The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-04

The Council Confirms the Appoint
ment of Col. TWeeddale
AS CITY ENGINEER FOR Topeka

But y OF without Protest ef a severe
Character other Council Matters.
The differences between the mayor and
council were adjusted last night as pre-
dicted ia the JOURNAL and the mayor
won. but not until singing resolution
had been passed by the council
The resolution was AZ follows:
Whereas, The mayor Of the city of
Topeka has taken occasion to misrepre-
sent q majoriiy Of The city council Of the
city OF Topeka ia matters connected with
the city enniueers office by stating in
private conversation and on the street
and through the public press, that this
council was opposed 10 appointing a city
engineer and in favor of seriously Grip
pling, if not destroying this department
Of city government to the great detri-
ment OF the city Of Topeka, aud
Whereas. This council has insisted that
10 is the right and duty of the mayor to
appoint whom he pleases TO offices in
this city. and that it Is the right and duty
Of the council to confirm whom they
please for the various positions of this
city, without dictatlon from any one and
without having their motives and pur-
poses impugned.
We therefore respectfully protest
against the position taken by the mayor
ia connection with the appointment of
for officers % criticIse each other is at
the, meetings Of the council; and we
further insist that the interests of this
city demand harmony and not discord in
all its departments
And further The position taken bv the
council is that the employees in the city
engineers Office are capable OF perform
ing all the duties required at present
and that in these times of financial and
commercial depression and especially IN
As
done. 1T behooves all administrators Of
public affairs to economic and eliminate
all the expense of service " hen it can be
dispensed with.
And further affirm that at an adjourned
meeting oil the city council. Nov II. it
was suggested 90 the mayor that it was
the sense of the majority Of the council
that he designate some one Of the en-
ployes OF the city engineers Office to act
temporarily as city engineers but instead
of adopting the suggestion, the mayor
Immediately discharged all the en-
ploves of said Office
signed: James burgess. J. D. Pattison,
G. A Fellows, Al. G. Holman. P. w GriRgs,
H. A. Stevens. j. T. Fulton.
The resolution was adopted by the
following vote: Ayes Holman. Patti
son, Stevens, Burgess Fellows, Fulton
and Griggs
Nays Stephenson, Bradford; Ettlinger
absent
Some Brusque Words Exchanged.
There was a lively discussion proceed
Ing the adoption OF the resolution
Councilman Holman said 4 stated
my reasons for not approving the APP
pointment Of Colonel Tweeddale at the
last meeting. 1T was purely from bust
ness standpoint. We need an engineer
and must have one. 1t was my sugRes-
tion that McCabe be appointed until
spring when a competent engineer Will
be needed This arrangement would
save the city 5000 The report has gone
out that we said that we do not need a
city engineer, but The mayor is mistaken.
No such statement was made by any
councilman"
The Mayor: ~Ay recollection is that
you said that we did not need city en-
gineero
Councilman Holman: no, sir; I said
that McCabo might be appointed tenn
porarily"
The Mayor. @Aren't you attem ptinr
TO dictate when you say who must or
must not be appointed-"
Councilman Stevens-"11y position is
purely an economical one. Thought we
might save $500 OF $500 to the city if NO
city engineer were appointed. But / ind
that we now have contracts on our hands
which viii be delayed if we do not have
a city engineer. and / am ready TO vote
for the confirmation of any one the mayor
may name"
Councilman Bradford-@If L am not
mistaken there were two counciImen who
said we did not need q city engineer.
From the action o. the council it was a
fair inference that we did not need 4 city
engineer. Now they seem to put il on
the basis that we should have one of the
men suggested BY them That resolu-
ton is not couched in parliamentary Ian
Ruage. AZ il an outrage ana "A disgrace,