The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-29
TERRIBLY EARNEST.
Denver Still Excited OverBOOdle
in the Council.
A Large Crowd Assemblies at
the City Hall Today.
CALLED FOR A ROPE.
CALLED FOR A ROPE.
Violent Scenes at the Council
Meeting Thursday.
Indignant People Wanted to
Hang a Suspected Member.


citizens assembled at the City hall today
in consideration of action being taken by
the board of supervisors on the ordi-
nance fixing water rates, which has been
passed by the board of aldermen. The
committee to which the ordinance was
referred did not report and the matter
goes over until next week.
The fact that majority of the alder
men violated the pledge given by them
before election to reduce water charges
in accordance with the contract with the
water company, has given rise to much
gossip about the means that may have
been used to influence their action. but
SO far no evidence of bribery has been
discovered.
The passage of this ordinance was
the cause of the stormy scenes
created by the indignant people in the
council chamber Thursday afternoon
and necessitated the detail of the entire
police force of Denver to guard the
houses of the aldermen Thursday night.
No such determined and general pro-
test of the people against the wanton
disregard of their rights has ever been
seen in this city.
A bill for an ordinance granting re-
duction of 10 per cent on the schedule
of water rates now in force passed the al
dermen by a vote of 8 to 6. This
measure, which created such indigna-
tion, has a clause which makes the
rates thus fixed burden on the people
for fifteen years. It.attempts to bind a
contract which is admitted by the water
company to be of questionable validity
on the water consumers, but which is
very much in favor of the company, for
the same period, and this clause had as
much to do with the uprising of the peo
pie as the violation of their pledges in
regards to rates by a majority of the al
dermen.
John B. Emery, alderman from the
Sixth ward, it is claimed. was corrupted
by the professional corruptionists en-
| ployed by the corporations to buy the
votes of public officials and he acted in
such manner as to give rise to some
suspicion.
Up to Thursday afternoon Mr. Emery
was with the aldermen who voted for the
measures having the approval Of tho
main body of the water consumers. He
had announced that while it might ruin
him financially he intended to carry out
the pledges he had made to his constitu-
ents. AS Mr.. Emery was already badly
in debt he was beginning 20 be looked on
| as martyr.
| To the astonishment of everyone but
1
at the meeting of the aldermen Thurs
day afternoon, Alderman Emery voted to
| defeat the Latham ordinance, which is
| the measure which had the support of
the water consumers committee and the
aldermen who were in favor of keeping
their pledges to the people. His vote
accomplished that purpose.
An immense throng had gathered in
the council chamber, and they became
| -
seemed doubtful whether violence on
| Emery and the other aldermen who were
accused of selling out could be pre-
| vented
After the Latham ordinance had been
defeated Mr.. Emery introduced a sub
stitute for the Young ordinance. Mr..
Emery's substitute contained the vicious
clause binding the city to the rates thus
fixed and by implication recognizing the
validity OF an illegal contract forced
upon the city five years ago at an ex-
penditure by the water corporation of
nearly 100000 on Doodle among the
council.
Mr.. Emery voted for the passage of
the ordinance containing that clause.
The people became very boisterous. A
large posse of police, the whole detective
force, a number of the employees of the
health department and of the board of
public works were in the hall trying to
maintain order, but all to no purpose.
Men and women, some of them we'll
known citizens, hissed the aldermen
from the Sixth ward and a good many
people used language calculated to incite
to violence which would have changed
the vole on subsequent questions. Men
were heard to call for a rope, there were
calls to hang the alderman and men and
women from his own ward leaned for
ward and threatened him with dire
punishment as soon as the meeting was
over
The eight aldermen seemed to be
cowed when the demonstration was al
its height, and the law abiding feared
that the people would make an attack on
the Objectionable aldermen that nigh
terminate fatally.
The discussion of the ordinance in the
council was very exciting. "You know
Alderman Emery" said Mr.. Ames, ar
alderman on the other side, standing
round and facing him with uplifted arms
"you agreed the other day that there wai
no other way than to pass this Lathar
ordinance. l do not say you are dishon
est, but I appeal to you to defeat you
| substitute and give the lie to the shouts
of the people you have heard in thii
hall.'
The impassioned appeal of Mr.. Amel
was applauded by the whole people
while Mr Emery sat trembling in hi
! chair. He seemed undecided what to do
Mr.. Leet got the Emery substitute anC
read the clause containing the fifteel
years contract between the city and tn,
company.
Its reading was received with grea
Kissing