The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-13

low Meeting Large and Repre-
sentative in Characterization Goes
After Rohrbaush and Rufe Cone on the
Trial of sssnIey--Vindication was the
Order of the Evening Mayor Cox was
Highly Praised.
There were all kinds of people at the
citizens meeting last night.
Iii a pretty grievous charge TO make
but il is nevertheless fact that it re-
minded one of the recent legislature
while in session.
The board of trade hall was crowded
and the faces of many prominent citi-
zens and heavy taxpayers could be
seen in the audience.
The object Of the meeting as stated
clearly only in the Eagle last Sunday
was to devise some plan or policy for
municipal retrenchment, 1t turned
out to be a vindication meeting and
nothing else. Few men left the hall
wiser than they entered it with refer
ence to how the burden of direct taxa
ton can he lifted from the shoulders
OF the people.
NO POLITICS IN IT.
there seemd to Ice no leader and the
people We're getting a little nervous
when \. I. Carpenter arose and called
the meeting 10 order. He said as there
was no one else present who cared to
break the ice he volunteered to do SO.
He said that he had spoken 10 a gem
tleman to act as chairman and OBJ
tanned his consent provided there
should be no politics in the meeting,
and that man was Hon. !. p JeWett.
1T was agreed unanimously that no rei-
erence should lie made to politics and
Judge Jewett took The presiding Of
ficerS chair. As q further guarantee
that everything should he fair. hon
ora BILE. honest and non partisan the
Eagle reporter was made secretary.
AN FRESHMAN BREAKS IN.
After Judge Jewett said he would not
preside unless the netting was strictly
partisan "A call was made for
speakers ia order to have a proper
idea of the motive Of the gathering
presented to the audience. \. T. Car
penter was called upon ard he declined.
c. y. Miller was then solicited TO speak
and he declined.
Ma ior Powell was implored to say
something but no response could be
heard.
Ex-Mayor Carey was then invited to
express himself, but Mr.. Carey came
there to listen and not to speak.
Mr.. Schel was then invited but not
word or voice came from that por-
ton Of the room where he was SuppoS-
cd 10 be seated.
Ex-Chief Of Police Rufus Cone was
then eagerly requested to say some
thing for the enlightenment of the au-
dience but Rufus could not be induced
to speak.
Things were getting very monoton-
Gus when some inspired voice shouted
the name Of that distinguished Cork
oman, Colonel Nicholas Bird. Colonel
Bird laid his hat down on the re-
porter's writing paper and commenced
a rather bold speech, for il upset the
general idea that she meeting should
be non-paTtisan. He said he was eX-
ceedinly grateful and looked exactly as
he felt. He said that he was surprised
when he heard thai il was TO be non
partisan meeting. He asked the chair
man, Mr.. JeWett, how he stood on the
subject Of Queen lii, the yellow
>trumpet of the Sandwich islands, the
lady who divided the passion of the
president and TIE secretary of the
treasury" Continuing, Colonel Bird
said that no better man that l.. VI. Cox
could he elected mayor, and indicated
that if that was politics to make the
most Of it. He said that he put in the
best years Of his life for party. ITO
lttt hfN II WIN ~t.tEi Ii''li7 llF- ''t'i'A ~
with tragic wave OF his right hand.
Il am delighted with the editor of the
Eagle" said he. for the bold stand
he has made and Is making for silver.
/ have lived here for seven years. |
am informed that if a tail"r'S bill can
stand for seven years il is ali right.
] therefore have a right TO talk even
though l talk on politics. This IS a
historic haH. Men Of great wisdom
have assembled here in the past
men whom we could all learn wisdom
from. | am sorry that I have to
differ from the rule that forbidS the
mention Of politics. for [ must say that
the last Democratic congress was the
most diSgra ceful in the history of the
stars and stripes. 1 have been a Moss
back, a Bourbon and a P0pGliSt [
have no fight to make on you Republic
canS-God bless yOu-if you are idola-
tors. | have now exhausted my orator
ical dynamos and must quit Mr..
Bird made a witty speech but il offered
no remedy in the line Of retrenchment.
MR.. CLAPP TALKS
/. W Clapp was the next speaker.
After some preliminary remarks about
the object of the meeting. he thanked
Colonel Bird for putting the audience
I'm good hUmor for him. Il am not
here said he. .'to criticize The present
city administration. The fact is seven
or eight years of past conditions have
brought people 10 meet subjects of
grave Importance We have reached
the limit Of endurance on taxation If
the last city administration have done
good work they are entitled to praise;
IL not we must look for other talent.
How are we going 40 teu2 There Is q
runrpr that the bonds issued recently
were II cover "A deficit. If there Is any
body here mayor or city officer let him
and Cikn inflammation. ~ q
want 10 know how much money has
been collected and spent We want to
know how much the people can pay 10
make the cost of city government come
within our income. Let Us find out
how many policemen and tiremen we
have and what they cost II there are
three policemen on Douglas avenue let
Us cut them down 10 one # Il can
stand il. | don't know whether we
need policemen in the day time or not
How much are they getting They
ought not 10 get more than bank clerks
and others who work for SO per month
l. We cant pay let us lop of assistant
sewer inspectors, assistant engineers.
One good man can take care of all tn"
work Of the assistant engineer and
assistant sewer inspector ana do it
geil I~thing We ought To get together
and compel the city officers to let rs
know how we stand; how much Is
needed for next year and how we can
raise it. / am not opposed 10 he
publican ticket. If one Is nominated
] viii look il over and vote for IT Il Il
contains good men MI tiapP Spoke
very earnestly and was listened 10 al
tentively.
DIR. MINTCK WAS CALLED.
! hearty call was made for Or.
Minich. councilman from the FourJ p
ward. lie said re wanted his friends