The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-21
COUNCIL POSTPONES
ACTION ON EXCESS
HYDRANT CHARGES
Mayors Vote Sends Bond Re
port to Water and Gas
Committee.
VOTE WAS TWICE A TIE
Waidele Resolution Asks De-
ductiOn of Overcharge
From Bill.


Twice the council tied, and the vote
of the mayor was necessary. before
action was deferred last night on the
resolution introduced by Councilman
Waidele. providing for the deduction
of excess charges made by the Water
Works company during the last tven-
~ years from the bill presented for
hydrant rentals during the last six
months. Upon the vote of the mayor
the resolution was referred to the
committee on water and gas.
/ Council also elected four election
! inspectors TO fill the vacancies made
| in four wards where the appointees
were unable TO serve. Upon complaint
| by Councilman King. the police de-
partment was instructed to order all
grocers displaying goods on the side
walks to confine their displays to the
three feet allowed by city ordinance.
Attorney Bonds statement of the laws
governing the sale OF milk in the city.
was referred to the ordinance COM
mittee to act with the city attorney
and City Health Officer Davis.
City Engineer Charles was ordered
to go oves the corporation limits of
the city. with the view of taking in
sections where possible He will pre-
pare a plat showing the proposed an
nexations, to be presented to council
soon.
| Bonds Report.
| The resolution presented by Coun-
Gilman Waidele followed the action
of the board of works in referring the
amended report of City Attorney Bond
dealing with the excessive charges for
hydrant rentals to the council for con-
sideration. II provided for the deduc-
ton of the total excess charges during
the last twenty years. amounting to
81, AGO, and the excess on the bill just
submitted, amounting to s9s from the
bill.
i After making these deductions, the
resolution provided for the drawing OF
a warrant by the controller in pay
ment for the bill. which would then
be s6,37121 On the grounds that
hasty consideration was not advisable.
William II. Bartel, Jr.. moved the res
olution to the committee on water and
gas.
City Attorney Bond then explained
that the Water Works company dur
ing the twenty years covered by his
report. had been charging for each
500 feet of main extension. in cases
where hydrants had not been set He
said If the deduction were made. the
Water company would go to the courts
TO recover the money, and he wished
J the action of council on the matter.
J since the company's attorney would
fargue that the payment of the bills
J during this period meant the accept
lance by the council of the company's
Interpretation of the ordinance.
Council, he said. made the contract.
and was the only body that could act
on it.
Refuses Payment.
/ The company he said, had asked
the city to pay the present bill and
then bring suit against the company
to recover the alleged overcharges. to
which Attorney Bond absolutely re-
fused.
J. T Burdsall moved to accept the
resolution by amending Bartel's mo-
ton. With the mayors vote. Council
men Bartel, Engelbert. Jones. Thatch-
er, Won Pein and Williams killed the
amendment. The vote on the original
motion was also a tie. and the vote
of the mayor sent the measure to the
committee on water and gas.
When Burdsan introduced a resolu-
ton for the naming OF election In
J spectors to fill vacancies. Bartel asked
who named the inspectors. Burdsall
replied the Progressive city commit
Itee. Bartel came back asking why,
and was told that the party recording
the largest number of votes at the
previous election had the power.
Appointments Made.
The following were named: Homer
G. Draper, First ward. Seventh pre-
cinct; Clarence ". Gem. Fourth ward
Nineteenth precinct: Richard Moore.
Sixth ward, Twenty-ninth precinct:
John E.Healy, Seventh ward, Thirty
third precinct
Councilman Engelbert's complaint
regarding the condition Of the mac
adam at the intersection North Ninth
and E streets was referred TO the
board OF works. Evans called atten-
ton 10 the failure of contractors to
replace brick removed from the street
in front OF Miller Bros on Fort Wayne
avenue.
Grocers have been occupying half
and two-thirds of the sidewalks with
baskets and stands of fruits. said
Councilman King. objecting 70 the
blockading of the walks The police
department was instructed to enforce
the existing ordinance. and IL that
proves a failure in stopping the prac-
tice The sentiment of council was
for an ordinance TO prohibit such dis
plays
Won Pein 10 Talk.
| Thanking the council for leave OF
absence, Matt Won Pein said he had
had his eyes open while abroad and
had gathered many ideas which he be-
lieyed might be OF value when adapt
ed TO the conditions in this city. He
asked permission TO embody his OBJ
servations in a short talk at council
meeting soon, which was granted
Councilman Waidele brought up the
question Of annexing ground north OF
the National road and west OF Eighth
street, which, though not acted on
favorably, led to the instruction OF the
engineer to make a survey OF the cor
Continued on Page Eight