The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-29
Citizens in Opposing Camps,
as in Traction-BuS
War. vi
ING ON WEDNESDAY
Khan and Anti-KIan Groups
Lined Up.

Wn again are divided into two
posing camps.
Anti-Klan faction leaders charge
Z; small, disgruntled Khan element
eks annexation of the village to
ldianapolis, reviving the old bus
action fight.
The Beech Grove Civic Club, OF
which E. j. Eibling is president, is
REGULATING petitions opposing the
nnexation. These will be presented
the public hearing set by the In
annapolis city council for Wednes-
ay afternoon. Counsel will repre-
ent the town board and civic club
and a large delegation of citizens is
expected to attend.
Tonight the town board will give
consideration to the matter and hear
indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
representatives on the subject,
larry Britton, board president, an
nounced.
Nothing to Gain"
Majority Of the Beech Grove
citizens re opposed to the measure,
Britton declared, because 1--WE can't
see where there Is anything to
GAIN
1--WE have everything that Indian
apolis has except gas and could
have that If we desired" Britton
said.
The town has it's own sewage
system and plant, water, electricity
fire protection and good paved streets
and will close the fiscal year with
something like $4,000 surplus, it is
predicted. There is a bonded in
debtedness of about $4,000 which is
being retired annually.
Those opposing the move pointed
out that the proposed ordinance will
annex the heart of the town." leav-
ing the huge Big Four shops, grain
elevators, a coal yard and other in
Gustries outside the city limits.
Part Of the town would be without
other city or town government, the
petition declares, asserting "the an
nexation would be detrimental to the
community and impose an irrepara-
BILE injury on the taxpayers"
Associates in the majority faction
Of city council today were perplexed
because the Big Four Railroad shops
are not included in the ordinance
sponsored by Councilman Otis E
Bartholomew to annex Beech Grove
UNLESS the shops are included
will not vote for the ordinance"
Councilman Walter r. Dorset said.
President Boynton j. Moore also an.
nounced preference for inclusion of
the shops.
Eibling said 966 signers on the Pc
tition, 70 per cent of the voters,
would be necessary to defeat the
measure. Those circulating the Pc
tition expect to get more than that
number.
Town officials declared the Big
Four shops, which would not be in
cluded in the annexation plan, pay
about rs per cent of the taxes of the
town.
Factions Lined Up
Factions in the annexation fight
are lined up the same as in the
ancient obstruction fight.
The Khan faction is said to favor
bus lines and annexation to In
dianapolis, while the anti-Klansmen
are for the Beech Grove Traction
Corporation and are fighting an
nexation.
Frank Stuck, the president, and
Gilbert Mcfarland, a trustee, re-
signed from the town board more
than year ago, it is said, to enter
the bus business. They operate the
South Side Bus Company. At that
time they opposed annexation, it is
said.
Considerable litigation followed the
passage of an ordinance by the pres
ent board, prohibiting buses from
using Main ST., on which the trac-
ton line runs. Buses continued to
operate after securing a restraining
order The public service commits
sion ruled the town board had juris-
Giction in the case.
Decision on an appeal Of the State
Supreme Court is expected soon.
Stuck, the president, declared "the
bus company is neutral, it makes no
11fferenCo 10 us elLner way.
Commenting on Annexation
The present board, composed of
Britton, w. S. Newcomer and L. c..
Dukes, was elected by two to one
majority on a "home rule" traction
platform.
What is to be gained by annexa-
tion?" asked e. F. Harlan, Beech
Grove Traction Corporation super
lntendent.
Sees No Advantage
1T see no advantage in annexa-
tion," said c. F. Schmidt, traction
president.
Every day I can talk to town
Harlan. But If we were a part of
Indianapolis 1 would have to go
downtown and then would be told of
all the red tape Of city admins
tration.'
Bert Wilhelm, a contractor, de-
clared the annexation move is an at
tempt of the horsethief detective ele-
ment to obtain control.
1--WE certainly have poison squads
and whispering women in Beech
Grove. We recently had a citizens
meeting in my place and a horse
thief detective was stationed at every
corner with flashllght to see who
entered the building said Wilhelm.
THE horsethief detectives don't
commit any overt acts, but are al
ways shadowing the residents.
L.
walked home with gallon of coal
Dil and a detective stopped and
searched him." said Wilhelm.
1.-THE annexation plan clips off the
taxable property Of the town and
leaves 1t outside"