The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-06-05
Council Spends Evening in
Discussing How 1t Might do
Something Illegal.
iMAY0R;rT00, HAS DISEASE
CITY FATHERS ARE AFRAID TO
voTES MONEY FOR APPARENT
/. LY GOOD THINGS, ON ACCOUNT
| OF NEW LAWS.

| Last evening at the session of the
city council two hours and half were
consumed in the wasting of much
,"hot air" and the accomplishment of
little. A major portion of the time was
spent In arguing pro and con the ad-
visibility of appropriating $500 for
the Richmond Art Association, which
has been done annually for the past
three or four years. An ordinance to
this effect was presented, onto which
was tackled an appropriation of $25
for the expenses OF the delegates who
attend the Indiana Municipal League
meeting at Marion, and Ma-or Zim-
norman opposed 1t for the reason
that he had been informed by City
Attorney Gardner that the appropria-
tion would be illegal.
A motion was made to lay the ordi-
nance on the table and it was car
ried. II looked for a minute or so that
the ordinance was 20 meet prema-
ture death but Attorney John F. Rob-
bins, took up the cudgel In its behalf,
arguing that the exhibit was a public
benefit and should he supported by
the city council. AS the appropriation
for the expenses OF the local delega-
tion to the Indiana Municipal League
meeting was embodied into the same
ordinance he shrewdly sounded the
benefits to be derived from the attend
ance atsuch meeting.
Suggestion by LeftWick.
/ Councilman Leftwick stated that he
was In favor of the Art Association re-
ceiving the 800 but was of the opin-
ion that the only way the Association
way was to have the school board ap-
lpropriate the sum of 800 for educa-
tional purposes. This suggestion met
with the approval of Mayor thinner
man.
Superintendent It. A. Mott, of the
public schools then stated that in the
past the school board had paid for the
lighting expenses at the exhibit, also
the salary of the ianitor and other
men employed to assist in the work
required at the Garfield building dur
inc the exhibit and that the cost the
school board was put to at each eX-
hibit had always in the past amount
ed to nearly 5000. The statements of
Mr.. Mott and Mr.. Robbins won over
he councilmen and resolution was
carried to act on the ordinance. II
was carried by a unanimous vote
Mayor Zimmerman was not won over,
however, and after the council meet
ing he stated that he had ten days to
consider the ordinance and that he
would probably veto the measure.
Gardner Forgot Measure.
Owing to the fact that City Attor.
,ney Gardner forgot to bring to coun
Icil the ordinance he had prepared
appropriating $4,000 for the celebra
tion of the centennial anniversary OF
the city no action was taken by the
councilmen on this measure.
This was considered another al
legal" measure and if the statements
made by some councilmen on the sub
iect can be taken as a criterion the
measure would have been defeated
last evening. Prof Hodgin. superin
tendent Mott and Prof. Davis. al
made short addresses urging thai
council take favorable action in the
matter. pointing out that the centen
nial would be of the greatest value tc
the city from every standpoint, ant
that the city's stamp of approval t.
the centennial was essential to it.
success.
Grins on Several Faces.
On the faces of many who were
present at the council meeting las
might there were broad grins over the
f'conscientous" and economic actions
of the mayor and council They coulS
remember two weeks back whel
council passed, with the Mayors ap
proval. a resolution ordering tn,
drawing up of clearly illegal ordi
nance appropriating $4,000 for th
improvements at the Municipal Light
Ing and Power plant. To see this sam,
body of men balk at two appropria
&tions amounting to $500, whicl
would r'oet with the enthusiastic
support the people of Richmond
legal @. al. was the provokativ
of this l. :. An appropriation o
800 for 20 picture of the city Off
Icials in centennial pictorial book
was also passed by a vote of to .
The mayor also stated that he woul,
veto this appropriation.