The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30
The Pipe Organ Proposition
Goes Over.
To Be Considered on Thursday
Night.
MIR. FOSTER EXPLAINS.
What the Association Is At
tempting to Do.
Organ Will Be Used for Benefit
of City.

For no apparent reason except lack
OF inclination to tackle the problem with
two members of the committee absent,
the ways and means committee Friday
night voted to lay over the consideration
of the proposed pipe organ association
agreement until next Thursday night, at
which time another meeting of the COM
mittee will be held which will be at
tended by some of those interested in
the organ association.
Councilman Nellis was absent from
the meeting, because of the Kansas Day
club banquet, and Councilman Swend-
son had to leave a few minutes after
the meeting started for the purpose of
organizing a Hoch club in his part of
town.
Councilman Swendson announced him.
self as being unqualifiedly opposed to
the proposition of the pipe organ asso-
citation. He was for turning it down
without any ceremony. But the other
members of the committee were inclined
to temporize and give the pipe organ
folks hearing.
After the committee had agreed to
postpone all action until Thursday
night Frank Foster one of the mem
bers of the committee which signed the
agreement, asked the committee to con-
slider some of the points in the agree
ment and see whether there were any
matters not fully understood. The COM
1nittee agreed to do this, and for some
time listened to Mr.. Fosters explana-
tons Of the purposes of the agreement.
All the members of the committee
expressed themselves as being heartily
in favor of the plan of placing pipe
organ in the Auditorium. The two
chief questions which were raised were,
first, whether the council could or
should turn over the exclusive control
of the building to any corporation or
gained for profit; and second, whether
the organ should become the property
of the city. or remain subject to the
control Of the association.
Mr. Foster stated that he believed
the council could allow the building to
be used in the manner proposed. and
stated that the association did not de-
sire to retain ownership of the organ,
but simply deemed it wise to keep
ownership for a time because of the
fact that there will be a mortgage on
the instrument which the association
expects to pay, and which might be
held as an obligation of the city if the
city owned the instrument.
1t is likely that when the whole COM
mittee gets into conference with the
representatives of the organ association
1t Will be not difficult matter to fix
up some sort of a compromise agree
ment which will be satisfactory to both
parties.
NO MORE PAY NOW.
The application Of the electric light
turned down, for the present at least.
Councilman Howe suggested that the
city shut down on all additional aX-
pense until some statement of the fin
ancial conditions of the city is obtained
and the city knows what it has to
spend. It was decided to lay the ap-
plication of the electric light men on
the table until this financial informct-
ton is obtainable.
Councilman Howe said last night: 81
want to say that I shall oppose all
extra expenses until we know some
thing about our financial condition. I
have tried to get statement from the
city clerk and city treasurer which
would show exactly the amount in the
various funds, and have been unable
to get any information. The books are
not kept in such shape that it is posi-
Bile to get any information such as we
need. l will oppose the proposed i'm
proVements to the council chamber, the
improvements to the city jail, and all
improvements until we know where the
money is to come from to make the
payments"
The following are the increases in
pay asked for by the electric light plant
men:
Engineer, SIS to $50; fireman, $50 to
$50; linemen, 500 to $75; trimmer, $57. so
TO $40.
Nearly all of the employees of the
plant were present and told the COM
mittee why they were entitled to an
increase in pay.
WILL GET A HAYMARKET.
After advertising in vain for a piece
of land which can be leased for a hay
market, the committee on ways and
means last night took a more sensible
way of getting what they want by in
structing the street commissioner to Sc
lect some suitable location within five
blocks of the center of town, and find
out the terms upon which the land can
be leased for haymarket
This method of procedure places the
er, who knows more about the location
of desirable lots for the purpose than
anybody else. 1t is likely to result in
the city getting a new haymarket.
The committee will report to the
council Monday night that the city has
no money to buy haymarket, and will
recommend the abandonment of this
plan.
WIDE TIRE ORDINANCE.
While the ways and means commit
tee was meeting in the committee room.
the streets and walks committee was
holding forth in the council chamber.
About thirty members of the teams
ters union We're present at the meet
ing, for the purpose of urging the re-
peal of the wide tire ordinance.
It is contended by the teamsters that
the wide tire ordinance works great
hardship on the poorer class of labor
ers, because 1t comDels them to keep
two kinds of wagons on hand; wide
tire wagon for dry weather, and mar
row tire wagon for wet weather. They
claim that in muddy weather it is inn
possible to drag one of the wide tire
wagons through the mud.
1t is also contended that the narrow
tire wagons do not injure the brick
pavement in the least, no matter how
much of a load is put onto the wagons.
The streets and walks committee ad-
5ourned without taking any definite ac-
ton in the matter. but it is likely that
the ordinance will at least be modified
somewhat, and some of the members of
the committee are in favor of its abso-
lutte repeal.
A Creditable Entertainment
n I2rnrr1, Of ToraIra has r11r.=