The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
THE CITY or GREENCAsTLE Is NOW
IN sTYGIAN DARKNESS.
Mayor James Made a Contract with
New Lighting Company and Lights
Were Turned on.

Forp.er State Representative John H.
James. of Greencastle. was in the city yes
terday. and last evening In the lobby of the
English he met a number of men who were
associated with him in the House two years
Mr.. James was elected mayor or
1'Grerncastle last spring and has been lead
ing strenuous life ever since he assumed
the duties of his new office Sept. /.
Putnam county is one of the strongholds
of Democracy. but the city of Greencastie
has always been Republican. and Mr.. James
Is the first Democratic mayor that the city
has had in over thirty years, His cleo
tion was one of the many surprises that
occurred in the municipal elections last
May. At the time he was elected the
Democrats made gains in the City Council
until the Council stood three to three. With
a Democratic mayor this would give the
Democrats complete control of city affairs,
and the Republicans attempted TO head
this off In the interim between the election
and the 1st OF September. While the Re
publican mayor IVES still in office an ordi-
nance was passed creating a new ward in
the city, and two Republican councilmen
were appointed. The Democrats promptly
attacked this, however. and proceedings
were at once instituted by the prosecut-
ing attorney 10 GUST the new members and
declare the action of the Council in Great
ing the new ward Illegal The Democratic
councilmen also secured a temporary re-
straining order enjoining the new Repub-
lican members from participating in the
transactions of the Council until the other
suit could be decided. An appeal TO the
Supreme Court was taken on this, and the
briefs Will be filed Jan. Is, when the Demo
Uf QIg0 no
argued orally.
In inc meanwhile at the last term Of
court the prosecuting attorney won MS
suit, oustfng the new members. The Re
publicans are now preparing a transcript
10 carry this case 10 the Supreme Court.
At present Mayor James and the Demo-
things TO suit themselves, and at a recent
meeting they created a sensation by
rejecting the proposition of the Green
II applied for a new contract with
the city and making one with a
new &C. headed by John ohm Che B 8
company dates from the 1st of July next.
and the home company resented the reJec-
ton OF its application by shutting of the
and except for the few moonlight nights
that the calendar calls for will remain in
gloom until the middle of next summer.
The city and private consumers will
get their lights one-third cheaper from
the new company" said Mayor James in
telling OF the situation, land that is a
business proposition that Republicans as
well as Democrats indorse. In addition
TO this believe that the new company Will
put in hot water heating plant and will
also build electric street-railway sys-
tenn. Greencastle needs street cars, and
II the new company gives them TO us
do not think that there is a man in the
city who will resent our refusing the appli-
cation of the home company"
Mayor James also brought the news that
the prospects for new courthouse In
Greencastle are exceedingly encouraging
AS a member of the House two years ago
he got a bill passed that makes it pos
sible for Putnam county TO do away with
the unsightly building that has been do
Ing duty courthouse there since the
year one, or Whereabouts. The law pro-
vided that upon petition of five hundred
taxpayers election the question of
new courthouse must be held.
I'VE are circulating the petitions and
now have more than the required number
of signatures said Mayor James. 1--WE
shall have good big majority In the
election, too, and a new courthouse will bt
built before many months"