The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-02
City Legal Department Will Be
Further Enlarged.
Attorney to BE Employed to
Fight Gas Company.
THREE CONSIDERED.
Area. H. Horton, W. A. ). Bird
nda j. ID. Mcfarland.
Council Said to Favor the Ex-
City Attorney.

It was decided by the committee on
ways and means of the council at a
meeting held Saturday night that an
other assistant city attorney shall be
employed to assist in the prosecution
OF the dollar gas case, the WaterwOrks
cases, and the Vinewood park railway
suit
S. c. Miller and City Attorney Spencer
have been named as a subcommittee
to select the man for the place. and ar
range terms with him for the work in
hand.
Three candidates are now being con-
sidered- They are eX-City Attorney w.
A. s. Bird, Judge J. D. Mcfarland and
ex-Chief Justice A. H Horton.
Judge Horton would probably be the
most expensive man of the trio but one
of the mem bers of the committee is
pushing his case vigorously, on the
ground that the city should spare no
expense to get the best legal talent in
the city or state.
City Attorney Spencer is said to be
in favor of Judge Mcfarland Mr.. Nc
Earland has been working on the Wa
terworks case as a special attorney en-
ployed with G. c. Clemens to decide
upon the best plan of action. In this
controversy, Mr. Mcfarland sided with
Mr.. Spencer at the point at issue, and
their policy ruled the action of the
council in the matter. The fact that
Mr.. Mcfarland has been working on
the WaterWOrks case and is familiar
with it, and in sympathy with the pres
ent plan of procedure makes him a for
midable candidate.
Esx-City Attorney Bird is the favorite
of several members of the ways and
means committee, and stands a good
show of getting the job. Having had SO
much experience with the city Htiga-
ton, he is conyersant with it to
greater extent than any other lawyer
in town, perhaps, aside from Mr.. Spen-
Ger himself. Chairman Miller of the
ways and means committee, is said to
look with great favor upon Mr.. Bird
Mr. Bird himself was seen this morn
ing by a State Journal reporter. and in
dicated strongly by his conversation
that he would like the job it it should
come his way.
NO I'm not a candidate" said Mr..
Bird 4 did not know that the com
mittee had decided to create this job I
have not talked to anybody about it.
Would you take the position if it was
offered to your" was asked
I can't say. don't know anything
about what terms the city wants tc
make. 1 can't cross that bridge till
come to it."
In regard to the salary which will be
paid to the new assistant city attorney,
the members of the ways and means
committee claim to have made no de-
cision. It has been left with the sub
committee, composed Of Mr.. Miller and
Mr.. Spencer, to make the best terms
they can. Good goods at lowest prices"
is their motto.
The basis of the negotiations, how
ever, will be that the attorney employed
will assist only on the four big cases
which are now being handled by the le-
gal department of the city. It is be-
lieved, however, that this arrangement
for another assistant city attorney will
be made permanent. That such a plan
should be followed, is certainly the wish
of City Attorney Spencer It is upon
Mr.. Spencer's recommendation that he
is to be given an assistant