The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-12
CITY MANAGER
BILL IS RIPPED
Open BY FOES
Draft Is Amended Almost
Beyond Recognition at
House Session.
'P. r. CLAUSE is OUT
CIayCombe Leads Battle
That Tears Measure
to Pieces.

TO PleceSs
Determined to fight back at city
manager foes who manned and
amended the Noll amendment bill
in the house Of representatives
Monday, representatives friendly to
the city manager cause this after
noon laid plans for retaliation.
Their chance will come Thurs
day at 2:30 p M, when the bill will
be opened again to amendment on
second reading.
Major alterations in the bill, as
the result of amendments adopted
Monday and incorporated in the
reprint" to be distributed Wednes-
day we're:
/. Elimination of the proportional
representation method of voting for
city commissioners.
Q. Addition of specific provision
that various departments now oper-
ating under the federal system of
government continue when the
manager form is adopted by Indi-
annapolis in 1880.
3. Extension from seven to fifteen
days of the time in which city clerk
may examine a petition for estab-
fishing the city manager form OF
government.
4. Addition of provision that IN
event the city manager system OF
government is held unconstitutional
by the supreme court, a primary
shall be held for nomination of city
officials within sixty Gays, and an
election held within another sixty
day period.
'sP. RI Is Eliminated
Proportional representation was
eliminated on motion of Represent
alive j. Glenn Harris of Gary, with
agreement of the indianapolis City
Manager League, which drafted the
bill. introduced by Representative
Frank j. Noll Jr. of indianapolis.
From Representative Lloyd D.
CIaycoml of Indianapolis avowed
enemy o.. city manager government,
came the barrage of amendments
regarded detrimental to operation
of the plan, despite their authors
repeated declaration that he was
attempting to make the law work
able"
After Claycombe had plastered
the Noll bill with amendments, a
motion was offered to include his
name with that of Noll on the
amended bill. The motion carried
in a round of laughter and Speaker
James j. Knapp directed the change
be made.
Greatest danger TO the manager
form was seen in Claycombe's
amendment specifying transfer OF
powers to the following municipal
boards: Public works, safety,
finance, health, parks. sanitary, and
plan commission.
Battle to Start
City manager forces will fight
hack Thursday in an attempt TO
defend their proposal that the city
commission be given the powers OF
these boards and departments.
Admitting that the Claycombe
amendments would 'tie the hands"
of city commissioners, Claude H.
Anderson, legislative chairman of
the city manager league, declared
many advantages of the manager
plan still would be left to the city,
as the power to appoint heads of
various boards, commissions and de-
partnents is, under the law. lodged
with the city manager"
Promising efforts to eliminate I'M
favorable amendments, Frank E.
Gates, treasurer of the city league,
said: 1.-THE amendment continuing
the various boards, commissions and
departments of the present city gov
eminent seriously would impair the
work of the city manager, in my
opinion"
He criticised Claycombe for "try-
ing TO lead the legislature to believe
that he is for a city manager law
and is eager to see that the city is
protected.
Tries to BelittIe Move
"Claycombe always has been, is
now, and always will be opposed to
the city manager plan" said Gates.
Among amendments defeated was
one by REPRESENTATIVE James II.
Lowry of Indianapolis, providing for
appointment of watchers and count
ing of city manager ballots at a
central place; another by Rep
reSentative John w. Chamberlain
of Terre Haute, which would have
increased city commissioners sal
aries: and one by Representative
Thaddeus R. Baker of indianapolis,
providing that city council appoint
the board of election commissioners
for the first city manager election,
and that the commissioners them
selves select election commissioners
for subsequent elections.
First occasion for a counting of
noses" in the Marion county delega-
ton was the vote on Lowry'S
al ndment for appointment Of
watchers and counting of ballots at
a central place.
Marion county representatives
who aligned with Claycombe in OPP
position to the amendment were
William Bosom Jr., Frank E. Wright
and John E. King. Voting aff1rma-
lively with Lowry we're Representa-
tives Louis R. Markun, Thaddeus r.
Baker. John L. Benedict. Henry F.
Kottkamp. Thomas c. Bachelor and
NclI
Congratulated by city manager
opponents at the close OF the SeS-