The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-16
THIS WILL DO.
City Attorney Won't Go to
Chicago Now.
Change of Plan in the Gas
Hearing.
NO REASON is GIVEN.
Mr.. Spencer Doesn't know When
1t VIII Be Resumed.
Apparently Afraid to Take Next
Move.

The attorneys for the city in the dol
lar gas case unexpectedly announced to-
day that the plan to go to Chicago to
take testimony on behalf of the city has
been abandoned for the present at least.
When viii you go to Chicago?" was
asked of City Attorney Spencer.
I don't know
When will the taking of testimony be
resumed2"
That hasn't been decided"
When the Hearing is resumed, will it
be resumed in Chicago?"
I can't say yet"
The reason assigned for the sudden
change in plans is that the witnesses
that the city expected to examine in
Chicago can not be collected at this
time.
1t is very probable that nothing more
will be done in the taking of testimony
until after Christmas.
One of the attorneys for the gas com
pany said: We had made all our plans
to start for Chicago this afternoon. and
I didn't know until five minutes ago
that the plan had been abandoned. 1t
makes it very inconvenient for me, but
the city may have good reason for
postDoning the trip. l have not been
informed as to their reasons for the
change in the plans"
There IS runor that some of the
/ Chicago witnesses whom the city is
anxious to get on the witness stand are
! hiding OUT because they do not want
/ to give any testimony which is injurious
4 to the gas company. The gas compa-
MES of the country are in close touch
with each other, and do all they can to
help each other in cases of this 1-nE-
where an effort is being made to compel
them to reduce their rates. William
Brady, the owner of the Topeka gas
plant. is a leader in the gas-making
/ business of the country. and owns a
number of big plants in various parts
/ of the country.
The gas company people believe that
/ they have the city on the run, and that
all efforts on the part of the city to get
damaging testimony will prove futile.
When one of the gas men was asked to-
/ day to state why, in his opinion, the
Chicago trip of the city's attorneys was
! so suddenly called off, said:
Did you ever hear that story about
/ the tramp? Well, the tramp had just
begged a nickel from a benevolent old
lady, and the old lady took pity on his
rags and dirt and said:
My good man, won't you give ms
| the history of your life?
:. Cert responded the tramp, I've
been up against it and bounced back.
OATS all. See2
That's just the condition of the city
in this gas case. 1t has been up against
/ it and bounced back,
Daley conferences are held between
i City Attorney Spencer and Judge J. D.
/ Mcfarland at the latter'S Office They
are working hard to get their evidence.
in shape, and usually their conferences
are dtleIldeu Dy d gas expert III llS Ell
plOy of the city, who gives them the
necessary information about the prac-
teal side of the business. There is no
doubt that the city has a hard row to
/ hoe in securing evidence of value, be-
cause of the combine of gas men to con-
ceaI the kind of information the city
I needs Even those gas experts who are
not in any way connected with companies
/ controlled by the combine fear to give
testimony because it would prejudice
their interests in case they should ever
desire to secure employment in the gas
Z business