The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-07-28
THERE IS 4
REASON
FOR DELAY

There is, without doubt a reason
In delaying the street car franchise
grants in the Gary city council Is the
present apparent division of the alder
men in three groups backing three
separate franchises merely a ruse of
the dominating power in the council to
got time for its own purposes? Such
possibility may exist
The Board of Public Works.
Very shortly, IL the council wills it.
the city of Gary may have a board of
PUBIC works. In city of the fourth
class such as Gary will be after the
census returns are announced. the
board will consist of three members to
De appointed by the mayor Under the
terms of the state statutes the board
can consist of the. mayor. the city engi
neer and one outsider is called the
commissioner OF public works. The
latter may, also be street commissioner.
The board, II the council so DEGREES.
may also consist of three members
leaving out the mayor and engineer
In either case one of the members must
be of different political party than
the other two
Council VIII Lose Ont.
Now. should the franchise grants be
delayed long enough they will pass in
TO control of the board of public
works. Here is what a board of public
works has power to do:
1t can condemn property for public
purposes Where the valuation ex-
cceds $4,000 it must have the council
approve It by adopting an ordinance
10 that effect
1t has charge Of all public property
1t can order. design. execute and
contract for street, side walk, fire and
sewer Improvements
IL approved all subdivision plats.
1t can lay out. open or vacate streets
OF aileys' cause them to be kept in re-
pair and let contracts for their i'm
prevents.
1t mas the power to keep all
thoroughfares clean.
1t also has Jurisdiction over sewers
Board Controls F'ranehf-es
Inc board practically controls the
letting OF franchises and the council
plays but minor role. This is the
latest statute covering its powers in
this regard:
To authorize telegraph. telephone.
electric light, gas water, steam, street
railroads or interurban companies ~
use any street, alley, or public place in
such city. and erect necessary struc
lures therein; to prescribe the terms
and conditions of such use and to fix
by contract the prices to be charged to
patrons; PROVIDED. that such con
tract shall in all cases be submitted by
such board to the common council of
such city to be approved by ordinance
before same shall take effect"
While the council must apnrove
franchises the initiative in the matter
must rest with the board of public
works. No franchise can be passed
until the board gets ready to submit
1t and then the council merely "approv-
ed" it.
Takes Away other. Powers.
should the board of public works be
established the city engineer will no
longer be under the direction of the
city council That official viii take
orders from the board and his salary
may range from $1,000 to $500.
The city can also have a board of
three metropolitan police commission
ers to be appointed by the mayor. If
no such board is created there can be
a board of public safety with turisdic
tlon over the police and fire depart
ments- The legislature in 1909. at its
last session, also provided that where
there was no board of public safety in
a fourth class city the council could add
suih powers to the board of public |
works
Absolute Power for Knotts
MayorKnotts Will have the power of |
appointing the various members and he !
may also remove the members for
iause He will thus control the board
of public works whether he becomes a |
member or not. The board win take
the initiative in all franchises and i'm
provements and thus the mayors au-
thoritywin be quite board as he can |
then hold the ,Hpper hand OF the coun-