The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-17
DANGER TO HUMAN LIFE
WASHINGTON BRIDGE AROUSEs
PRESIDENT HALDEMAN.
A Resolution Presented to the COun-
Ordinances Passed
Municipal Affairs.

While the members Of Council were hold
ing an informal smoker previous TO the
regular meeting last night. President Hal
deman, fresh from a West Washington
street car, entered the office of the city
clerk and started a furry Of discussion
by declaring hat the bridge over White
river is lettering to it's fall and should be
closed absolutely. Mr.. Haldeman declared
that the street-car company should be for
hidden the use OF the bridge either for
empty or loaded cars until it can be placed
in a condition recognized as perfectly safe
by a competent engineer.
Mr.. Haldeman was very much in earn
est and declared that Council should sus-
pend the rules and pass an ordinance COM
pelling the street-car company to abandon
the structure on the ground of public safe
ty. He said that if the bridge should tum-
bic into the river and carry several dozen
passengers of the street-car company 10
death the city would be held responsible
and could not recover through the COM
pany. Mr.. BilIlngsley, with a pad OF paper.
started TO draft an ordinance, while the
president interviewed members generally
as to whether they would support the
emergency ordinance.
WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT.
Councilman Harry Negley cast a damper
on the idea by refusing to vote for such a
measure. I'm the first place." he said.
lit would have absolutely no effect. 1t
would have to be signed by the mayor,
and Mr.. will not return TO the
city until the end of the week. 1t would
have TO contain a penal clause and conse-
quently could not be enforced for eight
days after the mayors signature had been
obtained" Furthermore, Mr.. Negley held
/ that the question is outside the 1ur1SO1C-
ton OF a legislative body like the Coun-
Gil. 1T is within the province OF the Board
of Works; and it is to be supposed, ne re-
marked. that the board knows the gravity
Of the situation. Mr.. Negley said that
closing the bridge would cripple the street.
car service of half of the city.
The idea of introducing an ordinance was
given up. but instead Mr.. Billingsley
introduced the following resolution intended
to express the sentiment of Council on the
danger of keeping the bridge open, to traf-
hc: Resolved, That 1T is the wish of the
Common Council that no street cars or
heavy vehicles be allowed TO cross the
bridge over White river at washington
street until 1t has been examined and pro-
nounced safe for such travel"
When the regular meeting was calleo
the resolution provoked a lot or oratory.
Mr.. Billingsley warmly. commended that IL
should be adopted. Councilman John Crall
couldn't see that 1t would have the erect
intended and doubted It's wisdom. Mr.. Neg
ley attacked the wording of the instrument
and even the Democratic members did not
| I1TC ID IdlutI ~. rs a AtoOAN w.
turned over TO Ed Sourbier as chairman OF
the committee on public safety and COM
fort for the report of his committee. There
is a probability that Mr.. Haldeman ana
other members of the Council VINO think
the bridge should be abandoned altogether
for the time being will appear in their In
dividual capacities before the Board OF
Works and enlarge upon the danger OF
keeping the structure open TO traffic.
TWO ORDINANCES PASSED.
Two ordinances were passed at last
nights meeting. The committee on finance
through Thomas a. Wynne recommended
the passing of an appropriation ordinance
providing SIS, 199.4s for the payment of the
first fourteen bonds of the issue for the
Improvement of the fire department and the
City Hospital and the interest on the en-
tire amount of the issue. The ordinance
was passed unanimously. On recommends
ton of the committee on sewers. streets
and alleys the Council passed an ordinance
giving a name to the Ihrst alley west OF
California street running south from Tenth
street 10 Indiana avenue. 1t will be known
hereafter as Utica street.
Mr.. Expert introduced his ordinance
which provides for the annexation of GER
tain territory lying, between Thirty-eighth
street and Fall creek and between Central
avenue and Meridian street, including with
in It's limits a part OF, the estate of the
late Mason J. Osgood.
The only other new ordinance was In
troduced by Councilman Grail. 1t fixes
the salary OF the secretary to the mayor
at 1900.
Chairman Holiday. of the committe on
sewers, streets and alleys, announced that
the committee will meet next Monday even
ing to consider an ordinance changing the
name of a part of Bellefontaine street TO
Ashland avenue. Mr.. Holiday suggested
that If any demonstrators desire TO be
heard they will have their opportunity at
the meeting.
In a communication from Mayor Book
walter IL was announced that he had signed
the following ordinances: For the appro-
priation of $500 for the use OF the De-
partment of Public Works; for the transfer
of 1900 to the fund for sweeping and
cleaning improved streets; authorizing the
issue Of 1895 600 worth of new bonds.
The controller sent the bond of Armin
G. Koehne, as city treasurer, to the Coun-
Gil for its approval and the instrument was
referred to the committee on finance for
its action.