The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-20
COUNCIL OPENS
BOARD INQUIRY
Continued From Page u

the matter Of execution be delayed
until Friday. Myself and DR..
Spencer were not present at the
time this request was made and
Freeman says he made no promise.
AT the meeting Friday it was de-
cided to sign the contract as
amended at our Monday meeting
and approved by our engineers and
city attorney and hand it to the
Belt Railroad for execution"
DIR. NJ. ]. Spencer. the other
board member, said he had>no state
ment to make.
Never before during the present
administration have such impas-
stoned orations been heard against
any department of the city admin
istration.
Defeat of an ordnance transferring
Sc 900 from the municipal garage to
the fund to pay inspectors of the
city engineers department, spon-
sored by the board, was a small item
in the evenings performance, al
though its appearance was the sig
nal for commencement of the battle.
Among the specific charges made
against the board during the pyro-
technics were:
Employment of inspectors, hired
because of political influence during
the primary campaign. who failed
to do their duty. thereby recessita-
ting additional appropriations.
That settlement of the contro-
versy between the Belt Railroad
Company and the board of works
over costs of the 100000 Belt
bridge across White River was 1.-The
biggest steal ever pulled off in
Indianapolis"
Approval of street improvements
that developed evidence of faulty
material within a short time after
construction.
That William H. Armitage, politi
cal general of the Shank administra-
ton, is closely associated with the
board.f
Asphalt Favored
That the board has ordered as
phalt as street paving material
against wishes of property owners
who preferred concrete.
Double crossing BY board mem
bers of JONES M. Ogden, corpora.
ton counsel, and King, when board
members signed the track elevation
contract involving expenditure OF
$1,000, 900, after they had been as
sured that the matter would be de-
ferred until Friday to allow south
side citizens to take action in re-
gard to a joker clause King con-
tends may halt elevation for years
Attempt to authorize in a resolu-
ton the city's bearing the expense
Of additional elevation structure
needed by the Belt Railroad when
E. New York St. is widened.
Promise by board members that
three street, closed in original track
elevation plans, would be opened,
Which was carried out but equalized
by the closing of three other thor
oughfare.
Denial by a board of works en-
ploye of the right Of citizen to
examine public documents, in refer
ence to the track elevation agree
ment.
First Rumble \
Wild rumbles of the approaching
thunderstorm were first heard when
| Heydon w. Buchanan took a shot ct
! the general lack of consideration OF
! I'll iYa{e ~
ton.
why they didn't even give us
| elevator service or telephone COM
munication tonight until we'd waited
a long time" he protested.
The sun came from behind the
clouds for a brief period while an
ordinance authorizing $4,000 for the
blank book and advertising fund of
the board wa sadopted by the unani-
nous vote of the eight councilmen
present.
Councilmanic heavens became
] dark and the storm broke in all its
fury as the vote on the ordinance
to pay inspectors started.
Bernd fired the first broadside in
explaining his mo" vote on the or
dinance.
"Why didn't those inspectors they
hired because they were good poll
ticians right before the primary cam
paign deliver the goods so they
wouldn't have to ask for additional
funds now?' he demanded. I've
heard it said that this is rubber
stamp~council. Any of you fellows
who vote for this ordinance will
have to admit you are rubber stamp
councilmen."
Bernd critised paving on Union
and Regent Sts., conducted by the
/ board of works.
Then Buchanan attempted mild
defense of the ordinance, emphas-
izing the point that many impor-
tant street improvements. especially
in Haughville, have been inter-
rupted by lack of funds to pay street
inspectors.
They may have spent : their
money unwisely. but I believe the
streets should be finished" he de-
| clared.