The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-14
FOR AN INVESTIGATION
COUNCILMAN NEGLEY INTRODUCES A
RESOLUTION II COUNCIL.
II Provides for q Complete Investiga-
neutrality-suspicious. rdinan
Not Passed.

last night q resolution providing for the
investigation of every part Of the city ad-
ministration where it is believed an in
vestigation is needed was passed by a strict
party vote. 1t is needless to say hat this
was a Republican vote. The resolution
was offered by Councilman Negley and
reads as follows:
Whereas, Section Sc of the Charter OF
the City of Indianapolis provides that no
member Of the police or fire departments
of said city shall be discharged for political
causes; and
Whereas, a large number of the MEM
bers of said police and FIRE departments
have recently been discharged without
trial or opportunity to make a defense; and
Whereas. it is currently reported. and
openly stated in the newspapers of said
city that said members Of the police and
fire departments have been discharged for
political reasons and party affiliations, and
for no other reason; and
Whereas, II is commonly reported. and
openly charged in the newspapers that
gross violations of the provisions of
the city charter and other valid
and existing laws and ordinances
have been p~erpetrated, committed,
aided and abetted by various persons hold
ling various offices and appointments under
and by virtue of the charter Of the city
Of indianapolis by election and appoint
ment; the same being greatly prejudicial
to the public welfare IL true as reported:
Therefore be 1t
Resolved. BY the Common Council of
the City of Indianapolis that pursuant
to authority vested in this Common Council
by Section "a of the charter of said city,
a special committee on investigation and
impeachment, to be composed of seven
members of this body, not more than five
Of whom shall be of one political party,
and including therein the members of the
present standing committees on investiga-
ton and impeachment. be appointed by the
president of this Common Council TO In
vestigate the alleged violations of said
city charter involved in the dismissal and
discharge OF said members of the Indian
apolis fire and police departments; and to
investigate also, any and all acts. both
public and private, official and unofficial.
of any and all officers and employees of
said city, both elective and appointive,
which are or may be found to be prejudi-
cial to the public welfare and good gov
eminent or violations of said city charter;
and the result of said investigation and the
finding of said special committee shall be
by said committee reported in full to this
Common Council upon the termination of
And pursuant thereto said special com
mittee is hereby vested with full power
to cause the city clerk of said city to
issue a subpoena or subpoenas. attachment
or attachments, by order of the chairman
Of the said special committee or any men,
Der thereof authorized to act for him., for
any and all witnesses and any and all
books, papers, documents. plats, state
ments, orders or reports, or any copy or
copies thereof, which may be desired by
said special committee for the purposes
of said Investigations; and said city
attachments duly served by and
through the police department of said
city. or by any other person duly author
lied by said special committee to act in
such capacity, and due return shall be
made of the same to said special committee
by the department, person or persons serv-
ing the same. Said special committee
shall have full power to hold its meetings
at such times and places in said city as
1t may deem best, and to continue and ad-
journ said meetings from time to time un-
til said investigation. finding and report
have been completed; and be ii further
Resolved, That the mayor is hereby re-
specially requested to officially act on this
resolution at his earliest convenience"
APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
The resolution was passed instead of the
appropriation ordinance recommended by
the city controller and approved by Mayor
Taggart, and which was read at the OPEN
ing of the meeting. 1t was drawn up by
the city attorney and provided for an APP
preparation of $500 to conduct the investiga-
ton Of the dismissals in the police and fire
departments. OF this $500 it set apart $50
with which to pay a stenographer for TAX
ing a report of the proceedings. The other
$3.50 was to be used in paying for a tran
script of the case or of such parts of IL
as the Council committee might decide to
report to the Council. The ordinance
further provided that no part Of this
money should be used after April 1.
Mr.. Perrott and Mr.. Knight. Democrats.
were absent from the meeting, both being
out OF the city. AS soon as IL was an
nounced that an appropriation ordinance
had been Councilman Ber-
nauer arose and moved that IL be placed
on it's passage. Councilman Megrew sug-
| gested that IL might be well to wait until
The ordinance had been read before taking
a vote. The clerk then read the ordinance
and the ''ayes" and noes were called.
The Democrats all voted for IL. but the
ordinance. was defeated by q vote CT eight
| to eleven. The Republicans were amused
| at the eagerness Of the Democrats in at
tempting to get the ordinance through.
| Had 1t passed the Republicans would have
| been tied up" as ore Of the members
of the Council expressed it after the meet
ing. In accordance with the provisions Of
the ordinance the investigation would have
had to be completed by April 1 and the
| examination would have been practically
limited 10 the Board OF Public Safety. II
| would also have been necessary to conduct
! the investigation so that the stenographer's
bill would not amount to more than $50.
| When this sum should be exhausted The in
| yestigation would stop.
AS the matter tands at present the ordi-
| nance Is referred to the committee on
finance, and this committee may make
such amendments as IT sees ft. There be-
ing n Republican majority in the mmit
| its defects will doubtless be looked after.
| The Republicans feel reasonably sure that
| the mayor will sign the Negley resolution.
| having signed the appropriation ordinance.
The committee provided for In the resQlu-
lion will probably be appointed at the
meeting of the Council next Monday night.