The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-12
WE'VE MONEY TO BURN
Topeka Has Wasted $4,000 By a
Foolish Action.
THE CITY COUNCIL ACTS HASTILY.

Does Not Give Sufficient Consider
alton to a Resolution which Gives
an Enormous Fee TO Heller & WEIGH
for Work the City Attorney should
Perform.
The city of Topeka has wasted So 000.
It was done because the city council did
not take time to think. The council has
turned the collection of the waterworks
company tax over to other attorneys
when the city attorney could have done
the work as we'll as not; and it is his
duly to do SO.
As far as known City Attorney Bird has
not refused to take care of the city's legal
business; yet the city council aud board
of education has relieved him of part
of his duties and given the work
TO some one else. Lawyers do not
work for nothing and the men who have
been employed expect good pay for
their services IN the present case. The
men employed are Keller 81 WEIGH and
they are expected to recover the water
WORKS tax which should have been paid
in the city and have the property placed
on the city tax rolls where it belongs
Members Of the firm have told differ
ent parties that the task is easy, and the
torney could not have done the work
just as well aud saved the CITY what Will
be paid TO the firm of keeIer & Welch.
BY the contract made with the mayor,
the law firm Is to receive half of the
taxes of 1894 and one third of the taxes
| of 1895, which the water company should
have paid to the city. In both cases the
valuation Of the property which should
have been taxed in the city is $l25,000
h..ft tor I,.af dr1a ba sifx-
would be $685.. For this year the tax
would be $4,l50. If they receive half
of the tax OF last year it will be
! 1,912.50, and one-third of the tax of this
year will be $l,383.33, 50 that their
fee, if they are successful, will be So 295
81, which would be almost enough to
! pay the salary of the city attorney for
two years. Besides 1t is a great deal
more than the work is worth.
The resolution giving the work to
| Keller s. Welch and prescribing tie
| terms was introduced by Councilman
Bradford and passed without discussion.
| The members did not stop 10 think what
! they were doing. Ii it had been som g
! petty matter, some cheese pairing, it
| would probably have been referred to a
committee for consideration, but this
measure, which involved the giving
away of more than $4,000. Was rushed
/ through W1lnOuL LlII1S lOE QlSCuSSlOus anu
the yeas and nays were not even called
| for.
The lawyers were pretty certain that
the money could be recovered or they
would not have made the proposition,
and the council did not even consult the
city attorney. The city attorney had he
been vigilant, might have headed off
this hasty action.
Even if the lawyers employed by the
city should fail to collect the tax of last
/ year, attorneys are practically agreed
that it will be very easy matter to col
| lect this years tax in the city. If they
| are successful in collecting only this
years tax they will receive one-third of
the tax, or $1.383 81, which Will be a
pretty good fee for a few hours work.
1t looks as if by blunder the city's
money is about to be wasted, and it is net
surprising if the people who pay the bills
enter protest,
We have to stop mending the asphalt
streets because there is no money, while
We dump $4,000 in the lap of lega
concern. This municipal administrator
can't afford to make many such mistakes