The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-11
WAS 1T DOODLE?
Council May Start Investigation
to Find Out.
Nellis of Fourth Ward May Pre-
fer Charges.
GRILEY is NOT AFRAID.
Says He'll Treat Statement
With Silent Contempt.
Major Harvey, Attorney for
Company, Makes Statement.

adopted the silent contempt method
of treating S. B. Rohrer, the gas fran
chise man who makes a serious charge
of boodling, there are other members of
the council who are said to be expecting
to stir things up and provoke, if possi-
Bile, an investigation of the Doodle
charges.
Councilman Luther Nellis stated this
morning that there would have to be an
investigation He was very much agita-
ted by the reflections which had been
cast on the members of the council He
may even prefer charges himself against
somebody If there seems to be no other
way to stir up the animals, and it IS
possible that he will also be investiga-
ted.
Councilman Griley will probably leave
on Thursday for his trip to Ohio He
may be here till Friday. He said to-
day:
The more I talk with my friends
about this Rohrer business, the more
am convinced that 1 ought to say MOTH
ing in reply to this gentleman. 1 will
simply let the thing crop. l thought
seriously of prosecuting him for libel,
but don't see that Iwould gain any
thing L have had occasion to look up
his record and l believe it would not
be difficult to prove that he is not man
of the best reputation a his home in
Leroy, so far as truth and Veracity is
concerned 1 was at his office only twice
on the gas franchise business, but would
have been there much oftener had 1
gone whenever he asked me to go.
IF Councilman Nellis wants to start
any investigation. he may come in for
share himself Mr. Nellis, Mr.. Neil and
one or two other councilmen agreed, IN
the mayors office, on the day of the
council meeting about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, that they would all vote for
the passage of both ordinances. | told
them that I would enter into such an
agreement, and it was understood that
we would vote for both ordinances. Mel
lis didn't do this. ! wonder why not ?
/ wonder why he switched around so
quick?"
A. M. Harvey. the attorney for the
Continental Gas company, said this
morning:
I have confidence in anything Mr..
Griley may say about this and / can
say that so far as the Continental COM
pany is concerned, Mr.. Griley nor any
one else ever received or was offered any
money or other inducement TO vote for
us. Mr.. Griley has no stock in our COM
pany and if he gets any it will be by
purchase like other people"
THE meeting, at which the gas fran
chise ordinance was passed, had been
talked over among the council ever since
cussed it on Tuesday. the 4th, and l told
him that we were anxious to have the
matter disposed of, SO that we would
know our position. Every member OF
the council, who was in the city, was
present and signed a call and a waiver
of the two hours notice provided by
ordinance. Mr.. Rohrer was on hand
l with D. w Mulvane and c. E. Gault.
his attorneys After the committee had
acted and the Rohrer people thought
that our ordinance was killed, they gave
ms the Jolly and themselves demanded
that the council meet and settle the
question
granting of q franchise to Mr.. Rohrer,
but contended for our own on its merits
eOur ordinance contained the follow
; ing provisions. which were not contain a.
ed in the Rohrer franchise until aIter
! they had rewritten it:
1--WE offered to sell gas at 40 cents
, and 80 cents per thousand feet, 1nsteau
! of 60 cents. ~. ,,-.
| of the entire city building including the
, I'VE offered to put up our forfeit of
! one thousand dollars
I'VE offered to pay Tor the puoHcdtloh
.sThe Rohrer people finally changed
their ordinance to comply with All OF
the provisions of the Continental Or
ldinance and then demanded that they
. - GIVEN the exclusive franchise. All we
asked was an opportunity to put ma
ural gas into the city, regardless OF
what others might do or attempt TO 40
The council was fair enough TO glVe
MS our franchise and they would nave
done the same by Mr.. Rohrer II ns
: would have accepted it, Mr. Swenosoli. son.
who is one of the strongest ana oes,
men in the council, was the open anu
n,1o1ved champion of the Rohrer fran
! chise but voted against 1t after tis
: Continental ordinance was passed. nc r1aI
he changed his vote, Mr. Ronrer WouiO
i have had his franchise - ++e
ssT believe that the mayor ana ths
entire council were absolutely hohes
! in their attempts to secure natural gas
: for the city of Topeka w e We're us us
appointed several times ny councllillSl lLL1l
vnting against us when we though
tbav were for us, but we never dreanee
of charging them with bad motive -
one time Mr. Nellis promised me ina
! as A member of the ways ana means
ao-,or,ittee he would vote to report botf
or5inances. so that we would have al
equal show on the floor of the councl
with the Rohrer people L was indeed
u surprised when, in the committee meet
Q ino he voted to lay our ordinance o.
: the table and absolutely refused to hell
report it. He explained 1t to me after.
: ward by saying that he had changed
e his mind. and he was so frank, homes
and good-natured about it. that I hae
Y no disposition to complain of or b'
2 aggrieved at his actions
THE Continental Oil and Gas com
2 pany propose. in good faith, to brinl
/, natural gas to the city of Topeka anc
e TO assist in developing fields that Ii,
between the gas district and our city
: We earnestly covet the good will and
!. cooperation of the citizens of Topeka
L in our attempt to do this
}. STILL HAVE HOPES
t There is no doubt that Rohrer anC
his friends still have hopes that the,
e will get the franchise. They believe o.
Iclaim to believe. that the Continenta