The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-03
OUT OF A JOB.
Council Puts an End to Profit
able Business.
Men Who Force Pavement Upon
Property Owners.
is GOING TOO FAR.
City Overreaching Itself in
Building Pavements.
An Inning BY City Fathers as a
Collection Agency.


If the resolution passed by the city
council last night will hold water,
the days of -..e pavement solicitor are
ended In the future, all petitions for
pavement, to receive favorable consid-
Grafton by the council, must be accom-
panied by the following affidavit, prop
erly filled out:
Il do Solen My swear that 1 own lots
No. -- on street and reside at
No. - on said street; that 1 circu-
lated the accompanying petition for the
pavement OF said street and secured
the following signatures thereto (blank
for names of Signers). / further state
that I was not employed by any con-
tractor, agent or other person to circu-
late said petition and that / have not
been promised either directly or indi-
rectly any commission, concession, re-
bate of taxes or other compensation for
securing such signatures and that my
only interest in the pavement of said
street is that of resident property
owner"
This resolution was introduced by
James A. Troutman, who moved its
adoption. 1t was seconded by James S.
Warner, and was passed unanimously
In speaking in favor of the resolution,
Mr.. TrOutman said.
1T has been our experience here in
this council that the trouble and dis
satisfaction on paving matters has
been largely due to the professional So
licitor of pavement. 1t is not the people
who live the street to be paved who
give US annoyance and stir up
wrangles, but the rival pavement So
licitors. Last year and the year before
the city spent 100000 on paving. This
thing is going too far The city can not
stand the strain on its finances. Unless
we do SON ething to check. the move
ment, it is likely to keep up
Mr.. Warner spoke in favor of the mo-
ton, and cited the instance of the four
blocks of pavement laid in Dennis and
Martins addition last summer. Those
f<<.-
without the suggestion of any con-
tractor. The contractors did not know
anything about it till the petition was
ready. And we never had bit of trou-
BILE with it. It all moved along nicely
and regularly"
Several councilmen expressed an
opinion that the proposed resolution
would not he legal. but the city attor-
ney held that the council could require
such affidavits with the paving petit
tiOnS If it so desired. as there is moth
ing mandatory in the law concerning
the granting of petitions signed by
majority of the resident property own
ers. The council has the power to de-
eide such matters.
This resolution may have the effect of
knocking out the Morris avenue pave
ment and the East Eighth street pave
ment, both of which are still up in the
air. waiting for the difficulties to be
settled. Two more protests of new and
original design appeared to the East
Eighth street pavement last night,
making four documents of similar ma
ture now before the committee on
streets and walks.
The council is evidently getting very,
very tired of the strenuous life which
the pavement contractors are leading it.
STOOD BY VANDERPOOLA
The council, sitting as a collection
agency, was treated last night to the
unusual scene of man standing UP
before it and giving a list of several
thousand dollars of his outlawed obli-
pro rate his assets around these an
Gent creditors. The author of this un-
usual request was c. L. VanderpOol, the
city sanitary sergeant, who had been
brought up to explain why he had not
paid a debt of SAP due to Wolf Bros. e
Cole. The debt consisted of a note
barred by the statute of limitations
Mr. Vanderpools defense was that he
could not pay the note. and did not
want to be bulldozed. He told the coup
ell that he had other outlawed Obliga-
tons just as worthy as the one held by
Wolf Bros. & Cole. and named over
list which ran Up into the thousands.
The council decided by a vote of to
that it would not attempt to go back
of the returns. and make man pay
debts contracted before beginning Wo1k
for the city Incidental to this vote,
there was a sharp passage between
Mayor Hughes and Councilman Griley.
The latter favored a motion to require
Mr. vanderpool to pay the SAP or quit
Cured while Councilman Snattinger
was speaking. Mr.. Snattinger had just
said that he thought a man in debt
ought to be treated with consideration
Yes interrupted Councilman Girl
ley ''but the mayor could make better
appointments"
''wen. the council voted for the APP
pointments. didn't they?' asked a, Mr..
Hughes, 1.-The gentleman from the Sec
ond ward CMr. Griley) did not have
sand enough in his craw to vote at all
IF I had voted" retorted Mr.. Griley,
81 would have voted against your APP
pointments.
In the future claims against city Off
Gals will not be presented to the coun-
ell but will go direct to the committees.
This, is to save the alleged debtors from
undesira BILE publicity
The case of Chas. Botham, the police
man against whom Wolf Bros. & Cole
had a claim, was thrown out in the
same way the claim against Vanderpool
was.
NO CAR TRACKS TO MANSION.
The plan to have the street car tracks
extended to the governors mansion has
apparently died. A petition from prop
erty owners between Clay and Buchan-
an on West Eighth was received, offer
ing to waive all claim to a new assess
ment provided the tracks should be al
lowed to extend on that block. The pc
tition was signed, however, by only II
out of SO lots represented on the orig
inal petluOn, ana Was referred TO the
committee on streets and walks, where
it will probably perish The city at
torney announced that in order to pro-
tect the city it would be necessary to
have every lot on the block represented
on the petition.
$1,10O FOR NEW FIRE HOSE.
The council last night voted to spend
81 100 for new fire hose. This amount of
money will buy 1000 feet of cotton
rubber-lined hose. The city now has on
hand 5000 feet of serviceable hose, and
Chief Wilmarth states that the 1000 adj
ditional feet are greatly needed The
department has recently turned over to
the street force 1,S00 feet of worn hose
to be used in flushing. the streets
MERCHANT POLICE WILL STAY.
An effort was made last night TO