The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-23
DISSENSION IN COUNCIL
1T MAY RESULT IN TROUBLE FOR APP
PRECIPITATION ORDINANCE.
Several Democrats Bound to Get PO-
lice and Firemen More Pay-The
Water Question.

1t is probable that special meeting of
the Council will be held Monday night to
act on the appropriation ordinance. Unless
the appropriation ordinance is passed by
the Council before the LIST of next month
the appropriations for this year will go into
effect for next year. At the last meeting
of the Council it developed that Councilman
Little and his followers threaten to make
trouble and impede the appropriation ordi-
nance.
Mr.. Little says he is determined to push
his ordinance raising the salaries of po-
licemen and firemen to success if it is posi-
bic. The new appropriation ordinance does
not provide for any increase in wages fer
the two departments. The city controller
says the city will not have money enough
to raise the salaries. Mr.. Little and his
colleagues show no consideration for the
statement of the controller. One of them
said that if it were necessary to raise the
tax levy Is cents, instead of 10 cents, 20
provide for the increase in the salaries of
policemen and firemen it would be advis-
able. The charter forbids the Council to
increase any appropriation named in the
ordinance without the recommendation of
the controller. Those councilmen who are
following Mr.. Little do not understand this.
They have stated that they do not believe
the charter forbids them increasing an ap-
preparation. The fact is that these coun-
cilmen expect to gain great prestige among
the policemen and firemen if they succeed
in raising their salaries. In attempting to
do this they are willing to defy the mayor
and the controller Mayor Taggart firmly
stated that the salaries of the police and
fire forces will not be raised. The ccun-
cilmen laugh al the mayor. 1t is question
whether there are enough members of the
Council on Mr.. Littles side to pass the or
dinance, but there were enough Of them to
pass the motion to take the ordinance out
of the hands of Bernauer, the chairman
of the fees and salaries committee, at the
last meeting of the Council, when it was
charged that Bernauer was trying to
smother the ordinance. The sentiment
which led the majority of the councilman
to do this may be the same that would lead
them to vote for the ordinance itself. Mayor
Taggart and City Controller Johnson say
they are unable to believe that Mr.. Little
and his followers will try to put the or
dinance through and ambarrass the admin
istration when they understand there is no
money with which to raise the salaries of
the two departments. AS The matter stands
now, the mayor and the city controller and
their friends in the Council stand opposed
to Mr.. Little and his followers. Which
will win will be shown at the next meet
ing of the Council, for Mr.. Little has stated
that he will call his ordinance before the
body then. Though the ordinance will
probably fail, the Democratic enemies of
the city administration IN the Council will
have considerable satisfaction in watching
the "other set squirm. There is bitter
ness in this dissension, AMI the counci.Inen
who are "sore" at the city administration
are taking every chance to embarrass the
mayor and the controller.