The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-11
RIVAL LOBBIES.
City Council Found Plenty Of
Material to Fight Over.
Edison Franchise Was Sent to
Ways and Means Committee.
SAVE AVENUE PAVING.
Ordinance Passed to Restrict
Hitching of Horses.
Lights on Melan Bridge Cause
Speech by Slmms.
SAVE AVENUE PAVING.

Notwithstanding the fact that the
forecast sent out indicated that last
nights meeting of the city council
would be a rather tame affair quite
the reverse was the case and it took all
of the diplomacy of Mayor Davis to
avert trouble, and an all night session.
There was but little business up for
consideration last night, as an under
standing had been reached among some
of the councilmen at least that the ses-
sion would be a short one.
Mayor Davis secured a promise from
J. w. F. Hughes early in the evening
that he would refrain from taking part
in debate if he should be appointed as
reading clerk. After the appointment
had been made it was necessary for
the mayor to remind the Potwin coun-
Gilman OF his pledge and even at that
he managed to land a few bits OF con-
versation in every discussion or the
evening.
A casual glance about the lobby of
the council chamber was sufficient to
convince one of the proximity OF trou-
bic for there was strong representa-
ton of the Edison Electric Light com
pany, another equally strong repre-
senting the Topeka Electric Light com
pany and also representatives OF the
Leavenworth and Topeka Bridge COM
panies who are wrangling over the con-
tract for the construction OF the East
Sixth avenue viaduct.
When the question as to whether the
contract for the building of the vladuct
should go to the Leavenworth Bridge
company. whose bid is about Sl,OOO
lower than the Topeka concern, or
should be awarded to the home COM
pany the atmosphere began to CLOUD
and it did not clear the remainder OF
the evening While the 1eaVenWorth
company has the lowest bid without
doubt the contention is that their olu
should not be considered as It was not
lad h
cording to the specifications OF the
council.
A majority of the members Of the
council feel that a mistake was made
when the bid Of the Leavenworth
company was considered but now thal
it has been considered that 1t shouIa
be accepted unless the Topeka nrm
will meet their price. The committee
Of tellers to whom the awarding OF
the contract was left were unaDle 70
agree and asked for more time, Wnlcn
was granted. The LeavenWorth Brluge
company's bid for the construction OF
the viaduct is $13,5O0 while that OF
the local company is about $l,oOO
higher.
Councilman Holiday introduced
and the council passed his DON'T
Hitch Horses on Kansas Avenue's
ordinance and in the future horses I
will not be permitted to stand on Kan
sas avenue between Crane street and |
Tenth avenue more than one hour |
The penalty for the violation of this /
ordinance is from $500 to $1,000. The
paving company and other experts
claim that the hitching of horses on !
the new pavement will shorten ITS lie |
many years and that Kansas avenue !
may he kept much cleaner If horses
are not permitted to stand on 1t Tor
hours.
The new Edison franchise came be-
fore the council on a report from the |
special council committee to which it |
had been referred, and in turn was re-
ferred to the ways and means com |
nittee on motion of Councilman |
Green The ordinance which has been |
under consideration was drawn by the |
ATTORNEYS for the Edison company and |
this does not meet with the approval
of either City Attorney Dreaming or |
several of the members of the council. |
The electric lights on the Melan |
bridge have not been acting right OF 1
has passed it has been discovered that |
they will not burn. This discovery |
gave Councilman Simms an oppor-
tunity to air himself on his favOrite /
theme and at the same time say some
things to ruff1e the feelings of H X. |
Goodrich, superintendent of the city |
electric light plant, whom he holds re-
sponsible for the darkness on |
the bridge. superintendent Goodrich /
claims that he IS no way responsible |
for the lights which he thinks have |
been grounded. and claims that it is
the duty of the Edison Electric Light
company, VINO Is FURNISHING The cur
rent, to keep them in repair.
All of the sidewalk which was contract /
ed for this summer to M. w Gilmore VIII
year and property owners liable for such |
Improvements have, objected d. to having
their property placed on the 1906 tax rolls /
for this special tax. They want their |
property to be taken Off the rolls this /
wear and placed on the rolls next year at |
the time of the completion of the con- /
tract Mr. Gilmore has objected to this |