The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-08
THE WILSON DrsTILLING Co.
Baltimore. Nd

and Michael j. Shea said that they believed
the road is a good thing and that the con-
tract was I'm the main favorable TO the
best interests of the city and individual
citizens.
James II. Billingsley, of the Second ward,
aroused a stir of interest when he intro
duced his measure providing Tor the IN
spectiOn and testing OF Illuminating gas
meters. a buzz round the chamber,
as 1T was thought at once that the meas
ure must be connected with the meter or
dinance previously introduced, and prob
ably was a blow at the gas companies
Later Mr.. Billingsley explained that his
ordinance had nothing whatever to do with
the meter measure. There has been con-
siderable complaint, he said, from con-
sumers of Illuminating gas that their me-
ters had not been registering accurately
and that they have been getting the worst
of il. Many of these complaints have
reached Secretary George i. Hunt, of the
Commercial Club, said Mr.. Bfllingsley, and
Mr.. Hunt had suggested that an ordinance
dealing with the matter be brought to
Council.
INSPECTION OF METERS.
The measure provides for the inspection
and testing of gas meters, and for deter
mining the purity and Illuminating power
of Illuminating gas by the city engineer,
and makes it misdemeanor for any COM
pany furnishing Illuminating gas to refuse
or neglect to correct inaccurate meters
within twenty-four hours after receiving
notice. Any consumer who believes that
he is a sufferer from inaccurate meters
may request the city engineer, in writing,
to come to his residence. disconnect the
meter, take it to the engineers office ana
examine il. The engineer is also empow-
cred, at the request of any consumer, to
make an examination Of the purity OF the
gas.
Mr.. BilIingsleys ordinance for the regu-
lation of scales, weights and measures
was also introduced last night. 1t has been
hanging fire for some time. In substance
the ordinance provides that all weights and
measures, including scales, shall be Of
standard design only; that the controller
recognized by the United States and the
State; that there shall be appointed an in
spector of scales, weights and measures at
a salary of 81, 200 annually, who shall make
Mr.. Billingsley states that the object of
the measure is TO eliminate the possibility
of dishonest weights and TO establish regu-
larity.
Mr. Negley was successful in getting
through Council his ordinance providing
that an improved avenue shall be con-
structed from the intersection of MaSsa-
chusetts avenue and Lewis street to
Brightwood avenue, taking into itself many
small, unimproved, struggling streets along
the route. number of BrightwoOd people
were at Council, and expressed pleasure at
the passing of the measure. In voting
several counclmen explained jocularly that
they voted AYE" because IL was provided
that the new avenue shall be called "Roose-
Velt'' avenue.
APPROPRIATION CUT IN HALF.
The finance committee of Council cut in
half the amount of the appropriation asked
for by the Health Board. Instead Of
recommending an appropriation of $500
the committee advised that $3.50 be given
the board. The ordinance was passed with
ont
favorably recommended by the committee
which passed was the one appropriating
$1,000 to pay old judgments against the
city.
Among the new ordinances introduced
were an ordinance giving the Atlas engine
of new switches to it's plant one giving
James l.. Reach the right TO put switch
across McGill street; one giving the En-
caustic tile works the right 10 put q switch
across Sixteenth street: and one authoriz-
ing the Big Four Railroad Company to lay
switch for the use of w. j. Holiday
d Co.
The serious business of Council was var
led by passage-at-arms between Presi-
dent Haldeman and Mr.. Expert. Early
in the session Expert had presented "A re-
port on an annexation measure in which
he was interested. and then turning TO
1ellow-member became so deeply involved
IL conversation that he failed to notice
the moment had come to make a motion
that the report should be approved The
time sped and Haldeman, declaring the
report not approved, went on with the
routine. Expert got red in the face and
springing to his feet exclaimed:
You're nice fellow. you arer'
Haldeman ordered him TO take his seat,
which he did, Tuning
Thirty minutes later Expert arose with
gravity. holding in his hand copy of the
rules OF Council Il arise 10 a point OF
order, he said. These rules provide that
there shall be no smoking during a session
of Council. and at this time the president
of the body Is putting big black cigar 1
demand that he shall be disciplined"
Haldeman went on putting, with the re-
mark that he guessed he would not stop
smoking, and Expert persisted with his de-
mand. Finally he took his seat and the
contretemps was laughed OH.