The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-06
ALDERMEN GET HOT
Refused to Accept Call to Re-
consider Light Contract.
PROPOSED TO WITHDRAW
Sooner Than Give Color to
Doodle FaISehoonS.

City counciImen showed some temper
last night in the city clerk 5 Office, where
they had met preparatory to the council
meeting. In the call for a special meet
ing for the purpose Of reconsidering the
CURLING and guttering contract let Tues
day night at an unreasonable figure, z
clause was also inserted providing for
reconsideration Of the contract let to the
NJ. & N. Oxygen company of Kansas
City for 200 lamps Some six councilnen
protested against the clause and threat
ened TO withdraw and leave the meeting
without a quorum If the clause referring
70 action on lights was not eliminated.
This brought on quite a heated discus
sion, and not a few OF the aldermen
came near losing their dignity. The six
counci3men had considerable Of a griev-
anoe. They alleged that charges Of boo
die had been made by irresponsible par
ties and they did not propose to give
color to these charges by rushing in has
THY and reconsider action that had been
taken deliberately. The contract was let
to the NJ. & NJ Oxygen Light company
in good faith, they said. and if the coun-
there was another way of having the
subject brought to an issue. At any
rate, they could not see why such nasty
action should be taken. They thought
It was too much like catering to public
sentiment aroused, as they said, by the
1alsehOods of the irresponsible bird Of
passage. They, with much feeling. said
they were citizens of the town. taxpay-
ers, men with family and social ties,
and they did not feel like rushring head
long into reconsideration Of action taken
deliberately and thus give color TO the
charges made against their honesty as
public servants.
At one time it looked IS II there might
be 8 demonstration Of physical argument.
One man thought he had been called a
liar and his dander was rising rapidly
when ne was informed that he was mis-
taken In his construction Of the language
used, and that ended the matter.
The charges made by Mr.. Bird Of the
Economy Light company Of Kansas City
furnished a live topic Of discussion yes
terday. People held different views on
the matter and all agreed, whatver may
have been the facts, that Mr.. Bird ruined
himself as promoter of lamps. In Kan
sas city the matter aroused some inter
est and statements were obtained by
the Times from parties interested. The
article In the Times in fun was as
follows:
william G. Bird. state labor commits
siouer OF Kansas. and representative of
The Economy Gas Lamp company Of
Kansas city, has created a sensation in
zg---t-7f., soo,7es,o 4l,roe aISov-,,e-, oF
that city of accepting brihes for their
votes on a street lighting proposition.
The Economy company and the n. &
n. oxygen Lighting company Of Kansas
city. submitted bios to the Wichita coun-
ell The presidents Of bol4 companies
were seen last night by a reporter for
The Times and they denied any knowledge
OF bribery.
Mr. Bird had instructions to sell 200
street lamps for SIS each He claims that
after he went to Wichita he was ap-
preached by certain aldermen who said
that "the boys" had to make something
cut OF It ana advised him TO TX the price
al s2l which he did.
Bird also alleges that the N. & NJ. com
pany, which secured the contract, sent a
man 10 his company at Kansas City to
prevail upon them 10 raise the bid from
SIS TO s2l for each lamp. He names the
representative Of the NJ. & NJ company
who approached his company and alleges /
that his company would not listen to him
at first, but finally yielded ana sent in a
bid Tor SOL In an authorized statement /
made last night 10 the lines Wichita |
correspondent. Mr.. Bird says:
Il came to Wichita and went to q GER
tain alderman ana laid the proposition |
before him. He said he could get the rest /
Of the coCncl TO act with him IN the mat !
ter. When returned this last tine [ |
ngain went TO the same councilman and |
asked him what he had accomplished In |
the matter. He said he had only been /
able 70 get four men 10 stand by the /
proposition and suggested that 7 approach /
she individual members. did so, and /
when the question came mp last night 4
] was surprised TO find that al Of the /