The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-18
DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL KILLS TEE
INDIANA-AVENUE ORDINANCE.
Usual Fate of Improvement Ordi-
nances-ResoIutiOna as to Right to
Cut Gas Rates Adopted.


as the reading progressed. If it failed, it
was dead. There was good deal of anx-
ious caucusing on the Democratic side while
the ordinance was being read. Its being
called up by the Republicans was a COM
plete surprise, as the Democrats had in
tended to let it lay over until they had the
necessary two-thirds majority present for
it's passage. After the second reading was
finished Mr.. Payne moved that it be en-
crossed and put upon it's passage. The
Democrats had recovered from their sur
prise and were ready to save their pet
measure. Mr.. Golfer moved to table Mr..
Payne's motion to engross and put it upon
it's passage. The motion to table carried
by a party vote and the ordinance goes
over until the Democrats can muster their
forces for it's passage. 1t now stands as in
troduced, but amended by the committee on
elections so that the Second ward will have
about 3,4O7 votes and the Twelfth will have
1908. A reorganization of the vote by wards
showing the unfairness of the ordinance is
given elsewhere.
Quite a number of residents of Indiana
avenue were present to see what disposition
would be made of the ordinance for its
Improvement. The committee was afraid
of making any recommendations and simply
reported the ordinance back for the action
of the Council With two exceptions the
Republicans voted for it's passage, but there
were enough negative votes to secure it's
defeat. Mr.. Montgomery, who voted for
the ordinance, changed his vote before the
result was announced in order to give no.
tice that he would move a reconsideration
of the vote at the next meeting. There was
a question as to whether the reconsidera-
i oi1,{f on
minority, and Mr.. Clark, who voted aye,
also gave notice that he would move to re-
consider. 1t was understood that the mo-
ton to reconsider should come from the
minority, as they were responsible for the
negative vote.
Mr.. Puryear called UP the ordinance.
After it was read Mr.. Montgomery, chair
man of the sewers, streets and alleys COM
mittee, explained why the committe had not
made any recommendations. He said that
the report of the engineer showed that
there were but fifteen demonstrators out of
twenty-nine resident property owners, while
property owners who appeared before the
committee charged that there were twenty
or twenty-one against the Improvement and
but eleven in it's favor Mr. Montgomery
spoke but briefly, saying that ne under
stood the gentlemen who represented the
Indiana-avenue ward had something to say.
L
whether Mr.. Wolcott would consider the
remark as applying to the latter. Mr.. VOL
colt remained in his seat. Mr.. Puryear
said that it was his principle to never shirk
a duty. He called attention to the fact that
Mr.. Wolcott represented Indiana avenue, or
at least would until the new wards were
created and another election held.
The motion to reconsider cannot save the
ordinance, the Indiana-aVenue remonstra-
tiers say, as Mr.. Sherer is known 10 be
"agin'' the Improvement, and they will use
every effort to prevent Mayor Taggart from
whipping the Democrats into line; Inc
mayor wants Indiana avenue asphalted.
The ordinance was defeated by vote OF
to Is, Messrs. Allen, Dewar, Dudley, Mad
den, O'Connor, Rauch and Woody Young
Kirkhoff, Montgomery, Murphy, Ohleyer,
Payne, Puryear, Shaffer, Smith. Wolcott
and Costello voting 10 improve tle stIe eel
IL. The ordinance must be passed within
sixty days from that date. The next regu-
lar meeting is to be held June l.
FOR LOWER GAS RATES.
Mr.. Allen introduced a resolution that
may result in securing lower artificial gas
rates for Indianapolis. Section % of the
charter gives the Council power, among
other things, ito license, tax, regulate and
prohibit the supply, distribution and con-
sumption of artificial and natural gas of
water and of electricity, and to fix the
prices thereof" Mr.. Allen has an idea that
the Council may fix the price of gas, but
this involves questions of existing contracts
with the gas company, If any there are
Following is the resolution, Whlch was
adopted, only MesSrs. Clark and klrkhon
voting against it:
Whereas it is contended and shown by
comparisons of prices of artificial gas in
the city of Indianapolis with other cities
that the price charged here for such gas
is 25 to, so per, cent; higher than IN other
city attorney be and is hereby requested
to furnish this body at the next regular
meeting a written opinion as to the power
of the City Council TO control the price or
gas by ordinance, since Section 70 OF the
city charter seems to confer this power.
while / know some of my best friends
are opposed to this Improvement, said Mr..
Puryear, "at the same time believe that
after it is made they could not be per-
is in the worst possible condition, and needs
to be improved" Mr. Puryear said that 1t
was not necessary for him to discuss at
length the necessities for the Improvement,
as they were we'll understood.
Mr.. Woody, one Of the Republican coun-
cilmen who voted against the Improvement,
referred to the fact that the Democrats did
not improve Ohio and Market streets be-
cause the majority of the people opposed It,
He said that in this case the remonstraters
stood twenty-one to eleven, and the ques-
ton for the Council to decide was whether
the principle of the right of the majority
TO decide should be oVerridden. he re-
ferred to a meeting when the mayor prom
Used that the wish of the majority should
be respected in such cases.
MIR. WOLCOTT EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Wolcott said that he was present at
the meeting, and denied that the mayor had
ever made such a promise. Mr.. Wolcott re-
ceded from the position he is said to have
taken when visited by Mr.. Murphy and
seven other Democrats. who urged him
to vote against the ordinance. They say
he declared he no longer represented In
diana avenue as it was not in the new
Fifth ward He admitted that Indiana-ave-
nue. residents were still his constituents.
He nevertheless felt that the Improvement
was necessary and was in favor of it. So
far the Market and Ohio-street improve
ments were concerned he said that he
would have voted for them if he had not
believed there would be time to call them
UP later. The night the ordinances were
permitted to die the Democrats We're
warned that there was no time for delay.
Several explanations were made when the
vote was being taken. Mr.. O'Connor said
when he was a candidate two years ago
he had pledged himself not to favor inn
provements when the great majority of
property owners were opposed to them.
The citizens of Indiana avenue were many
of them poor men, who could not afford
to pay for Improvements. He could see
no reason for jumping over Ohio and Mar
ket streets TO improve the avenue, and
voted last. He took the opportunity of re-
was voting against improvements now as
sumed a different attitude a year ago.
when a unanimous vote for the improve
Of West There