The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-16
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The first question propounded by Mayor
Taggart to Mr.. Bookwalter is: us it not
true that public franchises were granted
to personal and political friends without
competitions" Answer: The waste paper
box franchise. There were other companies
that were ready and willing to compete,
but for ridiculousiy low price the peoples
rights in the streets were granted to Stuck
meyer and his dormant hacker Why was
this done?
give the Home Heating and Lighting Com
pany the franchise for a long period OF
time, with special specifications palpa-
bly, unfair that the Superior Court enJOlned
their action and declared that the Taggart
board, with the cooperation of Mcguire,
had violated the city charter. And sec
ond attempt was so obviously wrong that
ito escape the wrath of the day to come
the matter was shelved until after the fall
election. Why was this done two years
before the franchise could possibly go into
ministration be so anxious TO give away
the future rights of the people, while the
present rights of the city and its inhabi-
tants both black and white, are suffer
ing? Why was this done?
Why was it that the Chicago and other
outside companies, constructors of fire,
alarm telegraphs. who were willing and
anxious to bid, and whose representatives
came to this city post haste when they
learned of the attempt to let the contract,
why was ii that they were not considered?
Why. il it was desired that the right thing
be done, did not the authorities advertise
for the benefit of all bidders? Why did
not Mayor Taggart ask his board to throw
down the bars and let the world know
what they were doing, and IL the new sys-
TEN was necessary. get the worlds best for
the least amount of money? And who out
side Of the successful bidder. was of opin-
ion that a new system was necessary? Why
was this done? Did the board do this upon
the view Of Chief Barrett, first ex-
pressed, or as expressed after the Power
Behind the Throne had seen him? VIII
you tell Us, Mr.. Taggart, where you were
all this time? And why did you not raise
your voice against this act? Why did you
not ask your board to submit the matter
to the competition of the leading companies
of the United States?
Was not the heating contract given to
those nearest the throne? Were other com
panies there TO ask for the same franchise?
If so, why did you not consider their prop
ositions? Why was this done? j want an
answer TO this question that is a complete
answer. No eVasions are solicited.
The present administration is stained
with the foul deeds of six years of mis-
government. misuse of the peoples purse.
and abuse of civic morality. The present
administration has emptied the treasury
and twisted the charter. Ii has prosti-
tuted the police department To the base
uses of the miniature Tammany which il
and it's political cormOrants have fastened
upon the good name and credit of the city.
and now that the fatal words OF the Baby
Ionic feast are beginning TO search the
gloom Of the courthouse basement its mem
bers seek 10 mitigate the punishment with
the flimsy plea that some OF the Republic
ans i'm the Council voted a lump sum for
city purposes. unmindful of the fact that
the administration squandered IL largely
for political uses. II has ssown TO the wind.
and must expect 10 reap OF the Whirlwind.
Public trickery Will be condemned at the
polls by the guardians of a sound
PUBLIC POLICY.