Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-09
INVESTIGATE
CONDITION AT
COURTHOUSE
Janitor Service by Contract
Advocated Before
Council.
$4,000 BUDGET ASKED

Efforts Of three members Of the Marion
county council to prevent a motion OF
Councilman Russell t. Byres from being
carried. which called for a complete in
vestigation of the work Of the politically
appointed janitors and the janitors' pay
roll at the courthouse before an approprt-
alton of S22, 900 was made for courthouse
employees for 1921, met with defeat
yesterday at the annual appropriation
and tax levy meeting of the county
council
Councilman Byres called upon the mem
bers of the council to defer the making
of the S22 900 appropriation as salary OF
courthouse employees next year, which in
cludes the salary of the janitors and
custodian. until a committee of the coun-
ell could determine If conditions could
be bettered by advertising for bids for
tanitor service instead of continuing the
old system of appointing political work
ers.
Mr.. Byers' motion contained the pro-
vision that the amount requested for
janitor service should be included in the
tax levy, but stipulated that the appro-
priation be not made until the commit
tee Of the council should report at the
next meeting.
Councilman John, Shearer arrived after
the meeting started and at once became
the spokesman in behalf OF. Custodian
Benjamin Pierce and the tanitors as
well as the present unssnitary conditions
against which the three judges Of the
courts have voiced protests.
EXPLAINS
NOTION
President William D. Haverstick ex-
planned the purposes Of Councilman By
ers' motion and called attention to some
protests of the judges regarding the
dirty conditions of the courtrooms.
Il made an investigation myself of con-
ditions In the courthouse explained
Councilman Shearer, ''and considering
the age of the building 1 thought con-
ditions were in fair"
when did you make that investiga-
ton ?" asked Councilman Frank Brown
Last week" replied Mr.. Shearer, and
I noticed that a cigaret had been placed
on one of the judges benches and 1t had
fallen of and burned a hole in the
carpet"
you don't know who did that?" asked
one OF the councilmen-
"No. but l would hold the Judge re-
sponsible,' said Mr.. Shearer.
Councilman Byers asked Shearer If he
investigated the records in the county
recorders office and saw the dust on the
books because a vacuum cleaner had not
been used.
shearer admitted he had not called at
the recorders office but found the jury
rooms Of the courts in better condition
probably than some of the jurors
homes
Shearer contended that the awarding OF
a contract for cleaning the courthouse by
competitive bids would not assure serv-
ice.
Councilman Byers contended that the
unsatisfactory conditions at the court
house were due largely to the custodian
not having the power to hire and dis
charge the janitors. and this power would
be vested in the man who would hold the
contract
"A man holding the contract would
not put inefficient ward workers on the
pay roll" said Mr.. Byers.
Mr.. Byers stated he was not rejecting
on the county commissioners or Gus
todian Peirce
County Auditor Leo K. Fesler Joined
in with Councilman Shesrer and spoke
Of the splendid janitor7 who was en-
ployed in the Office of the county auditor.
and advised the council to make the ap
propriation and make the investigation
afterward.
Auditor Fesler evidently remembered
this was campaign year and the janitor's
force and pay roll is always increased In
the fall Of campaign years.
WOULD MAKE,
THEN RESCIND.
Couneilmn Albert Neuby stated he
favored making the appropriation and
then resembling It II the investigation
showed the contract plan was the best.
Councilman Byers stood pat and re-
fused to change his idea and his motion
was carried By a vote of four to three.
Those voting in favor of Councilman
Byers' motion were Councilmen Byers.
Brown, william Merrill and Hence Orme
Those voting against it were Council
men Shearer, Neuby and President VIII
liam D. Haverstick.
The president Of the council declared
the motion carried and appointed Coun-
cilmen Byers, Neuby, Orme and Shearer
as members Of a special committee to
Investigate the ACCESSIBILITY Of letting a
contract by competitive bidding for
cleaning the courthouse
Under the motion passed by the coun-
ell the tax levy will include the s22,0O0
Tor courthouse employees, put the ap-
preparation was not made in the budget
pending a report Of the special COM
:u4ttee.
The successful efforts Of Councilman
Byers to investigate modern methods Of
doing business at the courthouse with
the view OF putting them in effect is
considered a disastrous blow against the
old system of putting political ward
workers on the courthouse employees
pay roll.