South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-23
TRY
To SEAL LIPS On
DO|NGS IN HOLE
Meet in Public Session Tonight
to Hear Reports on Part of
DoingS as Committee, Tues
day Night.

With the exception Of a thing or
two-One of them confirmation vote
re-eXcluding the press from the ses-
SiOns. and the other an attempt 70 seal
the lips of all members as to the pro-
cesSes of deliberation-the common
council will Monday night, receive in
public meeting a report OF its own op-
eratiOns as a committee in the "hole"
last Tuesday evening. 1t viii De inter
esting TO the councilmen TO have City
Clerk Rostiser tell them what they
did-under their rules,
They voted TO make an appropria-
ton of $50 a month for the mainte-
mended by the board Of safety, and
petitioned for by numerous civic clubs.
They voted to empower the city at
tOrney TO place the local electric light
and gas situations before the state
utility commission, petition an ap-
praisement Of the properties of the In
dana & Michigan Electric and North
ern Indiana Gas companies, and ask
for a reduction Of rates.
They voted to refer the remon-
STRANGE filed by 80 residents of Lafay-
cite av., north of Colfax av.. against
the asphalt paving of Lafayette av..
for boulevard purposes, 10 the board
of park commissioners
They also voted to defer action on
increase Of salaries for firemen until
the next meeting. and ditto. an ordi-
nance providing for the appointment
Of a city forester. Likewise, with the
petition for an extension Of the street
car lines Oh w. Sample St, from S.
Michigan to Chaplin st. Gen. Manager
Emmons was present, asked for a copy
of the petition, and secured the delay.
The above are the things that the
clerk will remind the cOuncilmen Of.
Seebirt, will probably be presented ap-
prOpriating the funds for the employ
ment Of a policewOman. Here, how
ever, are a couple of things he will
probably not report upon:
Close Doors to Press Again.
Upon motion of Councilman Ha-
gerty. that a rule made early in the
present council be recOnsidered. with
regard to admitting representatives of
the press to the committee delibera-
TONS Pres. Herman Lang asked for
a secret ballot, which taken, stood
seven to three in favor Of the press
being excluded.
An effort was then made by Pres.
Lang to seal the lips of all the coun-
cilmen, as to the taking of the vote.
and the result, and further to make il
rule that no member should inform
the press or the public at any time, as
to how anyone stood in committee on
any subject.
1T decline to he gagged in any
such way" said Councilman Hagerty
you can't seal my lips when an in
/ terested citizen wants TO know what
/ is being done in this committee, and
who it is that is doing it,
| Councilman Miller and Councilman
GOebel assumed a similar though less
| aggressive attitude than that of Coun-
Gilman Hagerty. These are believed
/ to be the three who voted against ex-
Guiding the press.
In the face Of this defiance, Pres
Lang did not press his proposition tc
| add sealed lips to the secret session, TO
q vote, and the matter was dropped
One reporter slipped in and listened
/ while the public meeting was on
| that is, the meeting that admitted OF
the presence Of the utility magnates
the Lafayette st demonstrators, ETC.
! disregarding the bars that had beer
put up against him, on what is said
! 70 have been a special permit He
| had left, however before the question
/ of permanent exclusion was revived
| Pres. Lang recently expressed a
| willingness to throw down the bars
10 the press when there is something
! on, scarcely worth listening to, and
/ of very minor Importance, but appears
/ as determined as ever IN favor of Sc.
cTecy when there is a possibility OF
anything happening that is worth
/ while.