The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-01

BIG INDUSTRIES SAY THEY WOULD
HAVE TO MOVE AWAY.
Strong Pressure VIII BE Brought on
MOriarty to Withdraw His Meas
ure from Council.

than 100-gallon quantities is adopted by the
Council in it's present form the ordinance
will be of more damage to the city than
the worst fire we could have
This statement was made last night by
Representative Jesse Overstreet concerning
Mr.. Moriarity's Standard Oil ordinance at
the meeting called by the Council commit
tee on public safety and comfort to hear
the views of business and other interests
upon the ordinance. The meeting was held
in the Council chamber at the Police Sta
ton.
Some Of the largest manufacturing inter-
ests in the city were represented, as well
as retail interests, and all are opposed to
the passage of the ordinance. Attorney
Fred Z. Matson said the Lilly Varnish
Company would either have to quit business
to move its plant away from Indianapolis
If the ordinance is passed in its present
form. Few of the representatives of man.
ufacturing companies said their interests
would be affected so seriously as 1t was
stated the Lilly company would suffer. but
all said the ordinance would be of much
damage to the business of the city and
would keep manufacturing companies from
locating plants here.
On being questioned closely as to just
what interests the ordinance is aimed at,
Mr.. Moriarity, who stands sponsor for the
measure, said it is directed at the Stand
ard Oil Company and is not intended to af-
feet manufacturing or other interests.
At the close of the meeting Mr.. Moriarity
said an effort will be made to amend the
ordinance before it is reported back to
the Council. This meeting was called to
ascertain just what the business interests
of the city think of the ordinance, and now
we know what the measure will have to
empouy so that it will accomplish what
we want and still not damage business"
said Mr.. Moriarity.
THE SPEAKERS.
Those who spoke at the meeting were Mr..
Moriarity. Charles E. Wilson, special agent
of the Standard Oil Company; Representa-
tive Overstreet, for the Atlas engine works i;
]. W. Marmon, of the Nordyke & Marmon
Company; Attorney Matson, for the Lilly
Varnish Company; Thomas Kackley, for the
Atlas engine works; ]. l.. Ketcham and
William Brown, of the Brown-Ketcham
iron works; Charles Lilly. president OF the
Lilly Varnish Company; Emil Elmer, of the
Elmer Varnish Company; A. b. Jones, of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Har-
ry C. Atkins, of the Atkins saw works; f.
b. Smith, a retail oil dealer; William Kat
tau, contractor; l.. NJ. Wainwright, of
the Federal Manufacturing Company, and
j. z. Strause, of the Indianapolis Rubber
Company.
Chairman Wysong, of the Council commit
tee on public safety and comfort to which
the Standard Oil ordinance has been re-
ferred for investigation announced after the
meeting that the measure likely will not be
reported back TO the Council at the meet
ing Monday evening. Another public meet
ing may be held before the committee de-
cides what it will recommend to the Coun-
Gil to do with the ordinance.
Mr.. Moriarlty will take the ordinance to
one of the most prominent lawyers of the
city to-day to take steps to have the meas
ure amended. Attorney Matson stated, in
presenting the Lilly Varnish Company S
views. that the ordinance cannot be legally
amended. The meeting last night has really
put Mr.. Moriarity somewhat up in the
air. and the truth is, he hardly knows
now what to do with his ordinance. Aiming
only to drive the Standard Oil Company s
plant cut of the Eleventh ward, Mr. Mori-
arity has introduced ordinance which
has aroused the opposition of the largest
| manufacturing interests of the city. This
he did not intend to do, he says, and now, to
accomplish his purpose of having the Stand
| ard Oil Company's plant removed from the
Eleventh ward and still not injure gener-
ally manufacturing interests, he does not
know just what to do. 1t may be that the
present ordinance will be withdrawn entire
| ly and another one introduced.
ADVISED NEW ORDINANCE.
Representative Overstreet said that the
passage of this ordinance, which would re-
suit in Illuminating fuel and other explosive
oils being stored in only 10O-gallon quanti-
| ties within the city limits, would increase
| the danger from explosives. He advised the
| sponsors of the measure to draw up a new
ordinance. The increased number of wagons
| which would be required to deliver oil every
day If this measure were passed would be
| one way in which the danger from explo-
| sives would be increased, Mr.. Overstreet
! thought. Another way in which the Danger
| would be increased, he said. would be 70
lessen the care companies would take in
storing their oil if they could keep on hand
| only 100 gallons
not think Of said Mr.. Overstreet, address
| ing his remarks to Mr.. Moriarity, who occu-
| pied conspicuous place in the front of the
| hail. You can't do away wholly with the
| danger from explosions from oils But YOU
| can reduce the danger to minimum. One
| way to do this would be to require all tanks
| holding explosive oils to be in the ground
which is already done by good many man.
| ufacturers and other concerns. Let this
ordinance be laid upon the table and have
another one framed along the lines of care
and protection. That would reach the emo
| aimed at"
In an address of considerable length and
| detail Mr. Wilson said that the property in
the vicinity of the Standard Oil Company's
| establishment in the Eleventh ward is not
| endangered by the oils stored there. Property
| near the establishment is not in any more
| danger from this establishment than il
| would be from manufacturing plant or q
planning mill lumber yard. Mr.. Wilson
| said. He had not heard of fire insurance
rates having been increased on property in
the vicinity of his companys establishment
| The utmost precaution is taken in storms
| the explosive oils, so that the danger from
| explosion is reduced To the minimum, ht
said. Mr.. Wilson thought the people WHIT
want the Standard Oil plant removed from
| the Eleventh ward are mistaken in thinking
| that their property is endangered from the
plant, and he thought the danger from tn,
much overestimated. Chief Coots may
have been sincere in his belief about the
| danger from our fire TO that part of tn.
| city,. said Mr.. Wilson, but. like a gooC
many people who want TO drive us out o
| there. he doesn't understand the situation
Explosive oil il stored in the plant in tn,
Eleventh ward'' he said, but so much pre-
caution is taken to prevent explosions tina
the danger is reduced to the minimum"
SHOULD WITHDRAW
John l.. Ketcham said there is no grount
for the passage Of this ordinance and tina
Mr.. Moriarity should withdraw his meas
ure. The Brown Ketcham iron works keey
from 5000 to 5000 gallons of oil on hanc
all the time, he said and the ordinanc.
would work a hardship on his company.
Mr.. Moriarity explained that his measur,
Is directed only at the Standard Oil Com