The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-21
CURFEW BECOMES A LAW
THE COUNCIL PASSES THE ORDI-
NANCE By A VOTE OF IL TO :.
HarstOp's Tactics I'm Opposing the
to BE Rushed Through.

Dy a vote OF IL TO O. belOTG the
vote was announced Councilman Clark
changed his vote and gave notice that at
the next regular meeting he would move a
reconsideration of the vote by which the
ordinance was passed. There was consider
able surprise expressed at its passage. Two
members were absent last night.
Councilman Costello, by request of Ar
thur V. Brown, attorney for North Meridian
street property owners who object to the
establishment of an undertaking establish
ment and morgue in their neighborhood, in
PRODUCED an ordinance, the purpose of
which is to keep all such concerns out of
the resident districts. 1t was referred to
the committee on public health, which viii
meet to consider it Wednesday. A special
meeting has been called by five members of
the Council Messrs. Costello, Higgins Mof-
felt, Clark and Merrick, for Thursday
night, when the ordinance will come up for
further consideration. There seems to be
little doubt of its passage. The ordinance
provides in Section /, that,
1T shall not be lawful for any person to
locate, build, construct, maintain or keep,
or continue to maintain or keep in any
block or square Of any street, in which
block or square two-thirds Of the buildings
on both sides of the street are devoted to
exclusive residence purpose, any mOrgues,
or undertaking establishments within two
hundred feet of any such residence, on
either side of such street unless the owners
of q majority of the lots in such block or
square fronting or abutting on such street
consent in writing to the location construc-
ton, maintenance or keeping, of such
morgueS or undertaking establishment
therein.
'Such written consent shall be filed with
the city clerk, before a permit shall be is
sued by the controller for the erection or
repair of any building to be used for such
permitted to keep or maintain or continue
to keep or maintain any such morgue or
Undertaking establishment in any such
block or square, provided, however, that
this ordinance shall not apply to any
morgue or undertaking establishment al
ready established and doing business on any
such square or block at the time of the
passage of this ordinance.
THE PENALTY ATTACHED.
The next section provides that any per-
son, firm or corporation violating the ordi-
nance shall be fined not less than $25 nor
more than 500 land that each day such
morgues or undertaking establishments are
maintained or kept or continued to be main
tanned or kept. shall be deemed a separate
and distinct violation
Accompanying the ordinance was a petit
ton from the Propylaeum Association,
signed by May Wright Sewell, president,
and many others, who saiG thu the four
hundred members of the associa ton would
regard 1t as a personal OffenSe if the COun-
Gil permitted the undertaken; establish
ment to be organized, inasmuch as the
stables must adjoin the Propylaeum build
ing.
On the recommendation of the Board of
Health, Controller johnson requested the
Council to appropriate $500 for the employ
ment OF an assistant engineer at the City
two assistants Employed. but When the APP
preparations were asked last fall the board
decided that one of the assistants might
be dispensed with. This did not meet with
the views of Councilman Clark and at a
recent meeting of the board it was decided
to continue the present number of employees,
over the vote and protest of DR.. E. A. Nor
rison, president of the board
The contract with the Sun Vapor Light
Company for two hundred or more lights
at SIS each, made by the Board Of Public
Works, was introduced last night and re-
ferred to the committee on contracts and
franchises.
changing the name Webster street from
Dorman street to Oriental street to East
New York street, and changing the name
of East New York street, from Preston
street to Oriental street, to Marlowe ave-
nue., was passed. The ordinance appropriate
ing over 5000 for the payment of interest
on the city's bonded debt due up to Jan.
l, 1898, was also passed.
THE CURFEW DISCUSSION.
When the curfew ordinance was called up
Councilman Harston made two or three
breaks. He opposed President Mahoney's
suggestion that Messrs. Alexander Hoge-
land and T. c. Day and Mesdames May
Wright Sewell and Police Matron Buchanan
be heard on the ordinance. His opposition
was sufficient to head off the suggestion, as
persons outside the Council can only be
heard by unanimous consent. After con-
ferring with one of his friends Mr.. Harston
withdrew his objection, providing they
were heard before the vote to engross was
taken" This caused litter among the
councilmen, as no one imagined any one
would care to be heard with regard to the
merits of the ordinance after it had been
the speakers five minutes each. All four
spoke. Mr.. Harston further distinguished
himself by Directing to Mr.. Day continuing
after that gentleman had spoken five min
utes. Mr. Day quietly sat down Mr. Hoge-
land had about filled the time to which he
was limited when he asked for another
minute or two. TO this Mr. Harston also
objected. Mrs. Sewall and Mrs. Buchanan
were not interrupted. Mr.. Won Spreckel-
sens amendment providing that the parents
should pay all fines assessed for violation
of the ordinance by their children, or stand
committed to the workhouse, was adopted
Mr. Clark introduced an amendment MAX
ing all persons under fifteen and over forty
five years amenable to the ordinance. A
member inquired if the amendment was a
joke. President Mahoney replied that he
judged it was. Mr.. Knight moved to table
the amendment. Mr.. Bowser seconded
the motion to table and it carried by
an almost unanimous vote. Mr.. Clark then
arose and began the delivery of written
speech on the subject After he had read
his manuscript for some moments Mr..
Shaffer arose to say that the gentleman had
exceeded his time.
Don't take away this treat" pleaded
Councilman Costello, and the reading pro-
ceeded, until Mr. Harston rose to demand,
in equalizing things. that the gentleman
from the Ninth ward quit When the or
dinance was finally put upon its passage
MIR. Harston got the opportunity he was
awaiting and began a speech that was in
keeping with DIR. Moffett's famous resolu-
ton touching the Dingley tariff. Mr.. Hars-
ton spoke against the evils of ''paternalism
as described in various city and national
Democratic platforms and in reply to a
suggesting from a member sitting near him,
thanked God that he had escaped matri-
mony Afterward he apologized for his
Language to the ladies in the Council cham
Der.
A number of plumbers We're present to
watch the fate of the ordinance providing
for the appointment OF a plumbing inspec-
tor Among them was NJ. Devall, who says
that he has received pledges or a majority
of the councilmen in favor OF his appoint
ment to this place after 1t is created: NO
action was taken on the ordnance. a large
number of spectators, interested in the
various measures, were present to watch
the proceedings.
PROPYLAEUM ALSO PROTESTS.
The executive committee of the board OF
directors of the Propylaeum Association has
filed n protest with the city controller, as