The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-10
TALKS OF DOODLE
Mr.. s. B. Rohrer Makes an Ugly
Charge.
Could Have "GOt Councilman"
for Gas Stock.
HE WOULD TELL ALL.
s Us on Witness Stand Would
Shield No One.
Information Points to Council
man GriIey.
Second Ward Alderman Enters
an Emphatic Denial.

A member of the city council has been
charged with attempted boodling by S.
3. Rohrer in the gas franchise case
which was before the council last Fri
day night.
Mr.. Rohrer says he could have bought
one of the councilmen to support his
proposition. by giving him an interest in
the gas company which he proposes to
FORM Because he would not put up
Rohrer says this councilman opposed
him, and defeated his proposition.
Mr.. Rohrer will not say who the coun-
Gilman was, but admits it was a coun-
Gilman who has opposed his franchise
from the start There are only three
members of the council who have voted
against Mr.. Rohrer every time. They
Councilman Joseph Griley, of the sec
ond ward. Councilman E. B. Snyder of
the Second ward and Councilman Jack
Blossom, of the First ward. They voted
against the Rohrer franchise on July II,
when it first came up, voted for the
Continental franchise on August 4, and
for the Continental on August at the
special midnight meeting. They also
voted against the Rohrer franchise on
August Z. Griley and Blossom voted
against it in the ways and means COM
mittee.
While no direct charge is made, the
inference is plainly drawn that the man
Mr.. Rohrer refers to is Councilman
Griley.
Councilman Griley said today: L
deny absolutely any charge of improper
conduct in connection with this gas case.
Rohrer is sore and is trying 10 iniure
the people who opposed his franchise
Will you demand an investigation by
the council of the charge which has been
made?"
L won't demand an investigation of
anything Rohrer says. He has repeat
edly made misstatements to The council,
and has shown that he is not worthy or
confidence ."
A man in close touch with the Rohrer
franchise proposition said today.
/ Councilman Griley came to Mr.. Ron
rer'S office repeatedly, and tried to get
him to promise to let him in on the gas
company he was organizing. Finally he
! tried to lay down the law to him. and
then Mr.. Rohrer turned him down
cold"
/ Mr.. Rohrer himself was seen by re-
porter for the State Journal this morn
| ing, and was asked to make a state
ment concerning the report of Doodle
charges. He said:
Il am out of the gas business, and
prefer not to discuss the matter, but in
asmuch it has been in measure eX-
posed without my knowledge or consent,
l will say that if 1 had been willing to
! support, l. cOulu nave Secul-
! ed this franchise. A certain member
of the council came to me several times,
and asked if he could not obtain an in
terest in my proposition. l told him |
couldn't do anything for him. He did
not want to buy an interest. He want
ed it as a gift. After he had come to
see me several times without success, he
| called one day and said, Now I'm going
to talk plain to you. l must have an in
terest in this gas proposition or L will
I foIA HI 70 al, n01
fight
was there more than one councilman
who offered you support in exchange for
! bOodle?"
No, only one. and he was always
against me-"
IF an official investigation should be
| made would you give the name of the
councilman who approached you?
IF 1 was put on the witness stand,
1 would tell the truth and shield no one.
I am out of the gas business. l was
beaten, and that ends it,
Mr.. Rohrer complained also of the
manner in which the Friday night meet
ing of the council was called He said:
| THE council adjourned to meet Au-
gust II. l did not know there was a
special meeting planned for August Z
until late in the evening. The meeting
was not called until late at night, be-
cause the opposition wanted to be sure
that it had its votes pledged and eV-
erything fixed.
1.-THE meeting was cdiIe0 because
Councilman HOWE was absent from the
city and because Councilman Weber
wanted to go away. Weber was op-
posed to me. and Howe was said to be
Favorable to my franchise However, it
is over now, and I don't propose to
make any further fight as long as the
Continental is in the field. | consider
the proceedings of the council irregular
and invalid
In view of the fact that Mr.. Griley
will not demand an investigation of the
charges it may be that one of the other
Democratic members will demand that
the charge be investigated in order to
clear himself from suspicion. Mayor
Bergundthal said today:
L don't know whether there Will he
any investigation of the charges. 1t all
rests with the council. There seemed tc
be two men who were very active in this
fight one on each side. I should think
that there ought to be no trouble about
somebody preferring charges"
The method of procedure in bribery
cases is set forth as follows in the city
ordinances
Whenever any charge of official mis-
conduct shall have been preferred
against any city officer elected by tbs
! qualified voters of the city or ward
mayor and confirmed by the council
said council shall take proper action OF
the same. Said charges and specifications
shall be in writing, distinctly and speci-
5 fcally alleging such act OF acts of mis-
{ conduct 1t shall require a vote of d
majority of the councilnen elect at any
business meeting to entertain the
charges, provided. however. that when
ever any charges are preferred by tbs
: mayor or any member of the council
Y the council must proceed within ter
days to investigate, hear the evidence