The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-26
HAND OF THE DEMOCRATS
COUNCIL MINORITY INTRODUCES AP-
PRECIPITATION ORDINANCE.
An Effort to Force the Administration
Into a Policy of
Loans-City Affairs.

The stand of the Democratic members of
the Council regarding the payment of the
temporary loan debt of the city was clearly
defined at last nights meeting of the body.
The Democrats have determined that the
loans must be paid in the time specified,
not by an ordinance of Republican initia-
ton, but by a measure of their WI de-
vising. Councilman James Moriarity, as
the representative of the minority, intro
duced an appropriation ordinance which
the Democrats intend shall be substituted
for the one introduced anew last night by
Chairman Wynne of the finance commit
tee.
The ordinance introduced by the Demo-
Gratis provides that the sum of $196, 455. 3S
be appropriated for the payment of the
temporary loans. 1t specifies that the loans
shall be paid out of the current tax re-
ceipts of the city now available in the city
treasury. 1t provides that the amount
named shall be used for no other purpose
than liquidating the temporary loans and
the amount shall not be available for any
purpose after Dec. ?.
TIL purpose Of the ordinance is to force
the Republicans TO abandon the policy of
refunding the temporary loans by an issue
of bonds sufficient to cover the debt. The
ordinance indicates clearly that the Demo-
Gratis will strain every nerve to compel the
administrator to use the Democratic pol
icy of temporary loans as a means of pay
ing the annual expenses of the city, a
policy which the administration is deter
mined not to adopt.
For the third time the Republicans,
through Thomas A. Wynne, introduced an
aDDrOnrlatiOn ordinance TO nav the loans.
With a few minor changes ii is the same
as the measures previously introduced. 1t
provides that $196. 455.3S shall be apprOpri-
ated for the aymen Of the debt, but does
not specify what shall be the means of
settling the Indebtedness. Both the Re-
publican ordinance and the one proposed
by MOriarity were referred to the finance
committee. At the next meeting of the
body, which will occur early in the present
week, both ordinances will be brought up
for second reading and passage. The fight
will then be on as 10 which of the Ordi-
nances, providing in a general way for the
same object, shall be passed. At the pres
ent time indications are that the minority
is in a position to force the Republicans
to abandon their ordinance and vote for the
Democratic measure.
Chairman Wynne, of the finance commit
tee, stated last night that if it is impos-
sible to put the Republican ordinance
through he sees at this time no insuperable
objection toward supporting the Democratic
measure
what we want he said, sis to pay the
debt. BY the Democratic ordinance that
can be accomplished as well practically
as by the one that we have submitted. The
success of the Democratic measure would
not compel us to abandon an issue of
bonds. If 1t goes through we can pay the
loans as ii provides out of the tax re-
ceipts in the treasury, but 1 would like
to know how the Democrats are going to
keep us from issuing bonds to refund the
deficit in the treasury. We can refund the
debt just as easily after the amount is
In the hands of the city's creditors as be-
fore. / am not saying that an issue of bonds
will be made only that the ordinance in
troduced by Mr.. Moriarity is utterly worth
less as a measure to force us to abandon
a bond issue. Whether or not we support
the Democratic measure will have no effect
on the introduction of a bond ordinance
The Democratic members of the Council
are jubilant over the fact that the Re-
publicans may be forced to support their
ordnance. They believe that ii will ef-
fectually cut off an issue of bonds and will
force the administration back on the Tag
CART policy of temporary loans.
Mayor BOokwalt will probably issue an
other call to-day or tomorrow for a Sec
Ond meeting of the Council to dispose OF
the troublesome debt question.
The Democrats proved more complaisant
at a meeting of the finance committee
which was held Immediately after the meet
ing of Council. The ordinance appropratine
$1,000 to meet deficits i'm the old appropria.
ton for the use of the Board of Works
was considered and received the unanimous
recommendation of the committee. An.
other ordinance. providing for the transfer
of $1,000 from the fund for sprinkling un.
improved streets TO the fund for the clean
ing anu sweeping of improved streets, re-
ceiVed the unanimous recommendation o1
the committee, Democrats as well as Re.
republicans signing the committees report.