The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-08
HIT IN THE HEAD.
Council Deals VineWOOd Fran
chise a Death Blow.
Afterward Effort is Made to Re-
suscitate 1t.
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Considers Question in Secret and
Rejects Ordinance.
Excited Words and Reference to
Committee Follow.
DR.. Judd to Be Tried For Off
cial Misconduct.
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION

The vinewood Park railway fran
chise was killed last night and par
TALLY resurrected All that was said and
done by the city council is shrOuded
in more or less mystery. That body
went into executive session and killed
the ordinance or thought it did. The
method by which this was done is of
course a secret but when the doors
were thrown open the members seemed
to have different idea about what
had been done. Part of the members
thought only the route was knocked
out when the ordinance as a whole
had been killed
When Councilman Nichols made the
motion to go into executive session he
did not say what measure was dis
eussed but those in the room were
divided as to whether it was the water
works or Vinewood franchise. The at
torney for the Vinewood people, T. F.
Doran and F. S. Kelly. local manager
for the company, waited in the lobby
anxiously fearing that they had been
caught mapping.
It was nearly II o'clock when the
doors were thrown open and the few
people who were left struggled in. The
cOuncilmen were ready to leave. A few
had on their hats and coats when At
torney Doran approached the charmed
circle.
Il would like to inquire" said he,
IF you have had up the matter of the
Vinewood franchise2"
Yes, we have said half a dozen
May ask what was done?"
Mayor Parker-The franchise was
rejected.
Attorney Doran-I don't feel that we
have been treated fairly in this mat
ter. We were given to understand that
this would not come up tonight. I re-
quest that we be given a hearing be-
fore this council which has been de-
t-4- IL
held mass meeting and sent a dele
cation here and they are surely enti-
tied to at least a hearing The tax
payers along the proposed route who
have signed the petition are also en-
titled 10 a hearing before this council
but you have had none of these mat
tiers before you and still you vote in ex-
eeutive session to deny US a franchise
and have killed our ordinance without
a hearing.
Councilman Weber, do not under
stand that We acted on the ordinance
as whole. We knocked out only the
proposed route.
Mayor Parker-You are mistaken
The ordinance as a whole was killed
Attorney Doran-I asked Mr.. CLANCY
before the meeting if this matter would
come up and he told me there was no
report of the judiciary committee Act
ing upon this information the people of
Highland Park and other friends of the
project went home.
Councilman Chaney-There was no re-
port Of the judiciary committee as [
said So far as I am concerned this
company nor any other company can
come here and get a franchise like this
for nothing We acted on this ordinance
fairly and I don't propose to be bull
dozed into doing anything but what
believe is right.
Attorney Doran-Then why go into
the dark to consider this matter Why
not at least give us a hearing and if af-
TO-
worthy turn us down and we win go
away satisfied but don't let it go out
to the world that we have been refused
franchise when we have had no OPP
portunity to be heard.
Councilman Griley-So far as I am
concerned I would prefer a route nearer
my end OF town. understand that the
| only thing we considered tonight was
| the proposed route.
Councilman Blossom-I understood
that we intended to give these people
an opportunity to change their route
/ but II seems was mistaken.
Mr.. Kelly-There is evidently a mis-
understanding among the members of
| the council as to what was done and it
! seems to me no harm could result if you
would allow us to discuss this question
/ of q route either with the council or
1 with the judiciary committee.
Councilman Wolff was my under
/ standing that we voted only on the ques-
ton Of rejecting the proposed route.
/ Attorney Doran-You see our predica-
ment. We are without anything before
/ this council and we viii have to begin
| all over. We want to meet the council
and agree upon some route of travel
that will be satisfactory to every one.
We want proceedings that win bear the
light OF day.
Councilman weber, think that the
best way is for the Vinewood people to
Get the judiciary committee and talk
the matter over with them. / do not see
1 that they have lost much. I understand
/ one man owns this company and the
/ situation can easily be explained to him
and it does not matter what the rest of
! the people think. I therefore move that
the judiciary committee act for the
council and. consider this question of q
| franchise.
The motion was seconded by Council
man Blossom.
Councilman Chaney-No snap judg-
committee has thoroughly considered
! this matter and the council has rejected
4 the ordinance and it seems to ne that
! is all there is to it. With reference to
/ the route, if they have a new route tC
/ propose let them come before the coun-
/ ell with an ordinance and we VIII con-
slider it. This council certainly win not
| refuse respectful consideration to these
] people at any time
Mr.. Weber's motion to have the Vine
wood franchise considered by the judic-
i larry committee was then adopted with
out opposition and the council adjourn
ed.
CHARGES AGAINST DIR. JUDD
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