The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-21
City Council Provides for Issu-
ance of Water Bonds.
They Will Amount to $3.50, 900
at 1 Per Cent.
MITCHELL is NAMED.
Conduct of City Lighting Plant
to Be Investigated.
City Attorney Spencer Wants
Increase in Salary.

Definite progress was made last night
by the city council toward the owner
ship of the waterworks by the city. An
ordinance was introduced and referred
to the judiciary committee providing for
an issue of 1856. 900 in bonds, and reso-
luton was passed which gives formal
notice to the owners of the water plant
that the city of Topeka is ready to
carry out its part of tbs bargain and buy
the plant. The resolution is as fol-
lows;
Whereas. The Topeka Water COM
Dany submitted proposition to sell its
water plant to the city of Topeka for
the sum of $500, 900, the sum of 100000
thereof to be paid by the assumption by
the city of mortgage for that amount
now on said property; and
Whereas. BY a vote of the electors of
said city at an election held in said city
on the 9TH day of April. 1908. the mayor
and council were authorized to issue
bonds of said city to the amount Of
1856, 600, to be used in the payment OF
the purchase of said water plant sub
Ject to said mortgage of $4,000 there
fore be it
Resolved. By the mayor and couneiI
Of said city, that the mayor and council
of said city are now ready and willing
to issue said bonds and carry out the
tCl III J1 SdlQ DIOBQSlLlBI.
Resolved. further, That the said
water company be requested to notify
the mayor and council at what time as
near as possible, it Will be ready to con-
summate said sale and make delivery
of the said water plant to the city and
whether said water company is willing
to accept the $3.50. 600 bonds to be issued
IN payment Of the purchase price over
and above the 1910. 900 mortgage.
Resolved. further That the city clerk
be directed to send copy of these reso-
lutions TO Chas. F. Street. the president
OF said Topeka Water company
The ordinance which provides for the
( issuance of the bonds to buy %he plant
4 Is mere legal statement of the fact
I that the various preliminaries incident
10 the bond issue have been complied
with, and that the city is authorized to
issue the bonds. The kind of bonds is
set forth in the document. as follows:
said bonds shall be issued in denomi-
nations Of 81 900 each, shall run for q
period of 20 years. bear interest at the
rate or 4 per cent. per annum, payable
seni-annually, and the said interest
and principal shall be payable at the.
fiscal agency of the state of Kansas i'll
the city of New York: but said bonds
shall not be sold or used for less than
their face value and no commission or
other compensation shall be allowed for
their sa-@' -
PORTER MITCHELL APPOINTED
The appointment of Porter Mitchell
as superintendent of the city electric
Hght plant was announced last night by
Mayor Bergundtha1 and confirmed nv
the council, but It started little storm.
Councilman George Tincher called up
the statement which Mayor Bergund-
thai was quoted in Monday evenings
State Journal as having made concern
/ ing the condition of the city electric
/ light plant He said:
The evening paper indicates that
something is wrong with the manage
ment of the electric light nlant IF
{ things have fRfArinT.a ar T
the council ought to know It, And 1
believe that in justice to Superintendent
Goodrich. the statement should be in
vestigated."
Mayor Bergundthal assented to this.
and the investigated was placed in the
I hands of the committee on electric
lights. which is composed of Councilmen
j Snyder, Kutz and Neil.
Superintendent Goodrich, in spea king
of the charge made by Mayor Ber-
! gundthal says: +All I ask is a chance
to clear up these charges. According
I to Mr. BergundthaIs statement 7 was
practically removed for cause. 1 want
the plant investigated and the state
ment either proved or disproved. have
no disposition to hang on after I am re-
moved, but ] what an Investigation be-
fore 1 quit. I have d right to demand
that, for my qualifications as an cleo
trician are in question"
Mayor BergundthaI also announced
the following appointments: City
attorney, W. c. Ralston; weighmaster
Q. A. Peck; deputy street commissioner
H. Van yechten.
CLEMENS THREATENS FIGHT.
g. c. Clemens made a characteristic
speech before the council against the
proposed increase in the dog tax from
81 to IS on male dogs and IS to SO on
female dogs. He said that if the coun-
Gil passed the new ordinance he would
fight it in the courts
II wouldn't give you thirty cents fol-
all the dog licenses you collect in the
next six months if you pass that new
ordinance. declared Mr.. Clemens
Clemens speech is comparable e
nothing except another of Clemens
speeches It bristled with sharp thrusts
and sizzled with eloquence The audi
ence was with Mr.. Clemens, and gave
MIN regular NineWood park burst OF
applause whenever he made a particl1-
larly savage lunge at the ordinance. He
said the ordinance was calculated tc
destroy the pets of the poor mans chill
dren, and compared City Clerk Suuirss
issuing of dog tags to the Christian
Science healer giving absent treatment
He declared that the present license OF
81 and s. is the result of a compromise
which he and Sam Radges forced ths
council to make as the price of peace
seven years ago He vowed that h.
would renew hostilities if the new or
dinance is passed. He told pitifu
her dog tax few days ago. ant
slammed down a dollar on the mayors
desk which he demanded should be re-
paid to the old woman by the city
clerk.
In conclusion. Mr. Clemens said: II
is contemplate for a city government
to live off of the decorations of the feel
ings of the poor. Restore the old ordi.
nance. If you do that. there will be NJ
trouble If you don't. I Will fight you as
I did before. and I count for consider
able in fight of this kind I am s.
years old. but have one good fight lef
in me yet. I want Mr.. Mayor. that YOU
should see 20 4 that that dollar is rs
turned to that old woman"
A Santa Fe shopman. representing
delegation of fellow workmen. followed
Mr.. Clemens with short speed