The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-18
FUN IN THE council
OF INSPECTORS.
The Democratic Members, Claiming
the Proceeding Was Irregu-
lar, Refused to Vote.
WILL BE CARRIED INTO COURT
INTERURBAN ROAD CONTRACTS RE-
FERRED TO COMMITTEE.
The NcgIey RedistrictinG Ordinance
Passed by n Party Vote-Mu-
Ricipal Affairs.


spectors for the special election to be held
successor to ex-Councilman John NJ. Hig-
gins is to be elected The Republican men,
bers, who are i'm the majority proceeded
on the theory that the City Council had a
right to select inspectors for a municipal
election in any manner it pleased, deriving
its power from the election laws of the
State. Their procedure was based on the
advice of some of the best attorneys the
city affords. The Democrats in the Coun-
Gil. however, were determined to offer the
Republicans all the opposition possible. and
the latter were not allowed to offer a single
motion, no matter how unimportant it
might be, without howl of protest.
But the Democratic protests were all in
vain and the following Republican .inspec-
tors were elected by vote of IL to 0, the
Republicans voting solidly for the ticket
and the Democrats refusing to vote:
First Precnct-Charles Warrington.
Second-William Hillman.
Third-Louis c. Held, ST.
Fourth-G. A Wurgler jr.
Fifth-ThOmas Boylan
Sixth-Amer Funk.
Seventh-Adam II. Snideman.
Eighth-George II. Dreschel.
Ninth-Joseph Seyfried.
Tenth-Justice Webster.
Eleventh-Henry Hudson.
Twelfth-William Morgan.
Thirteenth-William SVendsen.
ELECTION OF INSPECTORS.
The matter of the election OF inspectors
came up just after a ten-minute recess,
which the Republicans obtained in order TO
map out their plan Of procedure AS soon
as President Grail raped for order Coun-
Gilman Billingsley Rep) obtained recogni-
81 h. do oil
tion that the regular order of business be
suspended and the Council proceed to the
election of inspectors. Notwithstanding a
howl of protest from the Democrats, the
chair put the motion and declared it carried
viva voce. President Grail then appointed
Councilman McGrew Oem) and Council
man Daller Rep.) as tellers.
AS soon as this had been accomplished
Councilman Megrew (Rep.) offered an oral
motion that the Council proceed to the cleo
tion of inspectors by ballot. When the mo-
ton was offered several Democrats, includ-
ing Bernauer. Perrott. Moriarity and 9TH
ers, all arose at the same time and began
clamoring for recognition from the chair.
President Grail recognized them one at a
time, and. commencing with Bernauer,
every Democratic councilman solemnly pro-
tested against the procedure the Repub-
licans had adopted. From time to time the
more active Democrats would sing out
something about gag rule" and Morarity
wanted TO know al least a dozen times if
he didn't have the same right TO be heard
in the Council as members of the majority.
After the hubbub had simmered down a lit-
tie, President Grail called for the yeas and
nays on Mr.. Megrews motion and ordered
the clerk to call the roll.
REFUSED TO VOTE
The first Democratic name called was
that of Bernauer, and he fatty refused to
vote. He asked the president to excuse
him, but the Republican members of the
Council refused TO grant his request. His
name was called a second time and he still
refused to vote. Councilman Negley then
! obtained recognition, and. after intimating
| something about the consequences of dis
| obeying the rules of the Council, offered
motion that the body proceed with the bal
lot. The clerk called Mr. Bernauers name
| for the third time, and this time he weak
ened and voted no on the motion.
The ballot proceeded, the Republicans
voting AYE" and the Democrats mo until
| the call reached ''Moriarity of the Tenth"
| He explained that he wasn't getting a fair
deal and then refused TO vote. The motion
was carried by vote OF III 10 S, and a Re-
| publican councilman then placed in nomi-
| nation the names OF the thirteen inspectors
| elGcleQ.
| was taken by ballot and the nominees
| were elected by a vote of IL to 0, the Dem
| ocrats refusing TO cast any ballots for the
Republican nominees and no Democrats
| having been placed in nomination.
| Prior TO the ballot the Democrats had in
sisted that the rules of the Council provided
| that all motions of the character which
| had been offered orally by the Republicans
should be placed in writing but no one had
| offered the rules as evidence. and no atten-
| ton was paid TO their protests After the
nf he al N h41 he 1QoH
| Councilman Bernauer quoted from the rules
which govern the Council and attempted 10
| prove that the proceedings were Irregular
| because the motion made by Mr.. Megrew
| that the Council proceed to elect the in
| spectors by ballot had not been in writing
He then moved the chair that the record
| eXpunged from the record. Negley moved
| that Bernauer's motion be tabled and the
| latter motion carried by vote of IL to s.
A NEW WAY.
The election of inspectors by ballot is a
| new proceeding in the CITY Council, the
usual method having been TO name them by
| resolution, but the fact that Mayor Taggart
would undoubtedly have vetoed any resolu-
| ton the Republicans sent to him led to the
| adoption Of the new method. The Repub-
lican members of the Council say there is
| no question that. under the law. the Coun-
| ell has right 10 select the inspectors in
4 any manner IL desires. 1nasmuch as the
Republicans have a majority they feel that
| they have a right to name the inspectors
| not only for this special election, but for
| the city election next fall. In order TO de-
/ termine whether their action has been
| strictly legal the matter will be carried to
| the Superior Court within the next week. a
| contestant already having announced him
| self. IL was suggested last night that the
| Republicans had made a mistake in not
| putting the motion TO ballot for the cleo
| ton of inspectors in writing. since. If the
| case Is carried TO the courts. ii might be
| decided upon that question alone. and the
| real merits OF the case never be touched
| until IL was too late. The Republicans
| hold. however. that the action of the Coun-
! Gil is governed entirely by the state cleo
| ton law. which authorizes II TO make its
| selection of inspectors as IL sees fit. and
| that any infraction of the rules OF the
| Council not in conformity with the law OF
| the State would have no bearing on the
| case.
| INTERURBAN CONTRACTS.
| The three ordinances ratifying and ap-
| proving the contracts made between the
1 Board NJ Works nd the th~aa ho