South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-24
MAYOR AND
BOARD Of WORKS
Members of Park Board AnqEy
at City Executives-Charge
Authority USurped.

board Of works, even al Acting
Mayor John A. Swygart. and $50
property by the city park
commission at the joint meeting OF
the board OF works and the park
board In the council chambers
Wednesday night.
The meeting was called 20 iron
out the differences between the two
bodies IN the paving OF Calvert Sc.
through S-tudeDaker park. The board
OF works. at the request Of every
property owner on Calvert st.
as iced 20 put the pavement in, put
the park board Wednesday night
warned the board Of works that it
was trespassing on property that did
not belong to IT,
Wednesday nisHt's meeting was
scheduled 10 start al 100. Five
minute before that time the o "a
OF works Was i'm the council cham
Der, also $50 property owners frons
Calvert 81. The park board was
closeted In its office adjoining the
council chamber. AT 1880 John r
DeHsven, Of tine board OF works. at
the request Of Acting Mayor Swy
CART. stepped into the park board
Office and asked that body 20 come
III TO the meeting. He was Informed
that the park commissioners were
waiting for Mr.. E%idenour. and would
come IN as soon as he arrived.
Reports To Svygart.
Mr.. DeHaNen returned to the
council chambers and reported 10
SIR. Swygart. They waited 10 min
utes more. Mr.. SWysart, becoming
impatient. visited the park board
personally and told the members to
come ,intO the council room, that
the work. board mad waited long
enough.
Chairs had been arranged for the
members of the park board in the
front OF the railing. but as each
member appeared he carried with
him his own chair, which was duly
deposited outside the rail in the rear
of the room. Richard Elbel, presi-
dent of the park board, walked TO
the front of the o and said that
his time was limited, but hat he
would read a letter which had been
prepared but not mailed. After
reading il ne left a copy with the
board OF works.
There IS no reason why residents
of Calvert 81. should be called TO
this meeting" read MIR. Elbel. and
we have no desire 10 get into a per
sonal wraUgle with them.
Want Greatest Good.
I'VE look upon this subject from
~the angle OF the greatest good Of
the city rather than the residents of
one particular street. Some Of the
property owners on Calvert st. OBJ
Jected 10 this improvement at a re-
cent meeting with the park board.
In order TO have fair play. the
park board will be perfectly willing
20 attend a special meeting, sep
arate from the one or wednesday,
April %. of all the people all over
the city VINO have a right to voice
their objections = . for the larger
good OF all rather than the residents
of that street. BY others we refer
10 the Chamber OF Commerce, the
Rotary club, the kiwaRis and the
Moments club. These people are all
deeply interested because, with the
closing of the saloons. IL becomes
imperative 10 develop all parks and
Fairgrounds.
In this case the people ave bee
largely influenced by a few agi-
tators who favor il. Residents liy-
ing near parks should realize that
parks belong TO the city and were
purchased ny the city as a whole.
viii Cost $1,000.
The pavement Will cost $4,000
through the park property alone. If
the park board had $4,000 they
would quickly achieve some results
worth while. II VIII also cost $40
600 which the county commissioners
viii have TO spend to build a bridge
over the creek bed, and which they
would rather use to build up good
roads in the county.
The park beard has the neces-
sary full authority I'm this matter.
ana I refer 10 Chapter PSI. Acts OF
19i1. section l.. AIR. Elbel then
read the law.
"The park board indicates its
unanimous stand against this So
called Improvement, and 10 feels
that the board of works is tres
passing on property not under its
contrOl II disapproves of opening
or laying of pavement and will not
permit H."
The letter a sigued by Richard
EIbeI irwin ". jackson and Carl T..
Triton.
Hurrics Right cut.
Immediately after he had finished
the letter. AIr EIbel excused him
self. and retired. The other menu
hers Of the board also picked up
their chairs N Joined Mr.. Elbel in
the office Of the park board.
Someone tn the gallery yelled.
Wait a minute. mr.. Elbel. we want
10 talk te you
Acting Mayor S~wygarL who acted