The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-06
EFFECT ON BOARD OF WORKS
1T WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE
VIEWS OF COUNCILMEN.
state Board of Charities Criticises
the City Dispensary-Other
Municipal Affairs.

the Council committee on contracts and
franchises 1 believe the construction Of
the Southern will mean so much for the
upbuilding of Indianapolis that we should
favor IL in the matter Of route. l see at
this time no valid objection to the pro-
posed route" This statement was made
by Councilman Lew w. Cooper, member
OF the committee on contracts and fran
chises
The significance of Mr.. Cooper's attitude
is apparent when the fact is taken into
consideration that the form of the fran
chise which will be submitted to the South
ern for its acceptance lies largely with the
Council committee and the fate of the fran
chise rests almost entirely with it. The ac-
ton of Council in approving or disappearing
the franchise will be governed by the rec
ommendation of the committee for or
against. Theoretically, the Board of Public
Works draws up the contract. decides just
what sections shall be incorporated within
it and, subject to the approval Of Council,
is the sole authority; in reality, the action
of the board is determined markedly by
the opinion of the Council committee. since
with the committee rests the power to
present the contract to Council in favor
able or unfavorable light
IMPORTANCE RECOGNIZED.
Knowing the Importance of cooperation
with the Council committee, the Board of
Works when considering the interurban
question, particularly the contract signed
by George F. McCulloch for the Union
Traction Company called the members of
the committee into conference with it. The
result of the conference was that the stand
of the committee certain sections of the
original draft of the contract altered the
attitude of the board. Chairman Negley, of
the committee, insisted that the rate Of
compensation to the city had been fixed too
low and was supported in his contention by
Mr.. Cooper and others. The outcome was
that the contract was changed TO meet
their approval In the discussion of the
form of contract which shall be drawn up
for the signatures of the officials of the In
dianapolis Southern company, the Council
committee has not been asked yet to meet
with the Board of Works, but when the re-
quest is made, it probably will be in a
few days.Fthe opinions of the members are
practically certain to materially affect the
decision of the board just as its decision in
the interurban question was affected
Councilman Cooper has no hestancy In
openly recommending that the Indianapolis
Southern be granted entrance to the center
of the city by way of Pogue's run. More
than that he states that so far as he has
discussed the question of entrance with
other members of the committee con-
tracts and franchises they are also in favor
of admitting the road by the proposed right
of way. Mr.. Cooper said also that If the
board seeks the advice of the Council COM
mittee, he will stand for the admittance Of
the Southern by Pogue's run, and with
him will be at least majority of the other
members Of the committee.
Here's my stand on the matter" said
Mr. Cooper. Il believe the promoters of
the Southern are gentlemen of undOubted
probity. who have been and are for the
engaged in a legitimate business enter
prise Of extraordinary value TO Indianapo-
lis l believe their desires are reasonable
want. l believe they are sincere when
they say they can obtain cheaper and bet
ter coal for us; and L suggest that they
be required to furnis a guarantee to that
effect, not as a reflection upon their truth
| fulness, but as provision for future
changes in the road. AS to making them
elevate their tracks, | say the PROPOSE
ton verges on the absurd. To require
from the Southern what has not been re-
quired of other roads would be the worst
kind of injustice. l don't think such a
LAS to the feeling which Is said to exist
on the South Side against the proposed
| right of way" Mr.. Cooper continued, Il
will simply say that | talked very recent
one of the wards affected. He is a Demo-
crat, but / thought his views on the mat
ter would be valuable. How close to your
house will the Indianapolis Southern road
run, If built? L asked. About two squares,
he said. Are you for 1t, or opposed to it p
1 asked further. Well, he said, 4 so
/ 81 %Ho& he he h1o .rf,-o
| them the franchise they ask for the better
| l will be pleased. 1 would give you his
name, but have no authority from him to
| do So"
MR.. HOLIDAY OUTSPOKEN.
Councilman Jaqueln S. Holiday was not
less outspoken than Mr.. Cooper in favor
ing the Pogue's run route. He is also a
member of the committee contracts and
franchises and will go before the board, if
the committee meets with it. prepared to
| ask that the road be granted what it
wishes
MY chief reason for favorng the en-
trance of the Southern by fogue's run is
this" said Mr.. Holiday. II am of opinion
that the course which has been suggested
of compelling the Southern to enter over
the tracks of railroad now existing would
| simply mean that. the Southern would be
/ held up and forced 10 pay an eXorbitant
rate for the privilege of running its trains
/ into the city over the tracks of the road
| affordng the privilege There is a striking
/ similarity between the interurban situa-
/ ton and the Southern issue in that regard.
/ | believe ii would be the par. of wisdom
| 10 allow the Southern 10 enter by its own
! route. The Pogue's run way seems to Of
/ fer the least Objectionable route. | shall
/ voice my opinion If we meet win the
| BOARD"
! Chairman Negley of the committee ac-
cOrding 10 his statement yesterday has not
| fully made up his mind as TO his stand on
the Southern question when the commit ee
/ meets with the board. When asked what
/ route he favcrs he replied that he does not
! care TO answer that question at the present
/ time. In the course of the conversation,
| however. he said that the objection which
has been made to the Pogue's run route re-
| lating TO the crossing OF numerous streets
/ by the proposed right of way did not seem
| to him 10 be of much force, for the reason
| that the most Travelled thoroughfare i'm the
/ city. Washington street. is crossed by four
/ find that state of affairs a particularly OBJ
| jectiOnable thing He stated also that he Is
| unqualifiedly in favor of the admfttance OF
! the road on terms which shall be fair to the
| city and fair TO the road.
Both Mr.. Cooper and Mr.. Holiday say
/ that the Republican members OF the com
mittee take about the same stand on the
| question as they do.
While IL is early 20 speculate as TO the
| final decision OF the Board OF Works In the
! Southern matter IL is certain that the hoard
| will be governed to some extent nv the
] opinion OF the Council committed and that