The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-16
TO ESCAPE OFFICE SEEKERS.
Mayor Taggart Went Into Retreat
and Remained All Day.

To avoid the great press of applicants for
office it was absolutely necessary for Mayor
Taggart to go into retreat yesterday, and
from early in the morning until late at
night aspirants for places under him were
not able to find him at his private office at
the Grand Hotel nor his official office at the
City Hall. During the day there were many
rumors of contemplated appointments and
changes afloat. AS a matter of fact, no
body knows anything about what the may
or's intentions are and until he speaks au-
thortatively all talk as to who are to hold
office under him is mere speculation and
rumor.
There is absolutely nothing I can say
about appointments" said the mayor to a
Journal reporter last night. eff there were
any emergency that required hasty action
l might be more hasty on this question;
but as there is no emergency of any kind,
1 intend to take sufficient time to make
good appointments"
Further than this the mayor did not care
to speak. He would neither affirm nor
deny the thousand and one rumore that
are af1oat with regard to appointments.
Nothing more is known than yesterday
morning as to who are to be part and par
eel of the administration for the next two
years. Whether there are to be many or
few changes or none at all, the only man
qualified to speak-the mayor himself-stil
refuses to indicate. AS matter of gossip,
the Journal is still safe in saying that there
will be few changes, and these only in
heads of departments. Not many If any,
changes will be made in the minor places
under the Jurisdiction of the boards. AL
though Controller Johnson has not yet an
nounced definitely that he will continue to
occupy his present position, it is quite gen.
orally understood that he will, inasmuch as
he desires to add as much credit as posi-
BILE to the mayors next term. Aside from
the fact that Controller Johnson is likely
to retain his present position, in spite Of
fiattering offers that have been made him,
nothing is certain as TO the personnel of
the next administration.
Rumor has it that the hot fight for police
surgeon lies between DR.. Bruce NJ. White
and DIR. T.. G.. Brennan. Nevertheless, the
present surgeon DIR. Courtney, is an active
applicant for reappointment, and has many
friends and admirers who are anxious that
he shall be retained There was an opinion
expressed yesterday that there would be an
entirely new Board of Public Works, COM
posed of MesSrs. julius +. Rienecke, Chas.
A Gauss and George j. Dudley 1t has
also been predicted that Drs. Field and
Cline would retire from the present Board
of Health, of which DR.. Morrison is presi-
dent. The report is unconfirmed. 1t is
Jeup will continue, as predicted in the
Journal two or three days ago. Rumor has
Kern will succeed James B. Curtis as city
attorney, but the latter took care of the
First ward, which was assigned to him in
the last campaign. in a way that convnces
the Democratic politicians there is nothing
in the alleged opposition to him on account
of his gold proclivities.
The fight for the place of police super
intendent has developed something of
personal contest between the different cam
ddates. but at present the chances of ex-
Superintendent Colbert seem to be best
The announcement in the Journal that no
appointments would be made in the police
and fire forces until after the new central
and subpolice stations and fire houses have
been completed has caused a good deal of
disappointment among the minor applicants
for places There was less pressure from
office seekers about the City Hall yesterday
than there has been any time since the
election.