The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18
Virginia Avenue and Washington
street VIII Not BE Re.urfaced
with Councils Approval.
PRESIDENT HALDEMAN RESIGNS
THE BOULEVARD BOND ORDINANCE
o BROUGHT UP.
Gas Meter Ordinance Laid Over In
STANDARDIZATION OF Council on
Other Subjects.

Surprises followed each other fast at
last nights Council meeting. OF the large
affairs that were scheduled to come before
it, the boulevard ordinance was not pressed
and on the others the most positive ad-
verse action was taken. During the DAY
Mayor Bookwalter and Chairman Megrew'
of the Board Of Public Works, labored
hard 10 secure the passage of the resur-
facing ordinances. In the evening MI.
Megrew was again with the counciimen.
The efforts were seemingly entirely lost,
as the ordinances were stricken from the
files without a dissenting vote.
The first surprise of the night was the
resignation of President Harry M. Halde-
man. He has engaged in business In Chi
cago and will be away for the next year.
He resigned as a member of the Council
and on motion of Mr.. Grail the resignation
was accepted and a committee, composed
of Councilmen Holiday, Berry and Grail,
appointed to draft resolutions of respect.
Mr.. Haldeman explained that he deemed
1t justice to himself, the Council and the
people who elected him TO vacate his seat.
He thanked the members for their uniform
good treatment. His resignation was a
surprise because he said In a public inter-
view during the day that he would not re-
sign. Republican members will meet some
night this week to select his successor.
The names of j. ]. Valdenaire, of the First
Ward. and John l.. Marsee, of the Tenth
ward have been mentioned as his probable
cessor.. The Democratic members will
probably give the complimentary minority
vote to Robert NJ. Madden. Of the Fourth
ward. who was formerly a councilman at
large. j..
The second surprise was the failure of
Chairman Wynne, of the finance commit
tee, to present a majority report on the
boulevard bond ordinance authorizing an
issue of 100000. Three Republican members
of the had signed the favorable
report, and Mr.. Wynne had counted on the
signatures of Mr.. Expert and Mr.. Wysong.
but they said they were not prepared to
sign. This left the report without a ma
jority. Mr.. Moriarity and Mr.. Berry, DEM
ocrats, had signed a long typewriter mi
nority report, but 1t had no chance TO get
out of Moriarity's pocket. Mr.. Wynne saw
not press the other majority members for
signatures. The Republican members as
sumo from last nights result that the
boulevard ordinance is practically dead.
RESURFACING ORDINANCES.
The third surprise was the sudden and
peaceful death of the resurfacing ordi-
nances. They have been in the Council for
two months awaiting action. One author
lied the resurfacing Of East Washington
street from Alabama street to the Union
tracks and the other Virginia avenue from
Stevens street to Prospect street. The
Council promptly adopted the adverse re-
ports of the committee without a dissent
ing vote. Then Mr.. Berry moved that the
Virginia-avenue ordinance be stricken from
the files. There vas again no dissenting
vote. Mr.. Mortarity moved the striking of
the East Washington-street ordinance from
the files and again there was no dissent
1t is not likely that either Improvement
will be attempted again this year. The
mayor and the board had the promise from
the paving companies that they would do
the work at once, but many members could
not be convinced that, at this late season.
the work could be done. Besides, a major
ity of the Council is opposed to imposing
improvements against the wish of the prop
erty owners.
The Council passed several small meas
ures. They were: For a fagman at East
North street and the Big Four tracks; for a
switch for Pitzenberg & Orme, on War
man avenue; changing the names of Ruth
street to Holmes avenue and Peru avenue
to Davidson street.
Chairman Mcfarland, of the committee
on public health, made a report on the gas
meter ordinance asking for further time.
The report said the unsettled state of the
city's litigation was such that no action
by the Council would be useful and IL was
deemed advisable to wait until Judge Neal
renders his decision of that litigation.
Further time was granted.
Ordinances transferring $500 TO the Bright
wood water works fund and $3.50 to the
bridge gang fund from the sprinkling funds,
and $3.50 from Health Board accounts to
other accounts were presented by the
finance department.
AUTOMOBILE ORDINANCE.
The Board of Public Safety requested the
Council to pass an ordinance providing =
maximum speed for automobiles and re-
quiring them to be licensed and bear the
number in large letters, so that they may
be discerned when the vehicles are passing.
With the communication were excerpts
from the New York State law and the
city ordinance prohibiting a greater speed
than eight miles an hour.
Councilman Expert introduced an ordi-
nance for the annexation of the territory
in North indianapolis known as Armstrong
Park to the city. Ordinances authorizing
switches in Kentucky avenue to the power
house of the Indianapolis Light and Power
Company and in Michigan street to the
National Malleable Castings Company, and
changing the name of Walter street TO
hanson avenue were introduced.
The Council adjourned after passing the
ordinance approving the contract with
Crown Hill Cemetery by which 1t pays about
$40 of the cost of the Northwestern-ave-
nue. sewer.