The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-06
GROPE FOR A BEGINNING
NEW COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP CoUN-
CILs TRY TO START THEIR WORK.
George Hftz Chosen President of the
Latter OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the Estimates.

The County Council held its first regular
business session yesterday. but accomplished
little. All the members were on hand and
seemed to want TO do something. but no
one seemed to know where to begin. Presi-
dent Mccullough tried in many ways 10 get
things moving, but with varying success.
The principal things in evidence, aside from
the documents containing the estimates,
were a number of law books and copies Of
the statutes of 1899. For the most part the
members spent the morning in looking over
the laws relating 10 fees and salaries and
comparing the items In the estimates with
the laws to see If they were legal. AT noon
an adjournment was taken for lunch. after
which the routine was resumed. although
little Roadway was made To facilitate mat
tiers Coroner Nash was summoned TO ex-
plain the figures given in his estimates. and
spent half an hour explaining the different
items to the satisfaction OF the board.
Although the sessions were open to visit
ors, none were present, and both the coun-
Gil and Board of Commissioners sat in their
places on opposite sides of the railing in
the commissioners room and looked wilted
by the heat. 1t was suggested that the
proper way TO proceed would be to organ
lie committees to look into the various esti-
and, while nothing was done on this line,
it will probably be followed. Mr.. Nc
Cullough said the work was too new and
tedious to have allowed the councilmen to
do anything yesterday. but that the ses-
sions would be continued until everything
had been examined and the tax levy fixed.
The board, which consists of President
James E. Mccullough. Norman s. Byram,
Heiney. James T. Layman and DIR. B. Rat
lift, is creation of the new county reform
law passed by the last General Assembly.
1t has the power to approve or reject the
estimates filed by the different county off,
Gals. and after making the appropriations
required must fix the tax levy for the
county.
The Township Advisory Board, which met
in Township Trustee Makepeace's office, had
much the same experience as that of the
County Council. except that it had presi-
dent and secretary to elect. George Hitz
was placed in the former position, while
George Wolf was made secretary. 1t was
found difficult to learn much about what
methods were being adopted for examining
the estimates of the trustee, but during the
Drlef time newspaper men We're allowed In
the room the statement was made that the
board and the trustee were working in har-
mony and that it would require several
days to fix the tax levy. The trustee has
several funds in his charge, and 1t is IN
derstood that most OF the work yesterday
was done on the local and special tuition
funds When this Is completed attention
will be directed to the road. library, poor
and dog funds. The board adjourned early
in the afternoon to meet this afternoon
at o'clock. One Of the county officers in
discussing the Roadway made by the coun-
Gil said that If the board did as well from
now on as 1t did yesterday it might expect
to adjourn about the time its successor was
ready to begin its sessions next year.