The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-11

'1 think that everyone here feels
\ kindly toward this resolution said
| Councilman Stanley. Lawrence pays
| 25 cents, Leavenworth 25 cents and
| st. Joe 80 cents. We are just the same
as these towns. Am I right?'
mo. sir. I have got the figures
right here" said Hughes.
ST have got the floor" retorted
Stanley.
well, you asked
| eyes, sir Yes, sir. 1 am for cheap
gas but I do believe. 1 hope that it
will go to the committee. I. wouldn't
want to act without legal advice.
| haven't had any. I think we should
| not act unless we are founded on a
| good substantial legal advice
| "Since we have the assurance that
| the gas company never expects to
charge more than the 25 cents think
it would be a good idea to have that
put in writing" said Jordan.
eff there is man here that is not
for it he is not worthy seat in this
place. said Blakely.
| You are not acting like it tonight
retorted Hughes.
| 1--WE want some advice before we
| act. If the city attorney advises it, If
there is law for 1t, I am sure we will
all be for it, said Blakley.
'I don't like this eternal ding dong
| ing and putting it off. This simply
| instructs the city attorney to bring in
an ordinance and let it be referred
You seem to be afraid to let the city
attorney draw up an ordinance"
NO we are not" said Stanley.
"Well you are acting IT.
1.-The general is making a lot of his
political campaign right here to-
| night said Holiday. HE is making
j his canvass easy. If the Potwin peo-
pie can stand for it we will try to
bear UP under it. There is a way of
treating this right by referring this
to a committee and have them ham
die 1t decently and in an ordinary
manner. Let the committee go into
every conceivable point and assist
your attorney In drafting the ordi-
nance. Let's try to get this political
discussion out of our business
Il don't see why there should be all
this clubbing over this resolution. If
there Is some difference of opinion on
this question the counc1Imen can ex-
press themselves when the ordinance
comes up for passage said Council
man Jordan.
Holliday-"You don't want to get
the people into an interminabIe row."
Jordan-'There Is no reason why
there should be any row. We stand be-
tween the gas company and the peo-
pie"
I think We have treated the gas
company very good" said Councilman
Montgomery. I'VE have been very gen.
erous We gave them a franchise that
was worth by sworn testimony $117. 900,
for nothing, not one cent I think the
| resolution should pass"
Mr.. Holiday says you are liable to
get into lawsuit. When you have
got so much at stake it's worth a law
suit said Hughes.
Blakely-''There has not been a single
reason given why this should not be
given to a committee. An emergency
does not exist. Men ought to be men,
Now want to say that we should treat
this calmly. Let's give time to consider
this. l shall vote on this irrespective
OF any promotion that 1 may have at
stake though / hope to be an aspirant
ror this same place again, still if the
people would rather have me vote
against my best judgment then 1 Will
step aside"
Stanley-"We would not act on a
sidewalk petition for two blocks with
out referring it to a committee. And
If we have 100000 at stake as Mr..
Hughes says then we should have good
plans and methods to get hold of that
So, 900, 0O0.''
Joseph Marshall, an architect, who
was sitting in the audience, secured
permission to speak and then proceeded
" bt1S COuIlCll IOf Jot ass III ItlS
better gas supply. He intimated that
the council had been influenced.
Councilman Holiday started to his
feet to protest to the mayor.
''Mr. Holiday will you please take
your seat shouted Marshall
Il rise to a point of personal priv
ilege, to point of order and decency,"
said Holiday. Marshall kept ON I'M
heedingly.
You show us the way out said
| Blakely. I'VE want to be advised. We
are ready to do something
81 WILL said Marshall. I'VE want
sufficient pipe capacity
How are We going to bring that
about? ?"
Go after the creature that you Gre
ated''
Mr.. Marshall
Don't interrupt me. Will you sit
down. Now then. you or l." said Mar
shall, waving his arms menacingly at
Blakely.
You deliberately come here with
bucket and brush to whitewash," said
Marshall.
you are out of ORDER called the
mayor Marshall then rushed from the
council chamber muttering.
Text of the Resolution
The resolution under which the city
attorney is instructed to act follows:
Whereas, On August Z. 1903, the
| mayor and council of the city of To-
peka, Kansas, granted to the Continent
| tal-Oil and Gas company, under ordi-
| nance No. 2435 OF said city, approved
August Is, 1903 the right to distribute
| and sell natural gas throughout said
! city and granted to said company IN
| der paragraph six of said ordinance
the right to charge consumers of gas in
4 said city a maximum of 40 cents per
| thousand feet; and
Whereas, Under ordinance No. 2574
| of said city passed by the mayor and
/ council of said city May g. 1905, and ap-
| proved May 16. 1905, the Excelsior Coke
| and Gas company and the Consumers