The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-02
EIGHT TO FOUR.
That Was the Vote Cast in Favor OF the Much
Needed Asphalt Pavemenf.

The council had red hot session last
night, but there was nothing that bor-
dered on collision. The all important
! question was whether o. not progress
should be made in the proposition to pave
Douglas avenue with asphalt or permit
| long suffering people TO jolt away over the
| rough aud rugged surface OF the jasperite
/ for some years more
| The men who wanted the progress de-
! layed fought hard and stnhornly. but the
| hour had come for progress seemingly aud
they went down IN the struggle.
! The first movement made was by Mr..
! CasweN who handed the clerk q commit
| nication from Emel Werner stating that
| he never signed the petition for asphalt or
authorized any body else to do it for him.
| This seemed to be black eye for the
asphalt for about minute, but Otto
! Eckstein, who was present al the meeting,
| raised from bis seat and asked the priv
! ilege to make few remarks 10 toe coun-
Gil Oh his own behalf. He said it was his
hand that wrote Emel Werner's name to
the petition and as he was Il city officer lie
desired to justify himself before the peo-
pie lie stated how he carried the proDo-
sition 10 Mr.. Werner, explained its con-
tents to him and gave him day 20 think
over the matter. Next day he returned to
Mr. Weraer's and asked him whether
lie desired to sign it. Mr.. Werner's hama
was in sling being afflicted
with rheumatism. but with his other hand
hgave pen to Mr.. Eckstein aud asked
bin TO sign it for him. Mr.. Ecksten did
so III the presence of another member of
the city government who, he said would
be willing to make an affidavit that Mr.
Werner gave him authority to sign his
name This statement disposed of this OBJ
lection.
The next tack taken against the PROPOSE
tion WAS a document presented by some
property owners on the avenue asking the
council to reconsider the matter Judge
Wall argued in favor OF this and asked
the council to be very careful and investi-
gate the matter further before taking any
action He called the attention OF the
council to the statement of Emil
Werner about not signing the petition and
others who signed it us executors receivers,
etc, and argued that with these names
taken off the petition did not represent
majority of the front feet abutting on
Douglas avenue By 100 feet or so. This
said that with all doubtful names stricken
off. there would still be- majority of the
front feet represented, and called atten-
ton to fact overlooked by the opposition
that several hundred feet had been paved
with granite by the Santa Fe railroad,
which will not have to be paved with as
phalt This was unlocked for by the op-
position.
At this juncture City Attorney Harry
Gordon arose to reply to Judge Wall, and
he did it with the ability. tact and diplo-
matte courtesy of Tallyrand He said
he did not anticipate that when Judge
Wall stated that the law concern
ing pavements ought to be investi-
gated he did not intend TO
cast any slur on him or his associates.
Colonel Dyer and Mr.. Vermllion, but at
the same time he desired to vindicate him
self and his associates by saying that |
every feature Of the law had been |
thoroughly examined by himself and the |
gentlemen named and that no flaw or
loophole OF whatever kind was left In the
preparations. Mr.. Gordon's remarks |
were directed square from the shoulder |
and yet there was not single word ut
tered by him inconsistent with his charac- |
ter as gentleman or a lawyer.
The opposition was beaten at every |
turn but they were beaten houorably, and /
when the final vote came aspahit |
trumped by vote Of 8 to 4 The vote |
will be found IN the official proceedings |
which follow.