The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-08-29
81 HAUL TO
FIGHT GRAFT RING
Continued from Page one,

other expenses attached thereto"
No Enthusiasm Aroused.
The reading of this resolution even
failed to arouse any enthusiasm and a
call for funds with which to prosecute
the campaign against graft resulted in
the collection of four dollars bill
of 500 is still outstanding as fees Of
Attorney d. j. Moran of Hammond. i'm
the prosecution of an Injunction suit
against the city. This suit was tried
before Judge Reiter recently and the
Jurist failed TO grant a permanent in
Junction restraining the city council
from purchasing the expensive city hall
furniture. 1t will be a rather diff
cult matter for the association to en-
ploy an attorney on a basis of 81 for
impeachment proceedings, and another
meeting of the association will be held
next week. At this time plans for a
further exploiting of the subscription
list will be devised
Tax Problem Discussed
The East Chicago tax problem was
discussed. we have been overtaxed
$4,000 during the past year and all
this money has been taken from the
working men and the East Chicago
company and given to this council Of
grafters,' said one member. TT would
not be SO bad if the local council
would do its work. he continued, but
they are only sober part Of the time
during the proceedings"
Charles PitzeIe AppIauded.
Charles Pitzele was the recipient of
vigorous applause and laughter by his
argument that a man that steals and
is NOT CaHQhf 10
not be called thief But when YOU
find man who does steal, and who
is caught in the act of grating. then
ne Is thief and should be punished"
said Mr. Pitzele. People want to
know why the Westrumite company
does not send a man to our meeting
to explain matters. They are afraid
to come because they think they will
be arrested and made to pay back that
six cents per gallon"
The $4,000 subf1re station to be built
at Indiana Harbor was criticised by
members of the audience. Charles e.
Fowler, the Indiana Harbor real estate
man, declared that a fire station was
one of the crying needs of East Chi
cago and that he believed the city
needed it badly, more so in fact than
the Harbor. IF the council would only
spend part of their money wisely in
this line and not in purchasing expen-
sive furniture and fake oils, they would
have as fine a system of fire depart
ments as any city Of like size in the
country" Mr.. Fowler refused to an
swer the question of whether he
would advocate the sending Of the
present council to Chicago to purchase
a fire engine"
Depart in Hurry.
The departure of the widely adver-
tised clans of purity was attended by
no demonstration. Quietly and with
out even shaking hands with the lead
ers Of the project, they left the hall
and went to their homes, where, in a
few minutes, kind sleep doubtless wiped
away the memories of this evening of
events in East Chicagos history
Growth Stunted in Childhood
East Chicagoans IN general believe
that the Improvement association has
proven a failure and that its career
has been blighted in an early childhood
by non supporting list of voters. 1t
is safe to say. however, that the agi-
tation will not be so virile as before, |
and If any action at all is taken it
will be prosecuted quietly and without |
display of any nature.
Councilman Lewis Interviewed
Alderman Lewis was found at his |
home by TIMES reporter last evening, |
prior to his leaving for a special meet |
ing Of the common council, and con-
sented to brief interview While |
indignant that the charges had been |
brought against him so publicly by |
members of the alleged anti-graft cru
saders, he declared that there was alb !
solutely no foundation for the rash |
statements made by member Charles
Petzele of the Citizens Improvement |
association.
Says He Is Misunderstood.
II have assisted in the making of
over $4,000 600 worth of improve
ments in East Chicago streets and
buildings" he declared, and have
never been brought into the lime
light on any such allegations as
that of Pitzele and his cohorts.
Banks on His Friends.
Il do not care to discusse the
matter at ALL" reiterated the alder
man. My friends say that Mr..
L AAH0tC > COiAleliiPlIDle dCIlOn is not
worth the consideration I would
like to give it. and I have enough
friends in East Chicago to over
power any friends of Mr.. Pitzele's
meagre influence.
Calls Pftzele a Liar
The dealing of the common
council with the Westrumite com
pany were made through the origi-
nator of Westrumite, Colonel Won
Westrum, himself. Mr. Won West
rum quoted the council a price of
2S cents per gallon on the mixture
and we accepted If Mr. Pitzele
persists in declaring 1 offered to
pay 500 to any man who could be
quoted a cheaper price, he is
dirty liar" said the first ward al
derman, and his voice thrilled with
the invective.
What He Says He Did say.
What l did say was that
would give 500 to any man who
would prove that any member of
the East Chicago council had ac-