Kansas City daily journal., 1895-05-04
MAYOR DAVIS WANTS MIR. GAGE TO
LEAVE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ATTORNEY FOR GAS COMPANY.
THE CHIEF REASON GIVEN BY THE
MAYOR IN HIS LETTER.
dr. cage Has Not Decided to Comply
with the Unexpected Demand. but
May Possibly DO So Later
Il Has Done No Wrong.

Mayor Davis has requested the resigna-
tion OF John C. Gage, a Democratic mem-
Der of the board of public works. Mr..
Gage has received the mayors letter maxi
ing this demand. but has not decided what
his reply will be. He says he probably will
resign II, after consideration of the circum-
stances, he feels justified in taking that
course.
making the demand that Mr. Gage is the
attorney for the Kansas City Gas Light
and Coke Company. and that city officer
should not be counsel for corporation
which Is fighting the city. Mr.. Gage says
the mayor has no more right to ask for
his resignation than he has to ask for that
of the mayor. and that his connection with
the gas company has nothing to do with
his connection with the board of public
works. The board has no control of tho
gas company, and Is not responsible for
anything connected with 1t. He has as
much right. he says to appear for the gas
company as he has for any other client.
The suit at jefferson City Is not one in
which the city Is interested as party to
the record, as it was brought by the at
torney general.
The controversy grows out OF the re-
ports from Jefferson City of the proceed
ings before the supreme court in the case
against the gas company, In which argu-
ments were made Thursday. MIR. Gage ap-
peared for the gas company, and is re-
ported to have spoken rather sightingly
OF the city counselor This report reached
the ears of Mayor Davis, and he at once
wrote the letter asking for the resignation
of Mr.. Gage. The letter is as follows:
"Hon. John G. Gage, Member OF the Board
of Public Works.
Dear sir:--Learning that you are one Of
tp nr hn
and Coke Company in their suit against
Kansas City. and believing that a city oili-
against the city of which he is an official,
do most Respectfully request y yonbr ,be ime hnard
Oh pu0i' "oiNsi "WEBsTGR AssGis 'PAvyis, Mayor"
This letter was, dispatched early IN the
til after he had gone home for the day.
Mayor Davis said that he believed that 1t
the circumstances, and that he had asked
for his resignation. He thought that his
connection with the gas company was d.s rea, na,
think it good policy or Judgment for pub
lie officer to retain office and accept en-
ployment from a corporation which was
~ Il ''n understand that Mr., Gage had some
ghg saa t9 tha afa Sd the Want
should M fail in his duty should ask him to
will be kept up as long. as there is any
show and / expect the city's officers to be
sd mr and Gare aotye to- ren da on the board
public works under the existing circmm-
stances and ] asked him him to resign: ant me ne
made them, come in bad taste from an off
Sth Which his is fig,tins the city. feel that I
was justified in what Ia,vers have done ,so The TN,
ty sts bs tv eRanat oesrS all
Mr. Gage said last night that he had
received the mayors letter. but that he
be his reply. He would consider the, cir
cumstances and act as seemed best later
"The mayor has no more .t.nan business asl; ask;
have to ask for his My ynba duties waTs as mem haWe
nothing to do with the gas company. me
board, has no control over sr this subject t
my acting as the company's attorney.
It was, generally known known that that 1 am wss SO
ePgasSa the sSmpans Mayor attoPney DPSs Wen aP
pointed poi me member Of the. board;
The case at Jefferson TbIy Gtty case is wSt not
brought by the state to prevent the COM
pany from selling. any gas in the city IT
cree is made the works will be shut down.
and every light in the city, VIII be cut Off.
II the mayor knows IS ap,ythins ,,o pot Or the da in
aster this would be. If the mayor and
the city government brought that snit
city an injury which will never be for
GAS the case stands in this instance
they have not done this. The suit was
begun by the attorney general; by the
state. have as much right to appear IN
it as in any other case. No, officer of the
city would help the state when, he knows
the situation. As to the board Of public
no wish to hold the office. If I should
follow my own inclnations, i should re.
sign should have done so long ago. If
after have ,considered, the ,cirG3nm,stanceI1 Gums.
shall resign. I have remained as long as
] have for some good reasons and If /
felt relieved from my obligations TO the
public, I would resign without reference
to the right of the mayor to demand my
$50 far as the case is concerned do
not think 1t possible that the court can
render a decision TO. destroy. all the ia
Ses fT shGb ths state f wns o ffe would
mean no gas light for a couple OF, years
until a new company could erect and equip
another plant. Certainly II there is any
danger OF such decision. the mayor
ought to know enough to lead him to do
all he can to prevent It,"