Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-16
WOMAN DENIED
RIGHT TO SPEAK
BEFORE BOARD
Acting Chairman Miller Con-
fronts Mrs. Reiffel in Shell
by Street Hearing.
2 FAVOR CRUISE ST. PLAN

When Mrs. Martin Reiffel, presi-
dent of the Original South Side
Women's Club and member Of COM
mittee appointed to represent south
side citizens in the controversy over
the opening of Shelby street from
Maryland to Washington street,
charged before the board Of public
works today that George Lemaux,
president, and Mark H Miller, mem
Der Of the board, were controlled by
'the special interests" in voting to
rescind resolution for the proposed
opening, she was told by Mr. Miller,
sitting as acting chairman, that her
remarks were insulting and that she
had forfeited her right to appear be-
fore the board.
j. B. Downey, another member OF the
south side committee, attempted to de-
fend Mrs Reifel, asserting that she
should be given credit for having eour-
age enough "to come here and tell the
truth" but Mr.. Miller waved him aside
with the assertion that the hearing was
not being held for the purpose of dis
cussing personalities.
MILLER ANNOUNCES
FOR CRUISE ST. PLAN.
This was the day set for the fourth
public hearing on the resolution for the
opening Of Shelby street a bitter con-
| trOversy has been waged over the ques-
ton for several months. Mr. Miller an
nOunced at the beginning Of the hear
ing that Mr.. LemaUx and himself were
going to vote at the next meeting OF the
board TO rescind action on the Shelby
street resolution and vote to order plans
prepared for the widening Of Cruise street
from Washington to Maryland street, and
opening Of Cruise street from Maryland
street diagonally to Shelby street at
the first alley south of Georgia street as
a substitute plan. The vote would have
been recorded today, he said, but Mr.
Lemaux is out Of the city.
Thomas A. Riley, Democratic member
Of the board, adopted the opposite view
and announced that he would vote for
Shelby street The two majority mem
bers will prevail
In explaining Mr.. Lemaux's and his
reasons for favoriDg the Cruise street plan,
Mr.. Miller said that the latter would be
at least 100000 cheaper and would be
safer because Cruise street would pass
under only seven railroad tracks. after
they are elevated, whereas Shelby street
would pass under at least twenty in a
tunnel more than 500 feet long, and be-
cause the Cruise street plan can be put
through Immediately, whereas the Shelby
street plan would have to be delayed
until the tracks are elevated, which might
be i've or ten years from now.
ASKS WHY LEMAUX
NOT PRESENT.
After he had finished, Mrs Charles B.
Nerbe, another member Of the committee
in favor OF Shelby street, asked why Mr.
Lemaux was not present and insinuated
that he did not care to be there to face
the crowd.
Mr.. Miller was defending Mr.. Lemaux
when Mrs. Reiffel asked why it was that
Mr.. Lemaux, who originally declared him
self to be IN favor Of Shelby street, has
changed his mind and why the board
had kept the citizens coming before It
time after time for public hearings with
out taking action favorable to the people
she represented
"The north side people don't have to
do that" said Mrs. ReiffeL You give
! them whatever they want. Why don't
you admit that you are owned and con-
trolled by the special interests 2"
Mr.. Miller replied that Mr.. LemaUx is
not trying to evade anything and added:
Your insulting charge will receive the
answer that it deserves"-
] Il don't want you to think I'm insult
ing the board, but sometimes you compel
people TO be insulting" replied Mrs.
Reiffel
SAYS STATEMENT
FORFEITS RIGHT.
Your statement forfeits your right
| to appear before this board and 1 hone
that you viii not present yourself again"
declared Mr.. Miller
| Later, when Mrs. ReifeI, who remained
at the hearing, attempted to speak again,
! Mr.. Miller waved his hand at her and
silenced her with the statement:
Il don't want to hear any more from
you. 1 don't want to hear from YOU
The members of the committee were
very indignant over the treatment ac-
corded Mrs. Reiffel and Mr.. Downey de-
livered to the board a threat that If the
Cruise street plan is pushed through the
citizens who favored Shelby street will
do everything in their power to prevent
the paving of Shelby street south of the
point where Cruise street would join H.
Several other property owners were
| present, some expressing themselves in
favor of the Cruise and some of the Shelby
street plan.
MAY BECOME ISSUE IN
MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
AS a parting shot Mr.. Downey, who
also was requested by Mr. Miller not to
speak any more, said that the votes Of
| Txun