The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-17
AFTER WEEKS OF DELAY
PARK INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
GIVEN AN APPROPRIATION.
Smoke Ordinance Held Up--LittIe's
Measure for Firemen and
Policemen Passed.

At the meeting of the Council. last night,
the ordinance appropriating 500 for the use
Of the committee on investigation and i'm
peachment, which is to investigate rumors
Of scandals in connection with the purchase
Of lands in the park system, was passed
without a dissenting vote. After the meet
ing Of the Council Mr.. Madden, chairman
of the investigation committee, said that
meeting would be held this week, probably
Thursday night, to arrange for the investi-
cation to begin. He thought it hardly prob
able that the investigation would begin be-
fore next week. as several days time will
be required in summoning witnesses. Mr..
Madden said it was probable there would
be two or three night sessions next week to
hear men living in the city who could not
well appear before the committee in the
daytime on account Of their duties and
business obligations. After they are heard,
a time will be set for hearing such wit
nesses as live outside the city who would
prefer to come before the committee in the
daytime.
Under Section q of the city charter, the
Council seems to have ample power to con-
duct this investigation. Under the head of
Investigation and Impeachment" it is pro-
vided that the Council shall have power to
investigate all departments, officers and
employees of the government of such city,
and to examine into any charges preferred
against the same, and, it shall have
the power Of access to all records thereto
pertaining and power to compel the at
tendance of witnesses and the production o:
books, papers and other evidence at any
meeting of the body, or any committee
Thereon, and for that purpose may issue
subpenas and attachments in any case of
inquiry, investigation or impeachment and
cause the same to be served and executed in
any part of the county where such city is
located"
In case any witness refuses to appear and
testify and to produce such books and pa
pers as may be required, provision is made
for a reference to the Circuit Court, which
is given power to order such witness to
testify and produce documents, and in case
OF continued refusal, to punish them for
contempt. The committee, consisting of
ter Republican, asserts that the investiga-
tion is to be as full and complete pos
slble. There has been some comment
the fact that there has been considerable
delay in this investigation. When it was
published that certain members of the Coun-
ell were about TO demand an investigation
there was quite q furry in the City Hall,
and the mayor forestaled such action by
the Council by himself asking for an in
vestion six or seven weeks ago. The matter
has dragged along ever since.
Last night resolution was introduced by
Mr. Moffett. authorizing the printing of five
hundred copies of the curfew ordinance.
many requests for copies of 1t having been
made to City Clerk Stuckmeyer by other
cities
The new smoke ordinance was called up
by Mr.. Rauch. After considerable discus
sion it was referred back to the committee
with instructions to learn whether it APP
plies to residences and whether its provi-
slons can be made to apply to locomotives.
PRESIDENT Mahoney asked the Indulgence of
the Council TO say word about the smoke
nuisance at the viaduct on Virginia ave nue.
caused by locomotives. Mr.. Little insisted
that the ordinance should apply to locOmo-
t1Ves, which, in his estimation, were q source
of much annoyance. Mr.. Allen wanted to be
satisfied that there was in existence a
smoke consumer that did not require the
lnJectlon or steam, as such smoke con-
sumner would be impracticable in residences,
which have no steam plants. The repre-
sentativeS of a new smoke consumer were
present and did not conceal their disap-
pointment at the failure of the ordinance to
pass. Mr. Little called up the ordinance pro-
viding that firemen and policemen shall be
allowed full pay when absent from duty on
account of sickness for a period OF sixty
days; that policemen shall be paid 20 cents
fremen shall be given one day off
each each week. with pay, and that
bicycle 6,o,po3d5 patromen I'm shall be furnished
the only one who voted against the ordi-
nance, saying that the firemen are all OPP
posed to it, as they care for their own sick
comrades. There is no appropriation to meet
the requirements Of extra pay for police
men.
There was opposition to the ordinance re-
quiring occupants of property to keep their
sidewalks cleared of snow and placing that
duty on the owners of unoccupied premises.
There was opposition to this because there
is a similar ordinance now in effect and be-
cause nonresidents could not be reached and
compelled to comply, but the ordinance
passed by a vote of II to 8.
The Board of Works sent In an ordinance
authorizing the sale of two and a quarter
acres of land forming part of Garfield Park,
but separated from it by the J., NJ. & T.
tracks, with the request that 1t be passed.
1t was referred to the proper committee.