The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-06
He WAS JOKING.
Councilman Morgan Misconstrues Re-
mark of Canon Bywater.

Councilman Morgan and Canon
Maurice ]. Bywater, of the Episcopal
church, are in a controversy. There is
apparently a misunderstanding between
them. Mr.. Morgan made public charges
at the meeting of the city council last
evening that Canon Bywater had insin-
uated that 1t would be votes for him
if he would aid in getting a trade
through the city council whereby
certain lots belonging to the Episcopal
church, at the corner of Fourth and
for other lots now belonging to the city,
for the purpose of erecting church
buildings on the east side
Some time ago Canon Bywater sub
mitted a proposition to the council ask
ing that lots 154, 156, 158 and 100 on
Lake street be leased to him for the
purpose of erecting thereon a church,
mission and a rectory. He explained
that the location was in the center Of
the work of the east side mission work
of the church; that the church had paid
out several hundred dollars in rent in
the past nine years and now had moth
ing to show for it, but IL the lots could
be leased from the city buildings would
be erected.
The proposition was referred to the
judiciary committee and afterwards
Canon Bywater made a proposition to
trade some lots belonging to the church
for the city lots.
Councilman Morgan moved that the
proposition be rejected, but an amend
ment was offered to again refer the lat
ter proposition to the committee for
further consideration.
Let it go to the ways and means
committee" he said. Il don't want it
to come to my committee again. When
we were considering it before Mr.. By
water came to me and told me of his
proposition to trade. I asked him which
he considered the most valuable, the
off 1nfc Cv.h ic I,a fI-r Ill
Then I asked him if he would pay the
difference, and he made some remarks
which don't care to repeat, but it was
something about getting me votes I
want it understood I'm not in this
council doing business that way. I
don't want votes that come to ma like
that. That's not my style of business.
1 don't want this to come back to my
committee
Mr.. Mergen's wishes to have the propo-
sition sent to the ways and means COM
mittee finally prevailed, and the matter
was dropped.
version of the matter today and he
said:
Il was not at the council meeting I'M
til late last evening, as 1 was detained
at the bedside of Mrs. Sykes, who was
dying, but this occurrence must have
happened before 1 came in. I knew
nothing of it until now. If I had been
present Mr.. Morgan would not have
dared TO nave made such a statement
1 was joking with Mr.. Morgan while we
were discussing this matter and I did
make some joking allusion to voting for
him. What I said was entirely joke,
as any one with any sense of humor
must have known, and Mr.. Morgan
either missed the joke or else he Wilful-
ly miSconStrued what I said.
Il remember met Mr.. Morgan in Mr..
Hodges office. Mr.. Hodge is an old
friend of mine, and Mr.. Morgan works
under him at the shops. I don't re-
member just the exact words I said, but
we had been joking back and forth for
some time. 1 will be at the council
meeting Wednesday evening and per-
haps something will be said then. I
am sorry I was not present at the time
last night. I think my proposition is
much better for the city if the city
wants the lots for q fire station