South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-13
PRES. LANG STILL
BEGS SECRECY FOR
CITY LAW MAKERS

(CONTtNU ED FROM PAGE ONE.)
for the use thereof, 20 per cent of the
cost Of construction; passage OF an
ordinance transferring 500, 1000 from
the track elevation fund to the water
rent fund. and another enriching the
general fund S1,616.34 at the expense
OF the street repair fund; receipt OF
a petition from A. w. Huff and 50
others. asking that the name of Mich
igan av. be changed TO Lincoln way,
which went TO join the melting pot
petition: the filing of a recommends
ton from the Plasterers' union, 1O1,
that p. II. WOllman be appointed
building inspector We're other fea-
lures.
It was the first regular session of
the new body the three previous ones
held last week being special ones; the
first for organization, and the other
two upon call by the mayor to adjust
certain salaries. viz; that of the clerk
of the board of safety that was cut
from $1,000 10 81, 200 a year. and the
other that of the superintendent of
water works that was increased from
$1,000 to $4,000 year
AT the outset it was quite apparent
that there would be but little for the
council TO do Monday night. and
Pres. Lang's address was accordingly
delivered without showing anything
so very material off the boards.
Defends ''Secrecy" Plans.
That because the common council
has for a decade or more INDUCED in
the "star chamber" system of delib-
Grafton in committee Of the whole, it
should be continued as inviOlably
sound; that the press does not rep
resent the constituency of the present
council. but that its demand for open
sar.y L hi of .
reporters and editors; that il is un
fortunately true that the press is TO
some extent a moulder of public opin
ion; that this council hopes TO do as
we'll and some better than its pre-
decessor; that Judge Howard, in his
farewell address as president of the
old council made lasting impression
upon the speaker, and rendered some
splendid advise to the present body;
that the record of the old council was
good, and, that the present council,
as well as the mayor must live up to
their campaign promises, or they must
fail-theSe were the leading features
of the presidents address.
He also proposed the advancement
of the old track separation movement
by the council and suggested that one
of the two telephone companies in
South Bend is superfiuous and that
of saving expense to the public, if
possible. to get rid Of one of those
companies, or get them together.
Delay Proposed Compromise.
The president stated that he would
gladly have the reporters attend the
committee meetings, the other MEM
bers being willing, but when Council
man Hagerty raised the question
again, and offeres to compromise on
the basis that the press be invited in,
especially when any matter was up
involving a public utility. it was
speedily sidetracked to come up at the
committee of the mole" Tuesday
night of next week.
Councilman Hagerty had III mind
the desirability of having the press
represented at that meeting next
week, when the consideration of the
resolution to require payment from
traction companies for the use of
bridges in the future, is to come up,
but as il is that consideration will
now, no doubt, take place behind
closed doors. The resolution was in
PRODUCED by Councilman Hagey at the
instance of the county council repre-
scented at the meeting by Samuel
Leeper and Will A. Crabill, the n.
Michigan ST bridge being the one
they particularly had in mind.
Commissioners Want Ruling.
The county commissioners want
this resolution passed" said Mr.. Cra-
bill in a session talk. Assured
that the city Will not give the princi-
pal use of the bridge away TO some
street car company without their
standing a part of the expense, the
commissioners will go ahead and
make the appropriation for the Mich
igan st. bridge, and we can so have
it in course of construction"
This matter has been dallying
along for some years" said Mr.
Leeper. and we now have the COM
missioners where they are willing to
do something if we can but assure
them that it will not be spending
the county's money to bridge a right
of way for some utility" The resolu-
ton, il was argued. would furnish a
basis of negotiations with the traction
company should it want to use the
bridge. The commissioners are not
particular about the 20 per cent basis.
The council, however. was not pre-
pared TO act Monday night and the
resolution was referred to committee
of the whole 10 be considered at its
next meeting.
L was impressed with the presi-
dents talk this evening" said COun-
Gilman Hagerty. with regard TO
secrecy for committee meetings, but
do think we ought to admit the
press when a matter is up in any way
involving "a public service corpo-
ration"
Councilman Buechner. chairman of
the committee of the whole. however,
raised the question that the matter
should be settled in committee. and
he found no difficulty in securing a
favorable ruling from the president.
Other Business PerfunctOry.
The two ordinances passed were
mere matters of business, sort OF
borrowing by one fund from another
in the case Of the $4,000 transferred
from the track separation fund to the
water fund, and in the other case, a
desirability because the street repair
fund has ceased To exist since vehicle
licenses are not longer coliectible.
The petition TO change the name Of
Michigan av. TO Lincoln way, was
merged with the petition that came
from the melting pot section of the
Commercial Athletic club sometime
ago, suggesting change of name in
number of streets, and which the
council still has under consideration
A report from former Controller
Patrick a. Joyce, on the condition Of