in this cam
paign that Mr.. Taggart ought to accept"
said the speaker, lit is that produced from
the statement of his own city controller
When Mr.. johnson made this report he evil
IDENTIFY intended calling the attention of Mr..
Taggart directly to that portion that really
needed explanation. L find the controller
said: Your attention is respectfully directed
to tables that contain information of inter
L
son at his word and concluded that he had
referred to Tables and of his report that
give comparisons of expenditures for the
years 1895 and 1896. For the year ending Dec
81, 1885, as shown, by the report-for l quote
no figures except those in lt-there was eX-
pended the total sum of $l,0i2, 1922. For
the year 1896 there was expended by the
present administration the total sum of
81, 426 997.7 rs. In both of these years there
are expenditures for the redemption of
bonds that are not properly current ex-
s
reducing the expenditures of the two years
to the proper. basis of current ex-
of both years all expenditures for the re-
demption of bonds. Deducting therefore
from ire total ct the years 1873 and 1896
ton Of BONDS, namely: The amount of
$4,000 for 1895 and $545 600 for 1896, there
remains an expenditure of the present adj
against an expenditure of $796,952.6 81 in the
year 1895, or $S5045.1 Il more money paid out
penditures. Again in the year 1895 the Re-
publican administration was compelled to
pay Z per cent. interest while in 1896 the
present administration paid but per cent.
on its bonded indebtedness as a. result of
the action of the Republican municipal
government in refunding the city debt. In
order to make an accurate comparison of
the expenditures for! current expenses in
1S95--a Republican year-with 1S96-a DEM
ocratic year--it is proper to eliminate not
only the redemption of bonds, but the in
terest account for both years, for the rea-
son that neither the redemption OF bonds
nor the interest account are, properly
speaking current expenses. The test for
comparison properlytabulated would be as
follows:
For the year 1885, Redemption of bonds,
$276 900; interest account, $62,9l332; total
$685., 973 49, which deducted from the total eX-
penditures of $1.072.95262 leaves a net ex-
penditure for current expenses in 1895 of
$733 $3.50. sass
For the year 1S96-Redempticn of bonds,
S545, 0O0; interest account, $57 764.SS, making
total of 1902 764-SS, which deducted from the
total expenditure forethe year, $1,426,99 76
leaves a net expenditure for current ex-
penses by the present administration of
1921, 232. IS.
''This is $780, 253.5S greater than for the
year 1895. This, it will be remembered, was
for current expenses alone. 1t must also
be recalled that in the year 1895 there was
an item of expense of $1024343 occasioned
by the election, which is. not properly a
current expense Consequently that amount
should be deducted from the total expenses
of 1895, which makes the expense for the
year 1896 by the present administration pure
and simple $l00, 49701s greater than the ex-
pense for the same class of items in 1895.
These figures are taken absolutely from the
report of the present controller for the cal
endar year 1896 -
EIanNFnNUnItS