The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-17
He Held tina MIR. Evans's Notification
of Motion to Reconsider Was
Out of Order.
THE BOND ORDINANCE KILLED
AND THE GAS METER ORDINANCE
ALSO PASSES AWAY.
other Matters Before the Council
Controllers Recommendations
Works Board Routine.

Gil meeting last night than has character
lied a meeting of that body for many
months. The trouble arose over a ruling
by President Grail which was not in ac-
cord with the rules as adopted for the
regulation of the Councils business. When
the ordinance providing for the ratification
of the contract between the Indianapolis
Clean Street Company and the Board of
Public Works for a twenty-year franchise
came up for a third reading and passage,
the committee having made a favorable
report on 1t. all present voted for the or
dinance with the exception of Councilman
Negley. Councilman Evans, who voted for
ii, announced that he would file a motion
for a reconsideration of his vote, but Pres
ident Grail ruled him out Of order, claim
ing that the motion could not be consid-
cred. as the vote had already been an
nounced
This caused a storm of Indignation, and
threats were made to appeal from the de-
cision of the chair. These were inter-
spersed with motions to adjourn. After
the adjournment Councilmen Evans. Neg
ley and others and newspaper representa-
tives crowded around President Grail to
iSdfh MS iCdSph lOA Suth q ucNl-
sion. President Grail said he did not have
the rules before him, but assumed that he
was correct. Councilman Evans read the
rules to the president on the question at
issue, and a heated debate ensued. Evans
declared 1t was an outrage and ugly
charges were made against the president.
STUCKMEYER WAS THERE.
Charles Stuckmeyer, of the Indianapolis
Clean Street Company, was an interested
auditor, but left during the taking of the
vote after he saw his ordinance would
pass. The ordinance was accompanied by
an affidavit from Mr.. Stuckmeyer saying
he would not injure local merchants with
advertisements to be placed on the boxes.
The ordinance providing for a BOND is
sue Of $4,000 for the improvement of the
fire department, City Hospital and market
house was stricken from the files. AS pre-
dicted in the Journal On Saturday morn
ing, the majority of the finance commit
tee returned a report unfavorable to the
ordinance and m that it not
pass. The minority filed a favorable report.
After motions galore to table, etc., the re-
port of the majority was concurred in.
Later in the evening Councilman Megrew
called the ordinance up for a second read
ing and then moved that it be stricken
from the files. The motion was carried by
a party vote, Republicans voting for it and
Democrats against il.
MAJORITY REPORT.
The report of the majority of the finance
committee was as follows:
THE finance committee, to whom was re-
ferred general ordinance No. "a, 1900, hav-
ing considered the same, recommend that
IL do not pass.
1.-The city has now a bonded indebtedness
of over two million dollars; a half million
OF this amount is due and payable within
the time covered for the maturing of the
bonds in question. In 1924 there will be due,
in round numbers, over one million dollars,
closely followed by over a half million due
In 1927. On this vast amount we are pay
ing interest at the rate of from 31z to 6
per cent; therefore we believe it the part
OF wisdom and business prudence. as well
as our duty, to relieve rather than add to
the tax-paying burdens of the people, and
that every effort should be put forth and
rigid economy practiced at this time in or
der TO enable the city to pay off its in
de~btedness instead of following the too
common custom Of issuing new bonds to
pay of old ones.
From information easily obtained we
are led to believe that indianapolis has not
attained that high STANDARD so much to be
desired in the matter OF hospitals. Our
people being unusually pD1lanInTOD1C ana
humane. we believe they are anxious to
fully meet the requirements In this direc-
ton, and this Council will heartily CO.
operate with the administration in carry
ing out the recommendations OF the Board
of Health.
while concurring in the opinion that the
market place should be improved, the
amount suggested for that purpose seems
to us to be inadequate to afford the pro-
lection to which the occupants thereof are
entitled, taking into consideration the fact
that the revenues from this source amount
to about $4,000 annually.
although possibly true that certain sec
tions of the city may be in need of addi-
tional fire protection, we believe the sum
asked for to be greatly in excess of the
requirements. Reference to statistics gives
| assurance that Indianapolis is fully abreast
of her sister cities in respect to engine
houses and equipment.
within sixty days it becomes the duty
of the controller to submit to this body the
estimated expenditures of the various de-
| partments of the city government for the
year 1901; until this Information is fur
nished and the Council fully advised as to
the requirements we deem IL unwise to
act with undue haste in a matter involving
the expenditure of so large an amount of
money. and this an inopportune time 10
pass the proposed ordnance; besides, your
committee is of opinion that the larger
part of the improvements contemplated
| should be paid for out of the general fund
and not by bono issue"
FROM THE CONTROLLER.
a recommendation was received from
| City Controller Johnson, accompanied by
an ordinance for a temporary loan OF
SIPS, 900 TO pay the running expenses of the
| city for July, August and September. The
| figures show the expenditures of the city
will be as follows: July. 500. $50: August
| 10000; September, 1888, making a tota
| of S275. 923. The cash on hand amounts Il
| SIPS. Sass. OF this amount $40, 965. "A 4:
bridge money. leaving a balance of s25.SsS.7
for general purposes. The estimated re-
ceipts for the three months from miscel
laneous sources are s60. 900. and from take.
s64. 500. These amounts. added TO the bal
ance in the treasury. make a total of $50.
3S4. IA available for running expenses unit
the last OF September. The temporary loar
will be made on the installment plan, par
| of ii to become due In November, RnC
part in December. The firm making tn,
lowest rate OF interest will furnish the loan
The gas meter ordinance received IT.
death blow. The committee on public prop
erty and improvements filed its report. rec
ommending that 1T do not pass 1t was con
CURED in unanimously. Later Councilman
Billingsley called the ordinance up for
second reading. and then Councilman Dick
son moved that il be stricken from tn,
files. which was done by a unanimous vote
The ordinance to change the name o
Pawpaw street to Winter avenue wa
passed.
Councilman Higgins introduced an ordi
nance to tax brewerfes and wholesale liQ