The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-01
Minority Members of Elections Com
mittee Sign Favorable Report and
Assist in Passing Ordinance.
M0RIARITY VOTED AGAINST IT
LEADER OF THE MINORITY WAS DE-
SERTED BY HIS COLLEAGUES.
City Clerk Elliott Earned His Salary
in Reading the vOluminous Docu-
ment-"Cantown"I IL In.

The Democratic members of the Council
put the seal of their approval on the pre-
cinct redistricting ordinance last night and
1t went through without hitch. Only one
of the minority. Moriarity, who refused to
be reconstructed, voted against the passage
of the measure. Moriarity was not feeling
very well last night; the govt had him in
its clutches, but he hobbled down to the
Council chamber to raise his voice against
the ordinance.
The Council committee on elections made
a unanimous report favorfng the passage
of the ordinance. The Democratic men,
bers of the committee signed the report and
thereby put themselves in the position of
recognizing the fairness of the measure.
No cries of "gerrymander'' or outrageous
action" can now be raised in the coming
campaign. The unanimous committee
port effectually disposes of that. AS passed
the ordinance is admittedly satisfactory to
Republicans and Democrats alike. Chair
man Reach was present and made no OBJ
lection through minority members.
City Clerk Elliott put a whole days work
in the time of an hour. The redistrcting
ordinance is a voluminous document of
something less than 200 pages, and accord
ing to the rules 1t had to be read in full on
second reading. After Councilman Sour
bier moved that the ordinance be passed to
that stage Mr.. Elliott took off his coat, sent
for pitcher of water, lighted a cigar and
got down to business. The result was not
inspiring. Elliott droned away, skipping
two or three pages now and then, but no.
body paid any attention to him anyway so
it did not make much difference. President
Billingsley had an attack of ennuf and re-
signed the chair to Lew Cooper, who made
vain endeavors to pass the gavel up to
somebody else, but turned down all
along the line. A mere councilman can slip
out in the halls or talk to friends; the pres
ident of the Council has to stick in his
place, so the job is not much sought after.
When put to a vote after third reading
the measure passed nineteen to one Mr..
Spray. Republican, was the only member
absent. Moriarity, the one, voted mo" in
voice that ratified the chandeliers. After
the meeting he said: Il don't care what
the rest did, am a Democrat and 1 could
not stand for It."
Before passing the redistricting ordinance
Council put the "Cantown'' ordinance
through. The measure places within the
city limits district, the boundaries of
which follows: Beginning in the
center of Twenty-fifth street, at the point
where keystone avenue intersects the GEN.
ter of Twenty-fifth street, the line runs
north to Thirtieth street, east with the GEN.
ter of Thirtieth to line running due north
from and with center line of Dearborn
street TO center of 1wenty-fifth street, and
thence west with the center of Twenty
fifth street to the place of beginning. The
ordinance was passed with the opposition
Of three Democratic members.