The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-07
REPORT TO THE COUNCIL
THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS IS RAKED
FORE AND AFT.
Majority Report Does Not Mince
W0rds-Presentati0n in Full
Shea DisSentS.

In adopting the report of majority of its
committee on investigation and impeach-
ment, the Common Council fully and COM
pletely exonerated Edwin D. Logsdon, Of
the Board of Public Works, from charges
of malfeasance in office preferred on affi-
davits in the hands of the Citizens League
and published in the Indianapolis News,
and declared by that action that Mr.. Logs
don has performed his official duties up
rightly and for the best interests of the
citizens of indianapolis. The Board Of
Public Works, whole, is also vindi-
Gated.
The report of the Council committee on
investigation and impeachment was Pre-
sented to Council last night by Chairman
Thomas A. Wynne. 1t was prepared after
three hours labor by Mr. Wynne and Mr..
Expert, the Republican members of the
eommittee, who went to work on the prep
aration of their conclusions Immediately
after the investigation came to an end in
the office of Attorney William Bosson. at
$3.50 yesterday afternoon. with the testimony
of Harry B. Gates, a stockholder in the
Marion County Construction Company, and
Charles r. Williams. editor Of the Indianap-
oils News. Michael ]. Shea, Democratic
member of the committee, did not join with
the Republican members, but prepared a
minority report, holding that the charges
against Mr.. Logsdon have been substan-
tiated. and calling for the impeachment of
Mr. Logsdon.
HAS ACTED UPRIGHTLY.
The report of the majority of the COM
mittee, which, by the formal action Of
Council. clears Mr.. Logsdon's name, de-
clares in substance that although the COM
mittee has followed out to the best of its
ability the letter and spirit of the resolu-
tion of Council calling for the investigation
of the charges. and has called upon any
citizen to come before the committee to tell
what he knew yet the allegations that Mr.
Logsdon has acted corruptly have not been
sustained in the slightest degree 1t has
not been shown, the committee declares
that Mr.. Logsdon has acted otherwise than
honorably and conscientiously No wit
nesses have been found whose testimony
indicated that Mr.. Logsdon accepted money
from any person or any concern to further
individual interests. or for the Republican
campaign fund.
To those who have attempted to blacken
the character of the man under investiga-
ton the report devotes considerable space
1t declares unequivocaily that those who
made the charges that have been shown to
be false would not have hesitated to go to
any length to ruin the man against whom
their venom has been directed. The char
acter of the investigation, the principal
Witnesses the purport of their testimony
the length of time occupied. all are set forth
in detail.
The reasons for the discharge of James
W. Noel are outlined to Council. and the
attention of Council officially called TO the
fact that Mr. Noel entered into an alliance
with the enemies of Mr.. Logsdon without
the knowledge of the committee, and that
ne insisted on introducing a mass of street
scandal and hearsay evidence on the theory
that the committee was acting In the ca
pacity Of q grand jury. while. al q matter