The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1913-10-20
MEETING
CREATES A
BIG STIR
That Deep Sewer Problem
Is Discussed at Meeting Of
Anti-Deep Sewer Associa-
tion Saturday Night; So
cialists Make Charges.

Politics having divided the Anti
Deev Sewer Association into several
parts a meeting called by one fac
ton on Saturday night was so we'll at
tended by others that a mild rumpus
followed.
Fearing that their thunder was be-
ing stolen members of the Socialist
party and especially candidates on that
ticket, voiced a protest. They openly
accused those present of being there
for political purposes while they alone
were the only ones that introduced
politics into the meeting.
More PrOss. than Republicans.
Peter Crumpacker, republican can
didate for mayor. was present. He. as
well as nearly everyone else, had re-
ceived a printed invitation requesting
"Au legal honest tax payers of the
city" to attend 'an Indignation meet
ing at Longs Hall to take steps to
protect ourselves The meeting did
exactly what was intended of it and
passed a resolution condemning the
action of the city council in expend-
ing $1,000 to revise the plans for the
proposed deep sewer system.
Antis and Socialists Oniciate.
The resolution committee was made
up of Paul Wright, Louis Heckleman
and Alfred Simons, all members of
the Anti-Deep Sewer Association. The
meeting was conducted by Antis. The
attorny for that association, John H.
Gillett, was the star speaker. Forest
Nicholas, candidate for alderman in
the fifth ward on the socialist ticket,
declared the meeting illegal and
charged that it was called for politf-
cal purposes by party other than
his Az socialists, ana the socialist
candidate for mayor. in particular, act
ed in official capacity his remarks ap-
peared inconsistent. More progress
sfves were present than republicans
and more socialists were present than
democrats.
Attorney Charges Graft.
Nearly every speaker openly pro-
nounced the proposed deep sewer sys-
tenn to be illegitimate. John H. Gill
lett said. The specifications are so
loosely drawn that thert is a possible
profit Of 100000 for someone If they
have the right kind of inspectors"
Not Carefully Prepared.
He explained that the plans are hap
hazard and that as no typographical
survey has been made engineers do
not know the amount of water they
have to care for.
They are undertaking to do some
thing under the guise of deep sewer
that they haven't a right to- he said
in beginning The power equipment
specified is of sufficient size to fur
nish Hammond with one thousand six
hundred arc lights, all in one unit"
He pointed out the utter waste of
keeping power in that engine all the
time when only a fraction of the pow
er could be used to pump water except
in case of food.
A Startling Charge.
'If you purchase your current" said
Gillett. Ten thousand dollars worth
of equipment instead of two hundred
thousand will handle the sewage" He
stated that money to pay for a light
plant should be paid out of the general
revenues.
A Curtiss. an Anti, spoke. He charged
that the plans and specifications are
so fixed that only one contractor in
the stae can get that job
"One of the biggest stock holders in
that contracting company is president
of the board of public works" he
added.
Cites Instance.
Attorney L. I. Bomberger who wa:
! in the audience was invited to speal
bv Chairman Shinn, and like othel
/ sneakers who followed him he told nj:
/ hearers that he had come to leari
! rather than to discuss the problemA1
/ appeared however from Mr.. Bomber
gers talk that he had given the sub
iect some attention as he pointed ou
specific insances in which plans ant
/ specifications are loosely drawn. HI
referred in particular to specification:
relative the pumps and the pumping
| station equipment. as for instance
coal car, which the contractor is Il
supply The specifications stipulat'
nothing he said with regard to tn
dimensions of the car or its strength
/ Under the letter of the contract ca
! the size of a wheel barrow could b.
provided by the contractors.
| He cited his own experience in sign
! ing a petition for the deep sewer an,
said that there are probably man,
more like he who would be glad t.
have their names off the petition, nov
| that they have learned how defectiv
the entire deep sewer plan 10.
He pointed out as unfair the assess
ment system under which it is propose,
| to build the system, for according t
| it the small home owner is assesses
like the business house or industry
merely according to frontage. Unde
the proposed system he pointed out. tn,
| Pennsylvania railroad running throug
| Robertsdale whose right of way /
all assessments.