The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-05
IN THE DARK.
Councilman Bradford, Who is
Straining Every Nerve
In the Interest of a Certain
Electrical Company
That is a Bidder for a City
Contract Tonight,
KEEPS THE PEOPLE
From Finding Out What Meth
ods He is Pursuing.
Breaks Up a Committee Meet
ing Last Night
TO AVOID PUBLICITY.
The Methods of a Paid AttOr-
ney Employed.
Why is Bradford So Anxious to
Award the Contract
Breaks Up a Committee Meet
ing Last Night
TO AVOID PUBLICITY
The Methods of a Paid Attor-
ney Employed.
Why is Bradford So Anxious to
Award the Contract
To a Certain Company "A
Pertinent Question.

Councilman s. B Bradford, of the
Third ward, showed his hand at the COM
mittee meeting to discuss the contract
for electrical machinery last night, when
he refused to meet with the other mem
bers until the newspaper men were ex-
cluded. The question of city contract
was to be discussed, and Councilman
Bradford stood out alone and refused to
discuss the contract in public. Why did
he do this? Every other member of the
council was perfectly willing to allow the
citizens of Topeka to know what their
actions in the matter were. Only Coun-
Gilman Bradford wanted the matter kept
dark. Was there some dishonesty to be
practiced that he was ashamed and
afraid to let the people, whose servant he
is, know about it? If not, why should he
object?
Councilman Bradford has conducted
himself all along as if he were the paid
agent of one of the companies-the
Western Electric. He has sent tele-
grams of inquiry about that one COM
pany; he has gathered information about
the apparatus of that one company; he
has discussed the good points about the
machinery of that one com pany aud no
other as glibly as the most experienced
agent of the concern could have DONE
w ny mas ne QOHS bAlS. IL All Ln0 IaGIS
were known it might not bs surprising
that he should refuse to allow his actions
to be brought to the light of day. Coun-
Gilman Bradford may be honest in his
actions, but he does not act like it.
The bids of the two companies are
practically the same aud the question
hinges on which is the best aud most
durable machinery, but from the time the
question was first discussed Councilman
Bradford has had but a single opinion.
he has refused to even consider the ina
chinery offered by the company which
he does not favor. His actions Justify
the suspicious which some OF the mem
bsrs of the council and others have ex-
pressed. No member of the city council
should dare to use his position to foster
the claims of bidders for city contracts
Councilman Elliott, who is chairman of
the committee on lights, was prevented
by sickness from being present at the
meeting last night, but CounciImen
Drew. Pattison and Stephenson of the
committee were present and all the other
members of the council except MIR. Fnl.
ton, were also present
The meeting was held in the mayors
office, and Councilman Drew presided.
Before the chairman had time to call the
meeting to order, Councilman Bradford
said to him:
81 understand that none but council
men are to be admitted at this meeting"
"There is no objection to the newspa-
per men remaining" replied Councilman
Drew, "there IS no reason why the public
should not know what ia being done
about this matter"
II won't have them here" said Brad
ford. land unless they leave l shall have
nothing to do with the meeting nor will
/ read my authorities"
"Then you can present them in open
chairman. 1--WE can settle this matter
then. am not in favor of any star cham
Der business in reference to this contract
and l will refuse to have any thing to do
with the meeting unless the newspaper
men remain"
Councilman Bradford mumbled some
thing about being "misrepresented" and
confidence being violated" as Council
man Drew arose and left the room.
The two reporters present rather than
prevent the meeting or cause discord
then withdrew from the room of their
own accord with the request that the
meeting be held without their presence
and they finally prevailed upon Council
man Drew to Join the other councilman
Through the entire wrangle there was
just one man who objected to the pres
ence of reporters and that one man was
Councilman Bradford.
There was nothing accomplished at
the meeting after all. The other coun-
cilmen listened to Councilman Bradford
dsscant on the advantages of the West
ern Electrical company machinery ex-
actly like a paid attorney, but they took
no action. 1t was thought that the com.
mittee Oh lights would formulate a re-
port, but the absence of the chairman.
Councilman Elliott, prevented any action
and a meeting will be held tonight by
the committee to agree upon a report
The council will hold q meeting after
the committee on lights adjourns aud
contract will be awarded 10 either the
Western Electrical or Fort Wayne COM
pany, as these are the only bidders.
1t is doubtful whether Councilman S.
B. Bradford can convince the other
members of the council that his COM