The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
BOARD OF SAFETY MEETS
CHAIRMAN ROTH GROWS SARCASTIC
WITH MIR. JOHNSON.
Objects to the Bill for Lighting Tom
linsOn HaIl-BOard Awards Con-
tracts for Fire Hose.

One entering the Office of the Board of
Public Safety late yesterday afternoon
would have been very much under the i'm
preston that Chairman Roth, the Indian
apolis Croker" was suffering from indi-
gestion or some other ailment which had
o tendency to ruffle his amiable disposition
and cause him to argue in very sarcastic
tone with such men as City Controller
Johnson and Superintendent of Police
Quigley over matters in which he wanted
his word TO be law. At times his voice
was raised above the normal pitch and the
usual loungers In the basement of the
courthouse gathered around the door in an
endeavor to hear the animated conversa-
ton.
1t was the day when bills were to be al
lowed by the Board of Safety. But few of
them came under the approval of Chair
man Roth and when the bill for s2S5 for
illuminating gas for Tomlinson Hall last
month, together with a bill for SOS for cleo
trio lights was shown him ne bordered on
the verge of becoming furious. He sent for
City Controller Johnson, Market Master
Goebel, and the engineer at Tomlinson
Hall, to come before the board forthwith.
Mr.. Johnson politely stated he thought the
bill was too high and when he started to
leave the room having nothing to suggest
Mr.. Roth exclaimed:
Don't go yet; We'll have to fix this up"
Mr.. Johnson sized I'D the chairman of
the Board of Safety in a sarcastic manner
because that official had spoken so gruffly
to him and then turned and left the office.
Mr.. Johnson said afterward he had long
ago figured out whereby the city could
save large amount of money in main
tanning an electric plant of its own for
lighting the city buildings as each month
the bills from Tomlnson Hall and other
institutions were very large. The coal bill
tor Tomlinson Hall was also very large,
and which irritated the members of the
board. An order was finally issued to the
effect that the hall shall not be lighted or
heated only when there is to be an enter
tainment there
Chairman Roth had quite an argument
with Superintendent Quigley over a tele-
phone bill. which had been running for
more than year. Superintendent Quigley
stated that telephone messages out of the
city were ar absolute necessity in the po-
lice department and he always gave orders
TO use the phone giving the best service.
To this Mr.. Roth said the department
should use the phone giving the cheapest
was in no mood to stand argument so the
superintendent allowed him to criticise all
he desired.
Upon the recommendation of Superintend-
ent Quigley, Edward Dalton, who was ap-
pointed patrolman on probation when the
recent changes occurred in the police de-
partment, was discharged from the service
as he was found to be inefficient. The
board decided that the Merchant policemen
must wear uniforms and the order will go
into effect on April /, all Of the men to be
uniformed by that time
The board did not consider the bids of
numerous firms submitted for furnishing
4.5OO feet of fire hose at the afternoon SEES
sion, but met last night and awarded the
following contracts; Vonnegut Hardware
Company, Unique" brand 500 feet 80 cents
a foot: Central Rubber and Supply Com
pany. Diamond brand, $50 feet, so cents
a foot. 500 feet "a" quality, one-inch hose,
IA cents a foot, and 200 feet chemical tub
ing, at cents a foot; T. ]. Morse, Ma
tional Jacket" 1000 feet, 80 cents; George
Koehne, Aurora Jacket" 1.50O feet SO
cents; McElwaine- Richards Company,
yale" 500 feet, rs cents; Knight & JILL
son, Eureka" brand, 500 feet, 81; Taylor
& Smith, Imperial" $50 feet, rs cents. All
of the above brands are In use in the fire
department with the exception of the ''Dia-
advanced 10 cents foot since the depart
ment bought the last hose. The hose was
all purchased on a three years guarantee.