Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-08
ANOTHER CONTRACT TIED UP
WRTTs OF INJUNCTION SERVED on
CITY COUNCILMEN.
The City Is Restrained From Award
ing n Paving Contract to Parker
Washington CO.-TO Pave
Southwest boulevard.

In the lower house OF the city council
things looked decidedly interesting for a
time last night. An ordinance to confirm
a contract with the Parker-Washington
company for the paving of Sixteenth street
between. Oak and Locust with asphalt has
been pending in that branch of the body
Tor several months and it had been sup
posed it would remain with the committee
until the result of litigation now pending
in the circuit court and involving nurner-
GUS questions had been settled. The meas
ure was placed upon the calendar, now
ever. and in due time il was reached tor
consideration. Alderman Wolf moved mat
IL he referred back TO the committee.
Speaker Smith stated that he could see no
reason why action should not be taken as
the injunctions granted to restrain the
confirming OF certain contracts with tnls
company did not apply 10 this Work ana
he understood the material was on hand
with which to do il.
1T has been evident to my mind for
some time past" he said. that some
members of this house were disposed to
delay action on these measures Tor reas-
onS that L do not think are right. Inc
time has now come for those gentlemen 10
fish or cut bait. The street needs the paw
ing badly and 1 can't see any cause Tor
further delay"
speaker had especial reference TO him and
he bobbed up from his seat and expostu-
lated: Il don't approve OF your methods
for that reason l made the motion to re-
fer. Then, / am tired of your hitting at
me and from now on L am going to re-
Il really did not once think of you"
said Mr.. Smith. but since you admit that
] hit YOU, 1 can only say that l am sorry
for it."
Speaker Smith" said Mr.. Burrows, of
the Tenth ward. has been engaged in this
grandstand play business for some time
now He knows. too. that all his grand
stand play business is going to result in
10 good for him. He is playing a losing
game and he knows IL. Like my friend
from the Sixth ward Mr. Lynch said the
other night. he waited until too late in the
term TO begin all this alleged hard work
for the people"
THE speaker is harmless" chImed in Mr..
Pendergast. He tells US how to vote
and what to do and then We go ahead and
do just as We please. / don't pay any
more attention TO the speaker h If he
was not In the chair"
Here Speaker Smith called Alderman
Craig to preside and occupied the seat of
the latter on the floor.
Colonel Simonds said he felt that as the
question of paving contracts was in the
courts IL was best to let ii stay there, but
as the speaker was anxious for the con-
firmation OF this contract he would vote
for IL.
Speaker Smith then addressing the body
contended that 40 reason existed for the
continued failure of the council to act upon
this matter. He denied any desire to get
any one on record and disclaim any
intention to do grandstand work. He had,
he said. always voted according to his con-
victions. and so long as he was a member
of the body he would continue TO do so. He
said the Parker Washington company had
invested a large sum of money in a plant
TO do work and he could see no reason for
denying them a chance. He urged the body
10 defeat the motion to REFER.
Mr.. Burrows again took the floor and
charged the speaker with using his position
Just now for the manufacture Of campaign
material.
The roll was called and the measure went
back to the committee by the following
vote:
Ayes-Pendergast. Wolf. Hough. Burrows,
Beroth and Craigs.
Nays-Simonds, Brinkley and Smith,.
While the result of the vote was being
announced a deputy sheriff rushed into the
hall almost breathless and served writs Of
injunction upon the councilmen restrain
ing the body from confirming the con-
tract. The writs had been issued from
Judge Scarritt's court. They contain the
usual allegations made in similar suits
firm the contract instead OF to re-refer the
ordinance the service of the writs would
have been too late.
necessary appropriations to cover the
February bills and semi-monthly pay roll
was passed and a large amount Of routine
business was dispatched.
To Pave thw Boulevard.
The upper house disposed OF the question
of paving the Southwest boulevard by
aolAi AAO PhSs ~ AS
paving as a business street from Main to
Broadway. Broadway to the Belt line bridge
and Twenty-fourth street from the South
west boulevard to Paramount avenue. For
the present no action Is to be taken on the
pending ordinances for the paving Of the
remainder of the boulevard.
Forty ordinances submitted by the park
board and providing for the curbing and
guttering and the paving of parks, boule-
wards and passeos were passed. These
measures are simply to comply with the
action of the park board at its last meeting
IN outlining work soon TO commence. 1t Is
estimated that they involve an expenditure
of upwards of sl00,00o The regular appro-
priation ordinance covering February bills
against the city and the city pay roll for
the last half of the month, were passed.
II carried an appropriation of $50. 5s5.a
The question of a new fire alarm system
for the city was taken up and upon the
recommendation of the finance committee
directing the board of public works to con-
tract with the Kansas City Missouri Tele-
phone company for the construction of a
metallic fire alarm system. The telephone
company is TO receive $1,000 for the work,
such sum TO come from conduit rentals
due and to become due by IL to the city.
1t is also provided that should the system
he extended TO High and Shawnee streets,
then the company is to receive an addition
al sum of 500 10 be paid in the same way.
An ordinance was passed dividing the new
wards into two park districtS-the Eleventh
and Twelfth-to be known as Westport
park district. and the Thirteenth and Four
teenth as East park district.
A number of ordinances were adopted va
eating certain alleys and streets at the in
stance OF the park board.