Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-02

Co-incident with the development OF
the deadlock, y hich Is said TO date from
Feb q. 1t is well known that William
II. Armitage, who seeks TO be the boss Of
the Republican party in Marion County,
Is the agent for the Barber Asphalt
Company. 1t is equally well known that
the Barber Asphalt Company agrees to
pay its agent a commission upon all
Trinidad asphalt placed upon the streets
Of Indianapolis. Mr.. Armitage is the
chairman OF the executive committee Of
the Marion County Republican League,
which is supporting Mr.. Freeman. Re-
publican member of the board of public
works, for chairman of the Republican
county committee.
PRESENTS PROBLEM
sQUARELY TO MAYOR.
The situation is said to have become
such that Mayor Samuel Lewis Shank
is faced with the problem of whether he
Will block this source OF revenue for the
political leader of his administration
In brief the crisis and steps leading up
to it are as follows:
Two weeks ago the board Of works an
nOunced that because Of reports Of the
existence of a cement trust" it would
eliminate concrete from the materials
upon which bids would be received for
paving in indianapolis, unless property
owners specifically petitioned for it.
City Attorney James NJ. Ogden was re-
quested by the board to prepare q resolu-
ton to this effect.
On or about Feb. p. # is said Mr. Free
man called Mr.. Elliott into a conference
and informed him that he would there
after refrain from specifying concrete in
street improvement resolutions. 1t is the
duty Of the engineer to prepare the reso-
buttons.
In accord with the previous announce
ment, the board early In its meeting
yesterday announced it would reject all
bids for the permanent improvement OF
Usage street from Washington to Market
street because the three proposals re-
ceived specified nothing but two-course
concrete. The engineer, 1t is said, be-
neves because 1t is cheaper than asphalt
concrete is the best material for use on
side streets where traffic is comparative
ly light and property values are low.
Property on many unimportant highways
is so low 1t Will stand for assessment
for concrete pavement but not for as
phalt at present Indianapolis prices, tt
is said.
NOT REFERRED TO
CITY ENGINEER.
The board in rejecting the bids upon
Usage street, did so without having sent
them to the engineer for recommends
ton. as is the ordinary practice,
Mr.. Elliott's answer to Mr.. Freeman's
instructions to eliminate concrete was
seen when he sent TO the board reso-
lutions for the permanent improvement OF
Fiftieth street from Pennsylvania street
to Central avenue. Poplar street from
Meridian to Union streets and the first
alley south Of Sixteenth street from
Scioto to Pennsylvania streets without
eliminating concrete.
Meanwhile at the meeting City At
torney Ogden, brought in the formal
resolution eliminating concrete which he
had been asked to prepare. Board
Members Freeman and Spencer signing,
President Charles E. Coffin being out Of
the city, the resolution went into the
records as follows:
BE 1t resolved that the city civil
engineer in preparing resolutions and
specifications for the board of pub
works for the permanent improve
ment of streets and alleys shall
specify the following four types Of
pavement:
wooden block, sheet asphalt, btu
minous concrete and brick, unless
otherwise directed by this board"
without noticing that Mr., Elliott had
refused to change the specifications, the
board adopted the Fiftieth street. Pop
lar street and first alley south Of Six
teenth street resolutions. Then George
o. Hutseu. clerk of the board Of public
works. pointed out to Mr.. Freeman that
the specifications were just as they had
been.
THEY DECIDE TO
WRITE SPECIFICATIONS.
With an expression of annoyance Mr..
Freeman passed the information along to
DR.. Spencer. After brief discussion
Continued on Page Eighty