The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-04
NO MORE IMPROVEMENTS
DEMOCRATIC CO~UNCILMEN AFRAID
OF CHILLY" PATTERSON's "PUsH."
While Mayor Taggart Was Present
They Killed Two Important street.
Paving Ordinances.

AS predicted Sunday, the Democratic
members of the Council were determined
to let the ordinances received from the
Board of Public Works for the improve
ment of Market and Ohio streets die, and
no report on the ordinances was made by
the on sewers, streets and al
leys. The committee did report, however,
f%avoring the Improvement of Walnut street
from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts av-
enue, although the property owners who
appeared before the committee to remon-
strate were as much in earnest as those
Directing TO the Market and Ohio-street
improvements. Russell avenue, from South
to Merrill, was also ordered improved. Mr..
Montgomery, chairman of the committee,
saying that the property owners had no
objections to it's Improvement, providing
the Board of Works would wait until after
the ground around a new sewer had set
tied sufficiently.
Billy Patterson, an attorney, who was
one of the loudest Populists in the city
during the last campaign, and who spent
considerable of his time making free-silver
speeches on downtown street corners,
headed a delegation of Ohio-street residents
who do not want that street improved and
who appeared before the committee. He
and his clients were present at the meeting
of the Council last night in force. Patter-
son has given the administration to under
stand that if the street was ordered i'm
proved the fact would be used in the COM
ing campaign. Mayor Taggart came into
the Council chamber and fingered with the
crowd for several minutes, shaking hands
with Mr.. Patterson and others who were
there to see whether the Journals pre-
dictions would come true and the ordi-
nances be allowed to die. The administra-
ton is growing panicky on the subject of
street improvements when there is any pro-
test, especially when it comes from the
silver push
The Republicans understood that there
would be an effort TO smother the Ohio
and Market-street ordinances in COMMITTEES.
At the proper time Mr.. Payne handed up
a resolution requiring the committee to
make a report. 1t was not read and the
Council got to business on ordinances on
second reading. While the Russell-avenue
ordinance was being passed, Mr.. Allen said
that if the demonstrators were satisfied to
have the ordinance passed, as stated by
Chairman Montgomery, he would vote for
it, but he said that he did not understand
why reports had not been made on the
other ordinances which had been in the
hands of the committee just as long as the
other. Mr.. Montgomery denied that there
was any attempt to kill the ordinances on
which reports had not been made. He said
the city engineer had asked that they be
delayed until he ascertained whether sew
ers were needed, as urged by the property
owners. The ordinance passed. Walnut
street is to be improved in two sections, one
extending from pennsylvania street TO Fort
Wayne avenue and the other from Fort
Wayne avenue to Massachusetts avenue.
While the former was being voted on Mr..
Payne called attention to his reSolutlol,
which had not been read. He asked M.
Montgomery if 1t was not true that II the
Ohio and Market-street ordinances were
not passed at this time, the sixty days
would expire and the ordinance die. Mr..
Montgomery replied that he understood
they would not die, but could be taken up
at the next meeting. Mr.. Payne's. motion
was read calling for a report from the COM
mittee on the two ordinances. In moving
it's adoption he said that the clerk or the
Board of Public Works had stated last
Saturday in the presence of a member OF
the on sewers, streets and al
leys that final action was taken on the reSo-
lutions by the board March s, and thai they
would die if they were not passed by the
Council by May s, next Saturday. He in
sisted that If the city engineer approved
the papers of the Board of Public Works
without knowing whether there were sew
ers in the streets there must be something
wrong with the engineering department.
He said that it was rather surprising for
the Council to dodge some street improve
lIIG1lIC dllAl ~ NA1( 1A(
ordinance was introduced on the same
night with the others and the committee
ought not to hold up one and report on
another. Councilman Clark tried TO smut
off debate on the resolution by raising a
point of order. He said that Mr.. .Paynes
resolution had not been introduced at the
proper time. The latter called on BalllfT
Kurtz to bear witness that the resolution
had been introduced at the proper time.
MIR. Montgomery receded somewhat from
his statement that there was still plenty
of time, saying that even II the present
ordinances were allowed to die the improve
ment could be revided by the board at any
time. Mr.. Payne finally consented to let his
resolution lie until the Walnut-street ordt-
nances were disposed of, President Costello
agreeing that the resolution should come up
under the head of unfinished business. he
did not again recognize Mr.. Payne before
a. motion to adjourn carried and the Demo-
cratic councilmen escaped the unpleasant
task of going on record as refusing to sus-
tain the board by a vote.
The Board of Public Works has said that
unless it is sustained by the Council. the
ly have to come to a standstil, as remon-
strances are unusually heavy. The prece-
dent of last night will be used by other
directors when appearing to urge the Coun-
ell to not force improvements. Unless a
special meeting is held before Saturday the
attempts of the board to improve OHIO and
Market streets are at an end. There was
one rather significant fact in connection
with the improvements ordered last night
the reports of the were not
signed by Mr.. Dewar. They. were made by
Messrs. Montgomery and Woody. the lat
The Council received last night and re-
ferred to the same committee the ordi-
nance transmitted by the board providing
North street to Fall creek. OF twenty-nine
nronertv owners fifteen demonstrated
against this Improvement.