The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-07
Empties Walls of Wrath on En-
gineer Wise.
Gives That officer to Under
stand He Is Mayor.
A PLEA FOR SECRECY.
Spencer Doesn't Want Publicity
in WaterWorks Case.
Bids For Santa re Bonds Are
Not Opened.


day nights council meeting.
The conflict OF words and authority
came up over the matter of having
some estimates for paving and side
walks ready for the council. Mr.
Hughes called upon Mr.. Wise for the
estimates. Mr.. Wise arose and ex-
planned that as the council had not
made known to him beforehand,
through the chairman of the streets
and walks committee. it's desires in re-
gard to the estimates, he had not pre-
scented them.
I have been to a certain extent
hammered. " said Mr. Wise in nv office
help is just at this time occupied with
political affairs. but I have been able
to keep the work of the Office up to
the NOTCH. Had known that the cOun-
eli wanted these estm ates earlier in the
day 1 could have made up a report
from the figures have in my office and
presented the report here tonight"
Mayor Hughes sat through the expla-
nation with a growing look of warmth.
and when Mr.. Wise had completed, he
delivered himself of a few emphatic
opinions. He said essentially that he
thought that if Mr. Wise would at
tend more strictly to business, the
affairs of the Office would be the gamer,
and entirely ignored the explanation
ing for Mr.. Wise on several occasions.
he said. and have gone to his off1ce
only to find him absent. wish l could
depend on you more"
Mr.. Wise gracefully submitted and
did not refer to a sign placed upon the
door leading TO the mayors office since
Mr. Hughes has been occupying II
which reads: '-Office hours from till
." And it has sometimes been impos-
sible to find the mayor in the office even
between those hours. but he has had
other things to occupy his attention.
SANTA FE BOND BIDS.
Two bids for the bonds the city of To-
peka Will issue for aiding the Santa re
in building additional terminal facih-
ties in Topeka were received by the
council
This wholesale neglect of bond buyers
and the apparent appropriately Of To-
peka bonds was a m after of much re-
gret to the members of the council II
was. however, generally conceded tnat
the only reason the bonds were not
more in demand was the unsettled con
dition Of the mayoralty Of the city
That capital is easily frightened. and
that whenever this little cloud IS re
moved from the horizon of Topeka the
bond buyers will flock to the rescue.
was also conceded
In view of this Councilman Clancy
asked the opinion of City Attorney
Spencer upon the matter of returning
the two bids received unopened he
stated it as his opinion that as the
council had already decided not to &C
cept bid at this time it would be I'M
fair to the bidders to open their bids
and expose them to the world Mr.
Spencer thought that the bids could be
returned. and the city clerk was IN
structed 10 do so.
The council committee on the Santa
Fe shop matter win borrow the money
from the Topeka banks and viii have
to pay them high rate of interest for
2 month. or perhaps longer. until the
mayOralty question is settled and the
bonds may be executed and sold
WATERWORKS CASE
It was along towards the close of the
council meeting when Councilman
Swandson got slowly to his feet and In
an apologize tone declared that ne
didn't want to offend any one, but that
he wanted TO present again the matter
OF the Topeka waterworks case. He
read the section of the city ordinance
ordering the city attorney to take such
steps is We're necessary for the city to
acquire the present waterworks plant
1T has been two months now, he
said since anything has been accom-
plished along this line. Now this matter
is all important and should not be de-
layed like this. Already two months OF
the six have passed and only four
months remain in which We may ac-
complish anything at all"
Councilman Swendson sat down after
introducing the subject and Mayor
Hughes called for City Attorney Spencer
to make a report upon the matter. Mr.
Spencer said.
LAS matter Of fact you all know that
haven't had the time since coming in
to office TO study up on this.
1t is a matter upon which an attor-
ney, were he employed by a corporation
or an individual. would spend several
months in study. However. I have stud
led the question some before came into
Office and some since and am ready II
any time the council may direct to be-
sin the suit
Some further discussion was partici-
pated in by the members of the council
when Mr. Hughes called upon Mr. Spsn-
Ger to stand up in meeting and tell the
council his plans of going after the wa
ter company
4 am ready to begin an action said
Mr. Spencer jumping to his feet, but
I don't propose to do thing until have
had my say. I have a few things TO say
to the council or the Waterworks COM
mittee before begin the suit
well, we are ready 70 listen to you,
said Mr. Hughes
7 don't believe that this is a matter
which should be talked of in public
meeting" said Mr.. Spencer in a still
more agitated manner. II have always
pursued the policy Of not advertising
the methods viii pursue in pushing my
clients case. I don't believe that the
waterworks people get their attorneys
out and publish the tactics they viii
pursue I would. however. like to talk
this matter over with the proper people
before beginning the suit.
The council applauded this declaration
and Mr. Warner chairman Of the water
works committee arose to say that he
liked the attitude of Mr.. Spencer. This
is a matter which has had altogether too
much publicity for the public good and l.
hope to see the policy changed in the
future"
Since Mayor Hughes has been in the
chair there has only been two members
OF the wateTworks committee. Mr.. War
ner asked for another man on the COM
mittee-