The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-08
WITH DEMOCRATS
PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL AGAINST I'M
PLACEMENT PROCEEDINGS.
His Vote Prevented the al
the Majority RepOrt-COuncil's
Routine Affairs.

President John H.. Grail (Republican), of
the City Council, created quite a sensation
at the meeting of the Council last night,
when he voted with the Democrats on the
adoption of the report to impeach the
members of the Board of Safety and city
controller and his negative vote caused the
report of the committee on investigation
and impeachment to be lost.
When the report of the majority of the
committee signed by w. H. Wheeler and
Albert Daller, was read s. v. Perrott filed
a minority report. When this report was
read, Mr.. Wheeler arose and moved that
the report of the majority be concurred in.
The vote was taken by ayes and noes. the
Democrats voting against the adoption of
the report and the Republicans voting for
IT. The vote stood ten to ten when Presi-
dent Cralrs name was called. 1t was ex-
pected he would vote in the affirmative, and
when he arose to explain his vote the still
ness was oppressive and the countenance
of each Republican member changed. Mr..
Grail said:
Before casting my vote I want to ex-
plain II. / want to say that Impeachment
proceedings is a serious matter and l don't
think there is enough testimony to warrant
such charges being preferred. The queS-
ton of violating the charter as revealed by
the Investigating committee is a matter
which demands careful consideration. The
question of using funds appropriated for
various purposes is a question that even
attorneys OF good repute differ upon. Mr..
Johnson acted only upon instruction of the
city attorney and We have no right to ques-
ton his integrity. Perhaps a reprimand
recommended by the Council would be all
right, but recommending an Impeachment
is a serious matter. and I don't care to be
. r0rfx q n if fbarnf0ro nra M ~ rrrfrn
his speech his voice trembled. President
Grail took his seat and announced that the
motion TO concur in the report of the COM
mittee was lost.
CAUSED CONSERVATION.
The action of President Grail caused
CONSERVATION on the Republican side of the
Council chamber. and it was several min
utes before the Republicans could realize
that the president had voted to kill a re-
port brought in by a majority of the COM
mittee composed of Republicans. Had
President Grail voted in the affirmative and
the report been concurred in the matter
would have had TO be tried before the
Council, and then Ii would have taken a
two-thirds' vote to impeach the members
of the Board of Safety or the city con-
troller as recommended in the report. AL
bert Daller said after the meeting that he
was never so greatly taken by surprise. He
1t@A4 t<S ~
government and the handling Of funds
would have been brought out when the case
was tried before the Council. Other Re-
publican members were loud in their de-
nunciation of the presidents action, claim
ing he should have voted in favor of the
report and then when the question of i'm
parchment came TO a final issue after the
trial before the council. voted against IL If
he thought the evidence did not warrant
an impeachment.
III MAJORITY REPORT.
The majority report of the committee In
full was as follows:
Your standing on investigation
and impeachment, empowered to act there
in as provided by ordinance approved Jan.
Is. 1894. and to whom was referred resolu-
ton No. l. adopted Jan. Is, 1900, calling at
tention TO the alleged violations of the city
charter BY the Board of Safety, and by
other departments of the present city gov
eminent, respectfully submit the following
report &c your honorable body. as the result
OF its Investigations, and your
ask that the same shall be filed and made
a matter of record.
Item 1-Your committee respectfully
shows that the Board of Safety OF the city
OF indianapolis. on the sd day OF January,
1899, as evidenced by the records of said
board, adopted the following order. TO wit
"Patrolmen must not enter any saloon In
the city in uniform. whether on duty or
not, except in case they are ordered 10 do
so by their superior officer. or in case there
committed within the saloon that requires
their presence in the line OF duty"
And said board strictly enforced the
same; and the present Board OF Safety OF
said city, composed OF Charles c. Roth.
Nelson J. Hyde and w. 8. Mcmillan. v