Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-16

VINO nave DoSn QlSIurD0Q somewhat l
mite policy may be reassured to thai
L. Q.-Why is it necessary to continue
the use of mules under contract
Identical with one he denounced as a
graft before he went into office?
Ans.-"It is the city's plan to pur-
chase such mules and horses as are
necessary for the city's work. During
the period when we were motorizing the
street-cleaning and ash-hauling depart
ments it could not be definitely deter
mined how many mules could be done
away with by motor equipment, there
fore, we rented such mules as were
necessary. 1t is the plan Of the admin
istration to own It's own horses and
mules. This will be done in the near
future"
Charles W. Jewett became mayor of
Indianapolis, Jan. Z, 1918
Immediately he proposed and start
ed to carry out the motorlzation OF
the street-cleaning and ash-haul'ng
departments and their motorization
was among the first things done in
his administration.
Yet, more than two years and
seven months later Mr.. Jewett says
his administration finds it necessary
to continue a contract that he de-
nounced as a graft because ''it is
the plan of the administration TO
own its own horses and mules"
Regardless of which plan, there is
today not single ordinance 0enl-
ing or single appropriation re
quested for the purchase of a single
horse or single mule.
NOW THEN,
WATCH CLOSELY.
2 Q.-Whether or not the operation
of the garbage plant bought from j. +.
Goodrich ct al. for S1T5,0O0 after 1t had
been valued by one of its owners at less
than $4,000 is as much Of financial sue
cess as the mayor predicted when he de-
cIared it would pay for itself in three
years"
A.-"The garbage plant has been sue
cessfully operated and I consider it one
Of the best purchases the city ever made
AS a matter Of fact. the valuation OF
$50 600 given for taxation the year be-
fore the purchase was the same as the
valuation given the same county assessor
as that Of the property OF The Indiana
Daily Times I dare say The Indiana
Daily Times could not be purchased for
S175,O0o.
when This administration came into
power we had only four months in which
TO advertise for new garbage contract
or construct new garbage plant. The
city was bound to do one OF the Two
things or face the grave problem OF not
having the garbage Of the city collected
which could not be done.
After much investigation by the hoaid
Of sanitary commissioners. appralse-
ments and valuations II was decided
upon the advice Of Mr. Edward Daniels,
one ef the most honest, trustworthy ana
finest Characters at the Indiana bar, to-
gether with Corporation. Counsel AsA0y'
whose high motives and integrity as an
honest public official can not be ques-
toned by any one. that the best business
for the city would he to purchase the
present garbage plant.
"Tbe city Of Indianapolis has never
transacted A matter Of business after
fuller investigation and on more up
right basis than the purchase OF the
garbage plant.
From a business standpoint It has
Been a success for Indianapolis.
1T was purchased at price far less
than the valuation determined by expert
engineers under the last democratic ad-
ministration.
sThe replacement value of the plant
vas many thousand dollars higher than
the purchase price
DID HE ANSWER
HONEST, DID HE?
In his customary frank and pleas
ing manner Mayor Jewett herein
uses 271 words and eleven figures in
defense Of "one of the best purchases
the city ever made" without. In any
way, answering the question which is
plainly whether or not the garbage
plant is such a financial success that
it has very nearly paid for Itself to
date.
!. is no longer sufficient for the
mayor to declare that the plant is
operating successfully and is zone
OF the best purchases the city has
made
What the people OF indianapolis
wish to know is whether the $4,000
is an asset or a liability and for
whom It was zone of the best pur-
ehnses the city has made"
The mayors references to the val
,uation Of the personal property alone
Of The Times is interesting. II true,
but has no connection with the ad-
ministration of the affairs of the city
for the reason that The Times was
never offered to the city as "bar-
gain" and no stockholder ever said,
under oath, that it was worth less
than the cost of junking it."
One hundred and seventy five thou
sand dollars of the peoples money
invested in The Times still would be
unimpaired capital.
Can the mayor say as much for the