The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-10
C. 0. STARTS
Retreat OUT
OF CITY HALL
City Administration Has
Democratic Tinge; First
Since 1918.
HOFFMAN TO GET JOB
Alfred H. Moore May Be
Made City Engineer to
Succeed Brown.
HOFFMAN TO GET JOB

For the first time since the Mayor
Bell administration ended in 1918,
city hall and Mayor L. Ert Slack's
Office assumed a Democratic tinge
today
With Paul r. Brown removed as
city engineer Alfred H. Moore, civil
engineer of the firm of Jeup &
Moore, BOT Indiana Trust Bldg, was
considered the leading candidate for
the city engineers post. B. j. T.
Jeup, Moore'S partner, was city en-
gineer in the Bell administration.
John w. Holtzman, former Demo-
critic mayor, who is now a special
prosecutor aiding in the political
corruption investigation, was ex-
pected to be appointed corporation
counsel to succeed Schuyler Haas,
Republican Seventh District chair
man.
Settled on Appointments
The appointment might come late
today, some one said.
He is pretty well settled" on his
major appointments, Slack told
newspaper men today at q press
conference this morning
He outlined his program for the
afternoon, a speech at the Com
munity Fund luncheon, attendance
at the Real Estate Board luncheon
at the Chamber of Commerce and a
speech at the Butler University
corner stone laying at Fairview,
but made public little news
A number of Democrats f1ocked
to the mayors Office this morning.
Leroy J. Keach, Democratic
chairman, was one Of the callers
who got to see the mayor.
Confers With Peters
Slack said he conferred with r.
Earle Peters, Democratic State
chairman, Wednesday night.
Among Democrats who were in
the mayors outer Office, but didn't
see Slack were Frank Baker, Demo-
cratic county election commissioner;
Charles Murphy, former State board
of agriculture member; Thomas
Colbert, police chief in the Bell ad-
ministration, and Byron King, for
mer city assessment bureau en-
ploye.
Fred Hoke, city manager leader
voted on by council for mayor, and
Councilman Austin Todd were
others there, but not inside.
Sol Schloss, former health board
president, cornered the mayor in the
corridor.
Sweep Out G. O. p.
City Controller Frank Cones and
Corporation Counsel Haas discussed
business of their departments briefly
with Slack during the morning, and
Samuel A. Pickens, bar association
official, also was granted confer
ence.
While Slack refused to discuss
specifically the men he has In
mind for appointments, the tenor
of his talk made it plain he gen.
orally will sweep Republicans out
of important positions and put in
Democrats. He has declared that
he will move slowly and cautiously.
Admitting that he will name a
preponderance of Democrats to i'm
portant positions Slack said:
"But they will be the kind OF men
who will put municipal service
ahead of party. They will not be
the kind of men who will sit around
the table and play politics"
Denies Playing Politics
At the same time he insisted that
he is not playing politics." That is
one thing he will not tolerate In
any department, particularly the po-
lice and fire departments, he said.
Among the early requests for
designations are expected to be those
of City Controller Cones; John j
Collins, Republican, city purchasing
agent; the three members of the
board of safety and the three mem
bers of the board of works.
Asked if he were going to appoint
William L. Elder, former collector OF
internal revenue for Indiana ano
leading Democrat, as city controller
Slack said he had not named hin,
and declared:
THAT is most important posi-
ton. I cannot go out here and find
a high grade citizen capable of fill
ing that place on every street cor
ner. am going to be sure of what
] do and take my time before
name anyone"
Wonder About WorIey
Politicians still wondered whar
would become of Police Chic!
Claude M. Worley and Fire Chic.
Jesse Hutsell. Slack said he hae
telephoned both of them to stay OF
the job for the time being and per.
form 100 per cent efficiently"
Observers believed Worley has Z
more than even chance of keeping
his job. despite Slack's assertion hi
would not play politics. Worley
commanded the four indicted coun-
cilnen who voted as a unit in tht
council election until three of then
suddenly switched to support Slacl