The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-22
VCIC: FAC AND 10 HOOD0O
ALARM THE CITY SOLONS
Ordinance Imposing a Lineal Tax
Upon All Gas Mains Is Also
introduced.
MAYOR VETOES MEASURE
First Action Is Taken at Monday S
Lengthy Session of
Council.

Last nights meeting of the Council. de-
cidedly different from routine sessions, was
the longest meeting that the body now
cOsttuted has held. 1t was prolific in dis
cussion and speech-making. two important
measures-the new lighting contract and
the 'huckster" ordinance-being passed.
The first ordinance which Mayor Holtz-
man has failed to approve was returned TO
the Council, and two rather startling meas
ures were introduced.
The ordinance which proposes TO tax
breweres and brewery agencies operating
in the city $1,000 a year was ready for report
by the finance committee but met with an
obstacle.
Mayor Hoffman returned to the Council
without mis- approval the ordinance chang
ing market hours, with the explanation
that the ordinance operated against the
South Side market, and would close mar
ket Saturday afternoons and evenings. A
substitute ordinance was introduced by
Councilman Cottey. intended to correct
these mistakes and apply only to the East
market, leaving the South Side market .un-
touched.
An ordinance introduced at request of
Controller Dunn appropriates $4,000 for
building the Northwestern-avenue bridge
across Fall creek. This is necessary, as
the money already provided for the purpose
by the sale of bonds has gone into the
general fund, without the necessary special
appropriation by the Council.
TO TAX GAS MAINS.
a startling proposition is embodied in an
ordinance introduced by Councilman Fish
back, Democratic member at large, who
proposes to impose a tax of three cents
llneal foot on natural gas mains to be
paid annually before March 81. There is
small likelihood of the passage of this or
dinance as to make it operative this
year-the last opportunity-it would be
necessary to call a special meeting of the
Council before the end of the month, and
10 pass it at that meeting
The true significance of this ordinance is
seen when ii is considered that the Consum-
ers' Gas Trust Company is the only COM
pany now furnishing natural gas in Indian
apOlis, and that the natural gas in that
companys mains will be shut off April l.
Those backing the ordinance fear that the
case now pending In the Federal Court De
fore Judge Anderson will be decided against
the trust company, thereby practically
turning IL over into the hands or the Eu-
reka Investment Company. In that event,
it is argued. the Fishback ordinance. passed
and enforced, would compel the Eureka In
vestment Company TO pay into the city
treasury the sum of about $4,000, as that
would be the amount of the tax, based
on the lineal feet of mains in use by the
Consumers Gas Trust Company.
The crowding of street cars would be
made unlawful and punishable by a fine of
$25 according to an ordinance introduced
by Councilman Cottey. The ordinance
makes ii unlawful to overload any street
cars or to permit any car or cars TO be
overloaded beyond a comfortable seating
capacity, TO permit more persons TO enter
cars than can be provided with comfortable
seats, or TO collect fares from passengers
not provided with comfortable seats.
LIGHT CONTRACT RATIFIED.
An important work was to ratify the new
lighting contract between the city and the
Indianapolis Light and Power Company,
extending over the period of ten years, be-
ginning with April 1, 1905.
| This ordinance was reported favorably by
| the committee contracts and franchises,
| TO which it was referred, and was passed
| without amendment and without dissent
| ing vote. The usual motion to reconsider
was made by Councilman Grail and was
| tabled, making a subsequent change impos-
| sible. This is the last step in the making
| of the contract, which is now closed.
| The reading of the vOluminous document
| was undertaken by Clerk Fogarty with the
| best of intentions, but proved to be such a
| task that he was forced TO abbreviate ii In
| the convenient manner known to clerks OF
| legislative bodies.
| Had the clerk read the ordinance in its
entirety it would have consumed at leas;
| two hours.
! The half hour in which he read it was
| devoted by Councilmen TO chatting with
| each other, to smoking, to begging the
| clerk TO "cut il short" and to everything
but listening. Councilman Casper came tC
| Mr.. Fogarty's rescue for few minutes
| and read about twenty pages of typewriter
| manuscript in about three minutes.
Two or three dozen grocers occupied seats
he. coil obs no
| ster' ordinance, which they have beer
| pushing, overcome a thirteen hoodoo anc
| run the gauntlet of the Democratic mem
berS Every Democratic member condemns
| the ordinance. and one Republican, Coun
| Gilman Rhodes, proposed a radical amend
| ment that was voted down by his OWL
/ colleagues.
| HOODOO is EVIDENT.
Thirteen played an important part in thu
brief but eventful career of the ordinance
before it went upon the city's statute
books. 1t is general ordinance No. IL. Al
amendment proposed by Councilman Rhodes
was voted down by thirteen votes. and al
| amendment proposed by Councilman Davis
chairman of the committee by which it wa
favorably reported, was carried by thirteel
| votes A minority report was voted down
Several dozen grOcers heard themselves de
| nounced in round terms by Councilman Mo
| Rarity. chief spokesman for the Democratic
| side OF the mousse, VINO declared Jndl tn
4 passage of the ordinance meant the fOrma
| ton of a ''grocers trust in the city of In
| dianapois.
| GROCERS ARE SCORED.
Not content with driving the huckster
out of business" said Mr.. Moriarity, 9TH
grocers do not confine themselves TO thei
own business, but must invade the field o
other trades. They even deal in my wares
Mr.. Moriarity is a saloon keeper, witt
the passage of this ordinance the grocer
tent with doing, rob us of half our money
but they will take every cent we have"
| Councilman Rhodes's amendment pro
| posed TO lower the license fee for huckster
on two-horse wagons from $40 for year o
$50 for six months. as proposed in the ordi
| nance as originally introduced. to $50 pc
year or any part thereof, and TO make
unnecessary for hucksters TO pay a licens
fee for helpers. This lost by a vot
| of Is to :.
Mr.. Davis's amendment. which was car
ried and incorporated in the ordinance. re
| duced the license fee for two-horse wagon
10 so per pear or $50 for six months, an
! provided that the ordinance shall not AZ
ply To children under fifteen years of age
! who sell fruit matches and stationery, no
10 vendors of newspapers. AS thus amende
| the ordinance passed. 1t raises fees charge
peddlers and hucksters.
| other ordinances passed were one trans
! ferring $3.50 from special fund for fir
the general fund: appropriating s.. 1926 fC
hremens back pay granting Ira ID. Bugb
the right 10 law a switch across Lew
street. granting the Indiana Lumber an