The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-07
sHEA'S MINORITY REPORT.


the Board Of Works.
The minority report of Councilman Shea,
Democratic member of the committee, SUBJ
mitted to the Council last night follows:
Conference.-The undersigned. member of
the committee on investigation, having I'M
der consideration and investigation the con-
duct of Edwin d. Logsdon, member of the
Board of Public Works of said city, sub
mits the following minority report on said
proceedings, that is to say:
Mr.. Logsdon and the Board of Public
Works have been guilty Of violation of the
charter in neglecting and refusing to adopt
rules for the conduct Of the business of said
department.
Said board dncluding Logsdon) has held
secret meetings at which, although impor-
were kept, and from which the clerk of the
board was absent. In such cases the min
utes have been handed to the clerk after the
meeting. and therefore there is not &C,
curate and trustworthy record of said
boards meeting and proceedings.
Political friends of said Board of Public
Works who have been favored with con-
tracts awarded by said board have not been
subject to proper inspection in the perform
ance of said work.
The work of the Marion County Construc-
ton Company has been grossly bad, yet
it drew all the appropriation. Said COM
pany was paid 1855 for work which was
performed by sprinkling contractor. The
sprinkling contractor was also paid for the
refunded to the city.
Public charges were made to the effect
that Mr.. Logsdon had required the sweep
ing contractor to pay or 10 per cent. of the
contract into Republican campaign fund.
Evidence shows that Mr.. Remington (con-
TRACTOR told other contractors Ito whom he
proposed to turn over part of the contracD
that they would have to pay him this per
centum for Logsdon. Even Mr.. Remington
admits he made the statement. The only
difference in Kennngtons testimony and
contractors Remington claims
the money was for himself. Yet even in the
face of the public charges of corruption,
see Remington favored by said board and
awarded the sprinkling contract. Beyond
any question or doubt whatever, there was
rake-off for some fund
The evidence shows that by reason of con-
duct of said board other contractors were
cOnclusively convinced that favoritism ex-
listed, and that contracts would be awarded
only to said boards favorite by reason
thereof other contractors refused to bid for
work-the result shows that work was
awarded to Remington. In the original
bid Mr.. Newly, who underbid Remington,
was given to understand that he (Newby)
would make no money out of the contract
Newly never agreed to contribute to any
campaign fund. IL the contract had been
awarded to Newly for three years. instead
of Remington, the city would have saved
$500 per year, or for the whole term of
three years, 81, 500.
The resolution adopted by said Board of
Public Works praying an investigation. In
part. Is as follows:
Resolved, That a copy of this resolu-
ton be transmitted to the Hon. Charles A.
Bookwalter, mayor of the city of Indian
apolis with request that he Immediately
make or cause to be made thorough in
vestigation of any or all charges rejecting
upon this board or any member thereof, in
such public manner as he may deem best"
In the face OF this resolution and the
scope thereof the counsel employed by your
committee was summarily discharged be-
cause IL was claimed, he went beyond his
Inst trafi Instructions vhA~,
Was il the Same potent power that reject
ed competent evidence and made our in
yestigation farce and travesty ? The un-
lawful or corrupt relations existing be-
tween any member OF the board and gam
blers or other wrongdoers was germane
and highly important to the issue. Your
committee did not hesitate to go into the
policy and conduct of former administra-
lions in that particular. thus showing the
relevancy OF such matters. II IL was COM
petent TO go into the past. then why was IL
not competent to turn the wholesome rays
of Investigation upon the present-mcre es-
pecially since this investigation was sought