The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
COUNCIL MATTERS TONIGHT.
Gerrymander, Indiana Avenue and
Other Important Ordinances.

At the meeting of the Council tonight
several important ordinances are to be
disposed of. The elections committee will
recommend few, minor changes in the
ward and precinct gerrymander ordinances.
The Republicans will oppose both, as they
are about as unfair as could be devised
The ordinance appropriating money for the
new station house and authorizing the is
sue Of bonds will be up for reconsideration
as written notices of that fact were made
when they were passed two weeks ago.
Much interest is being taken in the ordi-
nance for the Improvement of Indiana av-
enue, both by councilmen and property
owners, who oppose paying for an asphalt
roadway this year. They will be out in
force to protest against it, 1t takes a
two-thirds vote to pass an Improvement or
dinance. The Council is divided on the
subject. Some of the Republicans are OPP
posed to making some improvements and
allowing others equally important to go by
default, as the Democrats insisted on doing
with the Market and Ohio-street improve
ments. The Democrats were afraid of the
political effect it would have on the cam
paign next fall.
Controller Johnson has not indicated
whether he will recommend the transfer of
purchase fund. Citizens from the northeast
part Of town are anxious to see this DONE
although they are, some of them, inclined
to think the board is using them for cat s.
paws to draw it's chestnuts out of the fire.
They declare that the Park Commissioners
ought to have used the $23,0O0 that IS to be
paid for the Miller property on East Ohio
street for land on Pogue's run, where q
much larger tract could have been pur-
chased for the same amount. Some of the
proposition.
They fear that If the $4,000 is transferred
from the labor fund there will be some hitch
in improving the parks this summer The
board says there will be plenty of money
when the DEMENT'S assessed accrue, or, rath-
er, when the land is acquired and bonds
covering the benefits are sold. II the money
asked for purchasing more land is trans
ferred for that purpose the board will have
but $4,000 available for present uses. If
this IS exhausted before more money is
available work will have to stop.
About every Democratic councilman has
number of constituents who want to work
for the city, and all of them will insist that
their political friends" are employed by
the Park Board. If the money gives out
before the election there will be consider
able discomfort from the voters who depend
on the city for subsistence. 1t is coming
to be recognized that this is going to be a
close year, especially if the breach be-
tween the warning factions of the party is
not brdged, and the entire effort of the
machine will be directed to keeping the
rank and file on the band wagon. The dis
pensation of patronage has wonderful in
1iuence in campaign years, and the council
men will be careful not to do anything to
imperil the funds" 1t was with this idea
in view that $4,000 of the park appropria-
ton and all premiums that might be OBJ
tanned from the sale of bonds was set aside
for labor fund. A Republican politician
said, the other day, that 1t ought to have
been designated the campaign labor fund -
The citizens committee appointed by a
mass meeting to work for parks along
Pogue's run realizes that the chances of
getting the Council to do anything are
small and considerable i'll feeling Is being
manifested toward the board FOR spending
parts of the city