The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-11
LOCKED DOORS.
Facts About WaterWorks Star
Chamber Session.
Purpose Was to Defeat Purchase
of Plant.
GIVE AWAY FRANCHISE
Would Grant Present Company
Right to Stay.
Surprising Strength of Enemies
of City Ownership.

The 'secret session" of the city coun-
ell Monday night seems to have been
in reality a murderous attempt to stab
in the back the proposed city owner
ship of waterworlsS. Why the council
should consider it necessary to go into
star chamber session, behind locked
doors to discuss the waterworks seems
to be explained by the desire of ]. w.
F. Hughes and few others who want
to kill city ownership of waterworks
without the knowledge of the public,
and in defiance of the will of the peo-
pie.
At the meeting Monday night it can
be stated on good authority that the
following councilmen expressed them
selves as being in favor of declaring off
the deal for the purchase of the city
waterworkS:
J. w. F. Hughes, Sixth ward.
c. K. Holiday, Second ward.
Joseph Griley, Second ward.
George Neil. Third ward.
S. S. Rice, Fourth ward.
l.. A. Ryder, First ward.
S. A. Swendson expressed himself as
being in favor of making the purchase
of the plant as deereed by the vote of
the people of Topeka. Samuel T. Howe
said he was opposed to city owner
ship of public utilities but felt under
obligations to carry out the will of the
people. William Green was non-com-
INITIAL but said that he thought it was
not yet time to call off the agreement
for the purchase of the plant. L. M.
NeIlis, J. G. Sinner and S. r. Kutz
did not express themselves on the SUBJ
ject.
1t looks as though the enemies of
city ownership of waterworks had al
most secured the upper hand in the
council, and were preparing to sacrifice
the opportunity which the city has TO
obtain control of the water plant.
At the meeting last night, nine of
the councilmen expressed themselves
on the subject Nothing was said Whlch
could not have been said in open meet
ing. The public has a right to know
what is done in these meetings, and
the State Journal is glad to be able
to inform them of what appears to be
a scheme to betray the public trust.
The motion to go into executive ses-
sion was made. After the doors were
closed, a motion was made that the
that none of the proceedings might
go on record. The meeting thereupon
became an informal discussion. The
object of the opponents of city owner
ship seemed to have planned the af-
fair for the purpose of solidifying and
showing their strength.
J. W. F. Hughes, L. A. Ryder, Jos.
Griley, c. K. Holiday and, S. S. Rice
HldOe d StdI6IlSiI III Ae|Oi VI SO1lAS
back on the expressed will of the peo-
pie that the plant be purchased for
100000. Geo. Neil did not commit
himself until pressed to do SO, and
then said that che thought just the
way Ryder did"
S. T. Howe suggested that if possible,
he would like to have a sort of in
formal election or ballot held, open
to the participation of all the people
of Topeka, at which the people might
express their will as to whether the
plant should be purchased for $780,
900.
Several of the councilmen expressed
the opinion that nine-tenths of the
people are opposed to the purchase
of the plant.
The members who are fighting city
ownership did not have any feasible
plan to suggest for future action if the
present negotiations are declared off.
Their only logical course of action un-
der such circumstances is the grant
ing of a new franchise to the Topeka
Water company.
The only definite action which was
taken by the meeting was a motion that
the conference with President Chas. T.
Street be held with the waterworks
committee, and not with the council as
a whole.
The waterworks committee is COM
posed of ]. w. F. Hughes, William
Green and S. T. Howe.
Mayor Bergundthal. when asked this
morning whether a special meeting of
the council would be called to talk to
President Street, said; mo, there will
be no meeting until October IS. We
have nothing to talk to Street about"