South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-29
LIGHT QUESTION
CAUSES DEBATE;
BUDGET PASSED
Council Hears Park and Works
Board Members Discuss the
Matter But Decides It's Too
Late TO Amend Ordinance.


To say the least. the special session
last night or the committee Of the
whole. convened 10 report on the APP
propriation 1ad tax levy ordinances
vas warm At times the temperature
rise to a boiling point and a formal
declaration OF war by somebody or
other would not have been a surprise.
However. "watchful waiting" and
diplomacy prevailed the war cloud
passed and the committee OF the whole
passed favorably both on the budget
of appropriations and tax levy Ordi-
nance, the same then being shot over
10 a special councH session where
they we're passed as laws
The war spirit was injected by the
appearance of the board OF works and
the park board The park board was
present TO again champion its plea for
$1,000 from the $4,000 fund apprO-
priated to the board of works for the
city lighting. The board OF works
was present to defend It's side Of the
question and quash all the arguments
suggested by the park board for the
need of $1,000 After each side got
through. the councilmen decided that
it was too late 20 change the apprO-
priation in order 20 give IL time TO
again pass through the regular chan
nels in amended form and get it
passed as an ordinance before Sept. l,
the law requirement.
Tine park board. led by Pres. Green
and Mr. ElbeI, held that since parks
and bOulevards came under their jur-
isdictiOn the lighting OF the same
should also be included. They opined
- rerRfr 70 he
board Of works every time they need
ed new light in a park or needed
one changed.
Saving Light Bills.
Pres. Morris Of the board Of works
opened for his side He said the
board of works is endeavOring TO
economic in the placing of the city
lights and hat every light that they
could dispense with meant that much
more money to devote to other lines
OF city improvement as paving and
new sewers. BY improving the streets
ne believed that the money could be
used TO better advantage than util-
ling il for boulevard lights
He reported that an investigation of
street oiling showed that il would cost
the city about S2S block. Two
boulevard lights he said would pay
for one block of oiling. which ne be
lieved would be more beneficial TO the
city.
Mr.. Green. president Of the park
board. then arose and defended the
boulevard lights. He said the bOule-
ward lighting system is distinctive
from the other lighting and in view Of
the statute giving the park board jur-
isdictiOn over park and boulevard inn
provements IL should also have the
right 10 determine its lighting He
held that a good boulevard demanded
i've lights TO block that is If the
city wanted a real boulevard.
Mr. Morris then jumped up and said
three lights are enough on any out
lying district and included Riverside
drive. Mr.. Green answered that Riv
erside drive I'm view Of its proximity
TO the river needed good lighting and
that five lights are not too much.
Mr.. Morris then believed that if the
Riverside drive was the only matter
on which the two boards differed some
sort OF a cooperation could be
reached between the two boards
Doesn't Want Cooperation.
That started it, Mr.. Green said CO.
operation is all right but he didn't he
lieve IL would work. He then cited
several instances in the past when the
two boards tried 10 cooperate but
had failed dismally. He held that il
our board of four men is not capable
manner. IT certainly isn't fair 10 turn
the matter over to three on the board
of works
At this point Mr.. EIbeI Of the park
board opened his battery and wanted
to know how far the Jurisdiction of
the park board goes in view OF the
statute. tie wanted 10 know how the
park board could improve the parks
and boulevards IL il couldn't have the
say SO In the placing of the lights and
the number OF them. lie believed Mr.
Morris erred" when ne said three
lights are enough I'm the outlying dis
tricts and anyway lafayette St which
Is TO be bOulevardized and Riverside
drive arNa not outlying districts
Then followed a three cOrnered
word war between Morris. Green and
Ethel anent boulevard lights. etc,
which continued until Councilman
Lang arose and demanded 10 know
what right the tive boards had TO
come before the council and put IL in
the position OF a jury Il believe this
thing has gone far enough" he said
when the two boards come up here
and put the council in the position Of
Jury TO settle their controversy. For
that's all IL Is. and ] think il an un-
dignifed thing % make Us settle this
matter II this matter between them
isn't settled ] don't see how we can
vote on this proposition. In my esti-
nation the ordinance Is not ripe yet
for passage"
Vague as To Lights.
City Atty. Seebirt then was called
upon for a decision on the jurisdiction
OF the park board. He held that the
statute gives the park board she juTis-
diction Of improving bOuievards and
parks. but rs rather vague considering
the lighting part
Councilman Lang again arose and
said that regardless of the jurisdiction
IN the matter or the number OF lights
a boulevard needs ne could not see
what right the council had to divide
the appropriation between the two
boards since the ordinance was al
ready drafted. unless an amendment
was MADE.
City Controller Manning and Mayor