The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-25

L0T4 MONTHS
Y after DEAL
AIbertson introduced 0rdi-
b nance for Rezoning Site
of Own Property.
PREDICT COUNCIL PROBE
Official in Affair Is Member
of Mayor DuvaII Custer
Committee.

Committee.
The city was not paid for the lot
at Thirty Eighth st. and Central
Ave. it sold to John F. Snyder and
Snyder sold the same day to Coun-
Gilman o. Ray Albertson until four
months after it was sold, park board
records showed today.
Two months after the city received
payment on the lot, title to which
had already passed to Albertson,
Albertson introduced in city council
the ordinance rezoning the site for
business and increasing its value
many times.
May Demand Investigation
Several council members today ex-
pressed indignation at the lot deal
and investigation may be demanded
at its next meetings
Albertson is a member of the spe-
cial committee that Friday will con-
slider impeachment charges brought
against Mayor Duvall and City Con-
troller William G. Buser by Council
man Otis E. Bartholomew.
The lot, on the southeast corner
4 was sold Nov. 5, 1926, to Snyder,
local shoe salesman, by the park
board upon approval by Mayor Du-
vail. Albertson received deed from
Snyder dated the same day, but
waited until Aug. 10 to record it.
$500, Paid for Lot
Snyder said he believed he re-
ceived $4,000 for the lot. The city
received a $4,000 check from Snyder
in payment for the lot on March
16, according to park board records.
Re-zoning measure was approved
May 16, by the city plan commission
and introduced in the council on
the same day. It was referred to
the welfare committee Of which
Albertson is chairman, and was
passed July 18.
1.-THE records are open," Albertson
said when asked for a statement.
IF they don't want me on the COM
mittee, I'll get off," he declared
when asked If he would sit with the
special impeachment resolution COM
mittee Friday.
ut looks like funny proposition, y
Councilman Bartholomew said, add
ing that although he voted for the
measure he did not know Albertson
owned the property. He said he
would want to retire from the spe-
cial committee If he were a member
and "a thing like that-came up"
Procedure Was Regular
= Councilman Edward B. Raub,
Democrat, said he wanted to look
one or two things up before COM
menting. He said he was not GER
tain whether the transaction in
volved an illegal act or was a ques-
ton of moral right and wrong.
Councilman Robert e. SPRING
steen, Democrat, also declared he
did not know Albertson owned the
property.
IT can't make statement be-
cause might have to act as a judge
in the case" he said.
Councilman Austin H. Todd said
he first learned Albertson owned thu
lot through the press. Asked if he
favored council investigation, he
said he believed the grand jury
should act first.
"Bad," If True
1T was q bad thing for q fellow
to do, If true, he said.
Corporation Council Schuyler
Haas said that although he had not
looked up the law he did not be-
lieve there was anything illegal in
Albertson's lot deal.
He said he would not look up the
law unless officially requested to
do so.
The point is whether Albertson
used his office to increase the
emoluments of his pocketbook,' y
Haas said.
Men connected with the Shank
city administration saw in the Al=
bertson deal q parallel with that in
which a member Of the park board
resigned during that regime.
A report that company in which
Fred Cline, then park board men,
ber, had prof1ted in sale Of real
estate to the city, led to an opinion
from Corporation Counsel Taylor E
Groninger to Mayor Shank that
Cline would resign. Cline, while in
sisting that he had done nothing
irregular, resigned from the board
stating he would rather be off the
board than remain and embarrass
Shank, who long had been his close
personal friend.
Groninger's opinion, it was re-
called, cited q case in another STATE
wherein a fire chief who hac
profited by sale Of real estate fol
fire station site through a relative
was forced out of Office and the
amount Of his profit recovered fol
the city.
Groninger held that it is illega
for any city official to profit, directl;
or indirectly, from any transaction
with the city, and that if he does h;
becomes liable to removal proceed
ings and civil action to recover ths
amount Of the profit.
HiIIer ONCE Supply Co. Ma. Os12