The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-12
MIR. BookvaIter's Answers.

'1. Is not Mr.. Bookwalter's statement
false, that public franchises were granted
to personal and political friends without
competition? If it is true, please state
what franchises were so granted. VIII
he mention any franchise that was not
approved by the Republican CounCIlE
I ask you, Mr.. Taggart, in answer to this
question, have you forgotten the contract
known as the Stuckmeyer waste paper box
contract, which granted ostensibly to
Mr. Stuckmeyer upon terms which secured
to the city a less sum than two other
propositions that were then pending before
your Board of Public Works and did you
rot know when this franchise was granted
that it was generally understood that it
was owned and controlled, not by Mr.
Stuckmeyer, but by a gentleman who has
stood much closer to you in two or three
municipal campaigns than any other citi-
zen of indianapolis?
Have you forgotten, Mr.. Taggart, the
heating contract let without competition
to a corporation composed of your personal
and political friends, although other re-
sponsible parties were ready to submit
propositions securing to the city better re-
turns than those embodied in this con-
tract?
Have YOU forgotten your attempt to let
a lighting contract for the streets of the
city of Indianapolis two years before the
expiration of the present contract to a
corporation composed of your personal and
political friends. and upon specifications
so palpably unfair that a righteous court
was compelled to exercise its power TO
restrain you and your Board of Public
Works from committing this outrage upon
the people of the city of Indianapolis; and
did you not persist in this effort until pub
vour political fortunes compelled you to
desist? You must as a fair man, admit
that 1t is begging the question TO ask what
franense c;tV nUt copfere the mower
OF initiatory upon the mayor and the Board
OF Public Works, and no franchise can be
voted for by the Council without having
first received the affirmative action of such
officers.
USE OF NATURAL GAS.
"2 Would Mr.. Bookwalter be in favor
of an ordinance requiring the gas COM
panies to receive pay from gas consumers
the present manner of supplying gas, and
is he willing to assist in the passage OF
an ordinance protecting the consumers OF
natural gas against gas companies, which
collect pay for gas not used or delivered
Frankly, Mr.. Taggart, do you not think
the people of Indianapolis are intelligent
enough to see through your attempted
jugglery of this gas question? Are you
any more sincere in this position now than
you were on the subject of seventy five
cent Illuminating gas?
If elected, 1 shall favor any and all leg
islation required to protect the consumers
of natural gas in their legitimate rights
as against the demands of the companies.
is it not a trifle unfortunate that Mr.. Ma
guire, your candidate, wholly overlooked
this question in his letter?
GAS MAINS TAX
80 Is Mr.. Bookwalter in favor of taxing
the natural gas mains. right which is
conferred upon the city under its contract
with the gas companies, but which the
present Republican Council has refused
10 enforce?"
In answer to this question I would sug-
gest that you read my letter of acceptance.
In this connection, let me inquire. Mr.. Tag
CART, il you are honest now in favoring
such legislation; if you had in mind at the
time you fixed the fifty-nine-cent levy that
such tax was necessary. please tell the
people of Indianapolis why you did not
use the same Council which you used TO
fix that levy TO pass the ordinance fixing
such tax? The Council was Democratic
and you controlled il. Was it good bust
mes to establish a levy which you knew
would be inadequate TO the needs of the
city. without at the same time enactng
the necessary legislation which would pro-
vide the additional revenue rendered nee
essary by the decreased levy?
In passing Mr. Taggart let me ask why
did Mr. Mcguire, your candidate for mayor
forget to mention this question in his let
ter of acceptance?
ELEVATED TRACKS.
81 Mr. Bookwalter says. he is in favor Of
elevated tracks. and if that is not possible,
then some other means of relief should be
speedily found. In case Mr.. BOokwalter
finds that track elevation is not possible
without special legislation and amendment
to the city charter. will he please state
what mode of relief he would favor?"
In answer TO this question, 1 would say
that should the courts hold the ordinance
which YOU have passsd-and for the sake
of argument will admit that you passed
il in good faith. although il requires a
violent stretch of the imagination 10 do
so-should the courts hold this ordinance
TO be invalid. | assure the people Of m
dianapolis that il Will require less time for
me 10 reach a satisfactory agreement with
the railroad companies and the people at
ment the dangers thereof can be lessened,
than IL has required you 10 determine the
validity of your own ordinance. Should
such ordinance be held valid il speaks for
itself.
REMOVAL OF HOSPITAL.
20 Mr. Bookwalter favors the removal
OF the hospital for the treatment OF con-
tagious diseases from within the city linn
its. Would he please be kind enough 10