The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-10
SOME CHANGES DESIRED
THEY SHOULD BE MADE IN CITY
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS.
1t Is Thought the Board of Works
Should BE Relieved in a Meas
ure-Municipal Affairs.

City officials are giving attention to de-
sirable changes in the administrative de-
partments of the city government. Some
of the changes sought to be made will have
to be authorized by the State Legislature,
while others may be, under the powers con-
ferred by the charter, authorized by city
ordinance One of the most important
changes discussed is the revision of the
charter so that each department will erect
and maintain it's own public buildings.
When the charter was drawn twelve years
ago it made the board of works responsible
for the purchase of land and the erection
of all public buildings, no matter what
other administrative department used them
after completion. The need Of change
is forcibly illustrated at present in the
determination of pesthouse site and also
the building of an addition TO the City
Hospital. The board of public works Is
required under the charter to attend to
both, although in both cases il will be guild
ed wholly by the wishes and plans of the
department of public health. When the
new frehouses are to be built and the roof
placed over the exposed space at the east
market the board will have to attend to
both. After completion the board will turn
over the buildings first named to the board
of health and the last named to the board
of public safety.
The business of the board OF works 10
growing. to such proportions that 1t seeks
to be relieved of these duties. 1t is pro-
posed that the charter be amended so that
the board of health may initiate and COM
plete improvements within its own Juris-
diction and that all other boards exercise
the same powers. If a new building is de-
sired and authorized by the Council the
departments must now apply to the board
of public works which alone is authorized
to spend the money. Such a regulation,
however, does not affect the park board,
which has the power to purchase real es-
tate and make improvements without any
concurrent authority. 1t is likely the
amendment of the charter will be asked so
that any board may receive an appropria
ton for the purchase Of property and tho
Improvement thereof. instead Of having SUI
1t is argued in favor of this that the de-
partments are thoroughly informed as to
what they need and that the supervision
of tho board of public works is merely a
formal approval of their plans.
1t is also suggested that an ordinance
be passed regulating the repair of perma-
nently improved streets. 1t is proposed
that persons opening streets shall be re-
quired to give bond to restore the SAND
properly or deposit an amount sufficient
to perform the work in case they should
fail. The experience of the city at present
is that the regulations in force are not
adequate to the conditions and that more
stringent rules are needed and that they
may be made most effective if enacted into
law with penalties provided. Involved In
this, also, may be the creation of a petty
department, subordinate to the board of
public works, for the repair of permanently
improved streets. 1t is the idea of the
board of public works that when an injury
or a break in a pavement is reported there
should be means at hand to promptly repaif
it. The board believes it should provide
blocks, bricks and asphalt to make repairs
when they are first needed and not wait
for the injuries to become an impeachment
or a danger before making the repairs.
This means the employment of a permanent
street repair force. just as they are main
tanned in other large cities, and the pur.
chase of a small portable asphalt plant,
costing about 81, 500. By this means the
board believes the condition of the i'm
proved streets could always be kept at a
high standard.