The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-08
Call That Session

OOl4 LOU RVND4OA
An appeal to the State to join in the demand
Of indianapolis for justice and the right to rule
itself should follow whatever action the council
takes today in the selection of a mayor.
Whoever is named even if he should, by
some miracle, be chosen from the list sub
mitted by the civic organizations, will be little
more than receiver for the moral bankruptcy
of the city.
The people demonstrated early this spring
that they want to get rid of the present system
of government and try the city manager plan.
All that stands in the way was that amend
ment passed by the Legislature to laws then IN
existence under which the effectiveness of this
vote was delayed until 1880. Otherwise the
city would now be choosing it's own rulers in
stead Of depending upon the bosses to control
the actions of councilmen, four Of whom are
under indictment.
That amendment to the law was passed at
the insistence of those who wanted to save
John Duvall.
They pleaded that it was unfair to man
who had made campaign to GUST him before
his term ended.
The bosses plainly confessed that they look
upon a public office as the possession Of the
man who gets it rather than trust to be adj
ministered.
They knew that the people would adopt
this city manager plan and that one of the rea-
sons for that change would be Duvall himself.
And so the Legislature and Governor Ed
Jackson, by his approval, changed the contract
with the people and took away from them the
right to rule themselves as they wished.
The action cid not save Duvall. He is
gone. He was not able to hang on despite this
special legislation in his behalf.
That same law keeps in office the city coun-
Gil which has demonstrated very conclus1vely
that it is out of step with the community.
The indictment of four of its members is
the least of the charges against it.
It's members have bartered for jobs for their
own relatives They may have juggled with
the city's welfare. They have shown that they
are a decided menace to the prosperity and well
fare Of the city.
There should be a special session at once to
correct this condition.
It will not do for the Governor 10 Say shdI
the session would cost the State too much. The
State is responsible when it permitted its Legls-
lature to enact the law under which these men
hang on.
In any court, were it possible for the case
to be tried in court, this city could collect
damages from the State for the act OF its Leg
stature.
An appeal to the State to aid Indianapolis
in it's desire to get back only what the Leglsla-
ture took away from it would undoubtedly
meet with favorable response.
In every city and town in this State, the
eyes Of the people are upon Indianapolis.
If these people understand, as many OF them
understand, that their own members OF the
Legislature helped along the political consplr-
acy which failed to protect against grand
iuries, they would join with this city in de-
mand on the Governor.
That special session must be called. In
doubtedly many members would welcome
chance to show that they were duped by the
bosses. Probably many have repented why
not canvass the State in behalf Of a free In
dianapolis?