The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-18
FOR SUNDAY THEATERS
COUNCILMAN HARSTON JOINS WITH
HIS COLLEAGUE CLARK.
Introduces an Ordinance Permitting
Sunday Thenters-PrOpOsed to Reg
uIate EIectric-Light Charges.


prize fighting ordinance. Mr.. Harston's or
dinance proposes to license theatrical per-
formances and concerts on Sunday 1t is
said to be in contravention of the Indiana
statute which prohibits any person from
following his usual vocation on the first
day of the week.
Section of Mr.. Harstons ordinance pro-
vides: ANY person or company desiring to
give any concert or theatrical performance
in said city on the first day OF the week.
commonly called Sunday, in any theater or
other building suitable for the purpose,
shall, before giving the same, procure a
license therefor from the city controller as
hereinafter provided The next section pro-
videS that the controller shall issue a
license permitting Sunday performances on
the payment of fee of So. Section pro-
vides that the license shall not authorize
the giving of any concert or theatrical per-
Torrance of a lewd, unchaste or immoral
character, and any person engaging in any
concert or performance of a lewd, unchaste
or immoral character shall be fined in any
sum not less than s. nor more than $50.
Section provides for police supervision of
Sunday performances and authorizes the
police Ito stop any such performance when
the same is of such immoral, lewd or I'M
chaste character" There was a discussion
as to what committee the ordinance should
be referred to- some holding that it should
go to the committee on public morals. To
this Mr.. Harston objected, and it was sent
to the committee on public safety and COM
fort
Nothing was done with Clark's prize fight
ing ordinance. When the committee met last
week an attempt was made to draft a
fusion minority and majority report,
showing that minority favored and ma
jority was opposed to the ordinance. This
report was not submitted last night, Mr..
Clark explaining to reporters that it was
found to be supplementary. There should
have been two separate reports, one from
the minority and another from the major
ity. The ordinance may be heard from
again. although the impression of council
men seems to be that it will be ingloriously
defeated.
Last night another "morgue' ordinance
was introduced. Like the ordinance that
was defeated some days ago, it's purpose
is to prohibit the establishment of a morgue
on North Meridian street. There is a slight
change in the verbiage of this new ordi-
nance. 1t prohibits the establishment of
morgue or undertaking establishment on any
block of the city where three-fourths of the
buildings are used for residence purposes
without the written consent Of a majority
of the property owners. The maximum fine
under the old ordinance was 800. This has
been reduced to $75 A special meeting of
the Council has been called for tomorrow
night, when ii will come up. A large num-
Der of Merdian-street residents who are in
terested were present last night.
ELECTRIC LIGHT CHARGES. f
Councilman Little introduced two new
dirances, the most important of which is
destined to work a revolution in the charges
for electric lighting of the city if it shall
be passed. 1t provides that the maximum
price to be charged by electric light com
panies for furnishing electric incandescent
lights of sixteen candle power in offices and
residences shall be Is cents each a month;
in hotels and restaurants, 40 cents month,
and in stores. meat markets and other
places 20 cents a month. 1t is claimed the
Council has authority, under the charter,
to regulate electric light charges This or
dinance went to the committee on contracts
and franchies, of which Mr.. Golfer is chair
man
Another ordinance introduced by Mr.. Lit
tie is intended to provide relief for city
employees, who are now required to wait lR
til the end OF. the month before receiving
their salary. 1t provides that they shall be
paid at least every two weeks, and also,
when it is shown that their necessities are
DIRE. and they shall be emitted TO receive 90
cent. of the amount due them. The purpose
of this ordinance is to relieve men who are
in distress, such as firemen and policemen,
from having to assign their salaries to
mcney-lending sharks who discount heavily
and make large profits. As drawn. the ordi-
nance would apply to day laborers on the
streets but Mr.. Little will probably amend
it so as not to apply to this class as they
are paid weekly now, and more frequent
payments would make much work and
trouble for the controller.
L.
ston introduced a resolution condemning the
combine which it is alleged has been
formed to freeze out those VINO will not en-
ter 1T to keep prices up. The resolution
"emphatically denounces such nefarious
practices, and calls on the city attorney
for an opinion as to whether the combine
may not be broken up by amendments to
ordinances already in effect 'or hereafter to
be passed. 1t was sent to the judiciary
A note from Mrs. Hattie S. Norman,
president, and A. NJ. Pursell secretary of
thanking the Council for passing the cur
few ordinance, and pledging the support of
the society to its enforcement was received
and spread of record.
There was a long discussion over the or
dirance establishing the hay market at the
corner of Washington and Pine streets. The
ordinance was finally referred to the judi
ciary committee for further consideration.
The contract with the Sun Vapor Light
Company, made by the Board of Public
Works some time ago, was ratified by a
unanimous vote. After considerable discus
sion the amendment to the building ordi-
nance providing that certain ventilator
might be used in buildings was sent to a
special committee.
THE CONTROLLERS REPORT.
Controller Johnson's annual report of the
financial condition of the city for the year
ending Dec. 81, 1897, was submitted last
night and referred to the finance commit
tee 1t shows that the total expenditures
of the city last year were NIB 203. 9S. The
total appropriations for the year, including
$4,000 park bond money and 900 for the
station house, were $1,6O2,9l1.94, leaving a
balance of unexpended appropriations of
$4S9, 1876. A table is submitted showing the
growth of the city in taxable property since
the adoption of the charter by years since
1891 as follows:
Valuation of Taxes col
Year. taxable property. lected
1891 .......... S93 $50 $50 $541 ,59S. So
1892 ............ 9S. 230 242 566 257 81
1893 ................ 103 ,317 $50 6O8 1876. As
1894 ................. .104 ,215 ,3S5 64S 430. II
1895 aforementioned. los 6}7 800 COS 672. 70
1896 .......... los 2S5 915 GIL 959. 81
1897 III $40 Payable in 1898
Mr. Johnson observed that while there