The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-04
OPPOSED BY DEMOCRATS
RESOLUTION To INVESTIGATE
CHARGES AGAINST COUNCILMEN.
Measure Lost for Lack OF Constitu-
tional Majorify-Board OF Works
and Water Contract.

~ aLAC IA u tAC 49,
Council went on record last night as OPP
posed TO a resolution to investigate all
charges made against members OF the
Council. while the Republicans voted in fav-
or of it. The resolution was introduced at
the Council meeting by Mr.. Negley, and
before he introduced it he said:
MIR. President-On moving the adoption
OF the following resolution, / desire to say
complete investigation Of all the charges
which have been made against n MEM
Der OF this body. and l desire to say for
myself that any person who has any
charges TO make win confer a favor on me
by getting them before the committee at
the earliest possible moment" Mr.. Neg
ley's resolution was as follOws: Whereas.
a member of this Common Council has been
tried in the Criminal Court OF Marion
county on the charge of soliciting a bride,
and In said court convicted, and
Whereas, 1t has been asserted that
other members of this body a been
guilty of like offenses. which assertions as
made are unfair and prejudicial 20 the
character OF the innocent members of this
body; therefore
BE it resolved by the Common Council
of the city of indianapolis. that the s.and-
ing committee on investigation anc i'm
parchment is hereby ordered and directed
TO at once begin a thorough investigation
of all such charges, including the charges
against said member who has been tried
and convicted, and said committee is here
by directed to report the result of its in
v~estigation, together with its finding and
recommendations. to this body for such
further action as this body may deem
best"
When the resolution was read Daller and
Megrew were absent from the Republican
side OF the Council. and Higgins absent
from the Democratic side. After the mo-
ton TO adopt the ordinance was seconded
Councilman Bernauer moved to lay the
motion On the table, which was immedi-
ately seconded by one of his colleagues
When the vote was taken nearly every
member of the Council explained his vote.
Mr.. Perrott said there was no difference in
the resolution from the one adopted a few
weeks ago but Mr.. Negley denied this, say
Ing the new resolution would provide for
a complete investigation. while the one
adopted and which the Democrats voted
for was merely to stand by the grand jury
in the investigation of the Higgins case.
Mr.. Perrott then wanted 70 know If the
Republican members would pay for an at
torney n stenographer, w~hereupon Mr..
Wheeler, chairman of tho committee on
investigation and impeachment, said he did
not know what action the committee would
be willing to take in regard to employing
an attorney and stenographer, but the two
Democratic members OF the committee
would be consulted and whatever found TO
be best would be one. Mr.. Perrott then
said the county prosecutor was employed
to look into such matters and as that off,
cial had announced that charges against
AAAtA@A NOIaA0 R0 ~ LLC - alAu
jury, the city's money should not be spent
for an attorney or stenographer to conduct
Investigations that would follow the adop-
ton OF the resolution.
DEMOCRATIC INTERESTS AT STAKE.
Mr.. Negley said the Democratic members
of the Council should think over the mat
ter before they voted TO table the resolution
as they each had their interests at stake.
Kelly here moved TO go on with the vote
to table the resolution. Dickson and Knight,
in explaining their vote to table the resolu-
ton, said the action was premature, as
Higgins had not been sentenced. Council
man Moriarity, Democrat, said the resolu-
ton was .agin our friend Higgins, and.
therefore, 1 vote aye" Reilly elaine there
was politics in it and would vote to table
the resolution. Mr.. Wheeler said: 1.-The
Democrats have as much at stake as the
Republicans, and ali charges should be in
quired into. There is a reflection against
every councilman and as a result of the
charges being circulated the members of
this Council feel 1t is more of a disgrace to
belong 20 the Council than anything else.
1t Is a reflection on our families and all
charges should be investigated. l vote no."
The result of the vote was as follows: Ayes
-Bernauer, Dickson, Kelly, knight, MORT
arity. McGrew. Perrott and Reilly. Noes
Billingsley, Evans, Koran, Kaiser, Keller,
Munro, Negley, Spiegel, Wheeler, Grail.
Kelly changed his vote, which made the
final vote, ayes z. noes IL.
The vote on the adoption of the resolu-
ton was then taken and resulted as fol-
lows: Ayes-Billingsley Evans, Koran.
Kaiser, Keller, Munro, Negley, Spiegel,
Wheeler and Crall-10. Noes-Bernauer.
Dickson. Kelly, knight. Moriarity, Nc
Grew, Perrott and Reilly-S. The resolu-
ton was lost. as the constitutional ma
jority of eleven did not vote in favor of it.
TEMPORARY LOAN ASKED FOR.
The Council received the communicated
from City Controller johnson, asking for a
temporary loan of sl47, 900 to pay the run
ming expenses of the city during December
and bills due from November that cannot
be met with the funds on hand. The bonds
are TO become due May 1. 1901, and TO bear
not more than s per cent. interest per an
mum. Mr.. Johnson accompanied his COM
munication with an itemized statement OF
the November account and for the
amount needed for the various depart
ments for December. The ordinance and
communication were referred to the com
mittee on finance. The itemized statement
was as follows:
November Accounts
Board of Safety ..........$ 3235.6s
fark BOARD ............... 3,lfJ.bl
FINANCE HI