The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-06
DEMOCRATS AGAINST 1T
OPPOSE PLAN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR
SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATION.
Some of Them Explain" Their Votes
New Gas Ordinance-City Con-
troller's Report.

A resolution was introduced at the meet
ing of the City Council last night, provid-
ing for funds to pay the expenses of the
investigation TO be carried on by the COM
mittee on investigation and impeachment
OF the discharges OF members of the police
and fire forces by the Board of Public
Safety. The resolution is as follows:
Whereas. No provision has been made
for defraying the legitimate and necessary
expenses incident to carrying on the in
vestigation cited in Resolution i, 1900;
therefore be Ii
Resolved. That the city controller of
said city be and is hereby requested to re-
port an ordinance for $500 TO be used by the
committee on investigation and impeach-
ment in defraying legal and legitimate ex-
penses incident thereto"
a motion was promptly made to adopt
this resolution and II was carried, the vote
resulting II to 10, all the Republicans vot-
ing for it and the Democrats against it. A
few OF the Democratic members Eek
planned their votes. Commodore" Hig-
gins said he thought 1t would be a waste
of money as he claimed the park investiga-
ton had been; Mr.. knight said as Mayor
Taggart had agreed to furnish a stenog-
rapher and the use of the city attorney
there should be no need of employing other
legal counsel or stenographer; Mr.. Perrott
said he would like to know what the mon
ey is for, and as he did not know, he
would vote in the negative
When the committee on contracts and
franchises made an unfavorable report at
the last meeting of the City Council against
the gas ordinance introduced last fall. IL
was hoped the matter would be given a
rest, but as an ordinance has to be voted
down by the Council, even after the COM
nittee votes against It, Councilman Ber-
nauer moved that IL be brought up for a
second reading last night. This was done,
and while the ordinance was being read
the members of the Council enjoyed them
selves by chatting and indulging in more
or less fragrant cigars. Mr.. Bernauer
moved that a vote be taken on the adop-
ton OF the ordinance. but Mr.. Negley made
motion that Mr.. Bernauer's motion be
tabled, and the latter was carried.
Councilman McGrew introduced an or6i-
nance requiring corporations, companies,
nrms and individuals furnishing gas under
General Ordinance IA. 1887. to pay a tax of
cents per foot on all gas mains In the
city. The ordinance provides a penalty of
$500 for violation. If this ordinance passes
companies Of Indianapolis will pay into the
city treasury over SIC. 900 each on gas mains
they have laid in the city.
The judiciary committee reported unfa-
dlnance designating license fee to be
paid the city by distilleries and breweries.
Councilman Bernauer introduced an ordi-
nance to increase the public revenue of the
city by requiring every wholesale dealer in
malt liquors, selling more than one gallon
at time, to obtain and pay a license of
$1,000 to the city. The ordinance provides
Tor penalty of s25 to $50 fine for first Of
Tense and $50 to 500 fine for other offenses.
Councilman Billingsley introduced an or
oinance for the annexation of Tuxedo, in
Guiding the same territory that was out
lined in the ordinance killed at the last
meeting of the Council, owing to the fact
that Councilman Megrew left the room
while vote was being taken.
Inc report OF the finance department and
the report of the firemen's pension furd
were assigned to the committee on finance
The report of the firemen's pension fund
shows the total receipts last year amounted
70 ". l51- "A; disbursements for beneficiaries
SSlZI; .isbursements for purchase of bonds
Sl55'6.S2; total disbursements, S2l, 50S92
Inc balance amounts to s10,647.52. The total
amount of funds show $35 OIL 81 in bonds.
and $lO,64I.52 in cash; total, $45, 6S9.33