The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-21
He Explains How the President of the
Board Figured in the Rouse
Pump Works Affair.
CONTRACT WITH THE CITY
AUSTIN, DROPPED FROM THE BOARD.
LEFT TO HOLD THE BAG.
The Men Whom He Had Shielded De-
clined to Come to His Defense
When Criticism Came.

1t was in last December that Edward A.
Austin resigned from the Board of Public
Works under something of a cloud. 1t was
discovered that his son was member of
firm holding a subcontract for the gas fit
tings of Tomlinson Hail. and it was very
generally reported that the father held an
interest in the firm. There was much news
paper criticism of this as a violation of that
section of the charter declaring that no
official or employee of the city administra-
ton shall be directly or indirectly interested
in municipal contracts. 1t was rumored at
the time that Austin was made scapegoat
for much more influential man in the adj
ministration, but neither he nor those close
to him would talk and the true inward
ness of the deal has remained a mystery
until now.
Yesterday a Journal reporter met Mr.
Austin on Pennsylvania street and asked
him for the inside history of the transac-
ton. Mr.. Austin smiled rather sadly and
demurred. IF l were to tell you now" said
he, lit would be taken as politics. 1 went
on for good while in the certain expecta-
ton that the people who should have de-
Tended my name by telling the truth would
do so, but it has never been done, and 1
guess we might we'll let it CO."
After some further argument on the sub
ject, however, he consented to tell the story.
Colonel Downing" said he, was bonds
man for Mrs r. r. Rouse, as executrix of
her husbands estate. There were d number
of claims out against the estate, and he
bought all these up, except one claim for
$780, We We're associated together on the
Board of Public Works, and he asked me
as q favor to sell the plant for the estate.
L endeavored to do so, and made various
efforts. 1T was appraised at $1S00, and /
figured two weeks with Charles Krauss
trying to sell it to him, but he declared that
the figures were too high. There was
appraisement, and we figured again. Col.
Downing had told me that if / could get
over $500 for 1t to sell it. l finally took the
itemized inventory of the plant to krausS
and told him to set his own valuation upon
each item and, as he did so, | put down the
figures in pencil. 1t figured 81 134. told him
to give me SLIGO and take 1t, but he then
went back on the deal.
Finally Aug. 10 came around, the day
set by the court for the sale OF the plant
and Colonel Downing asked me to go down
and bid II in. The upset price fixed by the
court was 1888 Judge Lewis Walker and
myself were the only bidders Downing had
asked me to take it in as cheaply pos
sible, and L got it at the upset price,
Was it your understanding that you were
acting for Colonel Downing in buying in the
plant!" was asked.
why, certainly 1t was as distinct an
underst landing as l ever had with anybody
though there was, of course, no written
agreement. Colonel Downing was a bonds
man and could not bid. A while later, in
the effort to sell the plant we arranged a
partnership between my son Albert and
Trip, who a well digger at Broad
Ripple. Trip paid $40 to Colonel
Downing to seal the bargain,
and was to give note for $125, Endorsed by
the Carbon Company, of Noblesville, which
owed him some money. AT Colonel Down.
ing'S request [ went to NoblesVille to see
whether Trip and the Carbon Company
were all right. The note Wac 30 have been
at thirty days, but there was a good deal
of delay as it had to be sent to Philadelphia
or somewhere in the East to be signed by
the president of the company. When it
came back to Trip it was a ninety days
note, and he did not turn it over, but took
of the firm. He was hurt on a Broad Ripple
car Immediately afterwards, and laid
up for several weeks. After he came back
he and my son had some little disagreement
and, Trip remarking that If he couldn't
have anything to say about what the men
were to do, he might as well go out, walked
to the safe took out his note and left. That
left me with the bag to hold. In the mean
time they had taken this Subcontract at
Tomlinson Hail. and this was my position
with the concern when the public criticism
over that contract arose. Last January
some months after my resignation from the
board, l took the plant in and gave notes
for it,.
Mr. Austin made no comments upon the
action of Colonel Downing in the matter,
but the fact remains that through trying to
do Downing favor he got himself into
trouble, and has borne all the blame for it.
while Downing still remains chairman of
the Board of Public Works Mayor Taggart
knew the true history of the matter when
he accepted Austin'S resignation.