The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-16
FORECAST FOLLOWEDOU OUT
COUNCIL WILL INVESTIGATE DIS
CHARGES OF CITY EMPLOYEES.
An UnfavOrable Report on the Gas
Instrumentation on Annexation
Ordinances-City Affairs.

AS was forecasted in the Journal yester-
day morning, a resolution authorizing an
investigation of the recent discharges of
the policemen and firemen by the Board
Of Public Safety, and reports on the gas
ordinances and the ordinances on the an
nexation of Tuxedo and Irvington were
brought before the City Council last night
The resolution for the investigation was
adopted; the gas ordinance was reported
back unfavorably by the committee on
contracts and franchises; the Irvington
annexation ordinance was reported back
unfavorably, and the Tuxedo ordinance,
with amendments, was recommended IA
vorably by the committee on public prop
erty and improvements. When the roll
was called all of the Republicans were in
their seats, but of the Democratic council
men Higgins, McGrew. Perrott and Reilly
were absent. Mr.. Higgins came in later,
and Mr.. Perrott appeared in the Council
chamber after the Council had adjourned.
Considerable business was brought before
the Council, but after one ordinance or mo-
ton was disposed of one of the Democratic
Councilmen would make a motion to ad-
journ, which was promptly seconded by one
Of his colleagues. but just as promptly
voted down by the Republicans.
THE INVESTIGATION.
The resolution calling for the investiga-
ton of the recent action of the Board of
Public Safety came up after nearly all of
the routine business had been transacted
When the clerk read the proposed resolu-
ton the crowd present became exceedingly
attentive. The resolution was offered by
Councilman Daller, Republican, and is as
follows:
Whereas. Section Sc of the charter of the
city of indianapolis provides that no men,
Der of the fire or police forces of the city
shall be removed for political causes, and,
whereas, A large number of members
of the fire and police forces of the city
nave recently been removed without trial
or opportunity to make a denfense, and,
whereas, 1t is common report and
openly stated in the newspapers of the
city that said members of the fire and
police forces were dismissed on account of
their political affiliations and preferences
and for no other apparent reason; there
fore, be il
Resolved. That, acting under the au-
thority vested in this Common Council by
Section q of the charter, that the investi-
cation and impeachment committee be and
are hereby directed to investigate the dis
missal Of the said members of the fire and
police forces, to ascertain whether or not
the provisions Of the charter have been in
any way violated And pursuant thereto
said committee shall have the power to
compel the attendance of witnesses and the
production of books, papers and other evil
dence at any meeting of said committee,
and Tor that purpose may issue subpoenas
and cause the same to be served and exc
cuted in any part OF Marion county; and
that said committee shall have the power
to hold its meetings at any reasonable
time or times as ii sees fit and continue
ir1n m fr1a re
Investigations have been completed, when
IT shall make report thereof to this
Common Council
Immediately after the reading Mr..
Knight, the Democratic member of the
committee on investigation and impeach-
ment, arose and asked that the chair ap-
point three additional councilmen to sit
with the committee during the investiga-
ton, but this was not carried. When the
vote for the adoption of the resolution was
called the Republican members all voted
in favor of 1t, while the Democrats voted
against it, but 1T was carried by a vote
Of IL to z. The committee will begin the
investigation soon.
REPORT ON GAS ORDINANCE.
When the business coming under the
contracts and franchise committee was
called for Chairman Evans presented the
report on the proposed gas ordinance,
which was as follows:
1--WE have Investigated the subject mat
ter involved in the ordinance and the diff
ferent questions presented by it as thor
oughly as the facilities at our command
permitted. We find on investigation that
complaint was filed by the city attorney in
Room !, of the Superior Court. or Ma
rion county, On Nov g. 1889, against one
of the gas companies, in which the allie
cation was made that said company had
sufficient supply of gas to supply all con-
sumers under the present ordinance as to
pressure and prices and praying that
writ af nd n =
company to furnish such gas according to
| its original contract. The allegations in that
complaint are sworn to by the mayor,
Mr. Taggart, and we believe that the posi-
ton therein by the city is tenable one
end that the mayor was we'll advised when
said suit was filed. We also believe that
if such allegations are true as to the In
dianapolis Gas Company, defendant In that
suit. they also true as to tho Con-
sumers' Gas Trust Company, and should
be applied to 1t as we'll for the relief of
its consumers.
I'VE have also found on investigation
that the sliding scale of prices and pres
sure, provided in the proposed ordi-
lance, would repeal the old ordinance and
the old contract as to price and pressure
and could be used, and we believe would
lie used as ar absolute bar and defense
| to the suit now pending against said gas
company or any other suit which might
be hereafter brought for the same purpose.
Its answer TO such suit would naturally
be that a new contract had been made
under a sliding scale under which 1t could
furnish three ounces or nothing, as 1t
saw fit, and the only restriction left on 1t
be to charge accordingly.
Under such an ordinance the supply of
gas could be reduced by the gas compa-
MES to a minimum of one-half ounce at
their pleasure and the consumer would be
entirely at their mercy. When they could
rot or saw fit not to furnish an adequate
supply for reasonable consumption they
could safely reduce the pressure to the
lowest possible measurable stage and
| so continue long they suspended
charges for service. And the entire list
CT gas consumers would be continually in
CANCER of such action at the hands of the
gas companies and with absolutely no re-
| lief even by resortiEg TO the courts. Such
| a contingency is not possible under the
present ordinance and the old contract.
We believe 1t to have been carefully drawn,
| that it is and always has been enforce
able and that the law department of the
city should waste no time in enforcing the
suit now pending to a speedy termination
to the end that the gas companies may be
compelled to carry out their contract
made under the old ordinance and fur
| nish the people the gas they are praying
| for.
1--WE therefore think that IL is to the
best interests of the people that the ordi-
nance do not pass and We therefore recon-
mend that il do not pass" This was signed
by George II. Evans, III. f. Negley, j. IL.
Billingsley, James X. Munro and Conrad
Keller.
The report was barely finished, when
Councilman knight arose and offered a