The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-30
City Attorney Drenning Before
the Council Committee.
Mayor Tells Him He Has Been
a Failure.
MADE LITTLE DEFENSE
Wonder of Wonders He Does
Fight Back.
Promises to Be Good il Matter
Is Dropped.

r. G. Drenning, city attorney, and
one time fire eater. has lost his repu-
sation. 1t was torn into shreds ha lase
told him that he was making hlmseiI
the laughing stock of the town, tnat
ne had no discretion. that he was not
sincere when he made a promise ana
UP in a corner, sassed back little but
otherwise gave a most lifeliKe Imita-
ton of a lamb.
The city attorney was up before the
council committee on judiciary Tor IN
vestigation on charges of inSubordlna-
ton to the council and mayor. Here
are the charges filed by Mayor Wllham
Green against Dreaming based In part
on instructions passed by the councli
last October and handed to the city
attorney:
1. Disregarding the instructions OF
the council to attend council meetings
2. The dismissing of cases in court
without consulting mayor and council.
3. The collecting of fines without
letting those settlements go through
the police court.
A Compromising with defendants
in the dismissal of appealed cases:
S. The holding up of mandates
which should go to the police court.
6. The violation of the instructions
given by the mayor October II, 1907.
Z. Interfering with and suppressing
Of mandates.
incidentally the mayor made his
case. Drenning admitted violation or
a majority of the charges He was
given a chance to defend himself but
claimed that he was unprepared TO
make the defense that he was entitled
to-that he had no idea Of the charac-
ter OF the charges which would be
filed against him or the questions
which would be asked Of him.
He was anxious for conciliation,
but the mayor was not there with the
olive branch. Every time that Dren-
ming wanted to appeal to the laying
down Of arms the mayor would score
him roundly.
Drenning said he would be willing
to try any cases that the mayor and
chief wanted him to in the future but
where he differed with them as to
the strength of the evidence he
wanted a written order from the
mayor.
The mayor refused.
Mayor Green Talks Plainly.
"I haven't any confidence in your
sincerity or in your discretion.
Dreaming. I am going to talk plainly.
We have told you how to handle
these cases but you don't want to do
it>in that you; you want us to give
you an order so that you won't have
to take the blame. I know just how
you will act, the cases that you think
that you can't win you will pay no
attention to. you won't prepare your
self for them, and you will dismiss
them and shoulder the responsibility
onto u.s. said the mayor.
well, now. let's not go away from
here mad. Let's settle this here this
evening" pleaded Dreaming as the
committee started to pick up their
hats to adjourn.
lished that cases were dismissed"
said the mayor.
"I think Mr.. Chairman it is sufi-
cient showing that I hal claim for
what 1 had to present" The COM
mittee seemed to think the same way
well wish you gentlemen would
see Judge Dana and ask him about
the way I have conducted these cases.
L think he will tell you that I have
acted to the best of my ability and
that haven't dismissed any cases un-
less my discretion advised me to. II
have tried to act honestly" said
Dreaming.
"I don't believe Judge Dana wants
to be dragged into this" said the
mayor;
done me. If the committee would
have talk with Judge Dana it would
tend to explain some of these mat
ters."
"I don't see what Judge Dana
knows about the cases that have been
t..
Hereafter I am going to take mar.
ticular pains to try the cases that YOU
and the chief expressly want to try"
said Drenning.
1T Is unreasonable to expect me TO
try cases that I don't think we will be
able to win, but the council seems II
think these cases should be tried. As
1t has been If went ahead and tried
the cases the chief wanted me to try
without having good evidence and /
tried them and lost, 1 got the blame for
1t. If dismissed the cases, depending
upon my discretion I was blamed by
the chief and the mayor. It's a mis-
taken idea that I don't want to fight
these cases. All want is to have some
one to take the authority, to place il
down in black and white what cases
should be tried"
This explanation is coming rather
tardy," said the mayor. why didn't
you make this explanation last fall and
not go ahead and make 1t now. That
would have been the time to make
such a statement, right after the ac-
tion of the council in October, Why
did you wait until now? Isn't it a fact
Mr.. Drenning. that you wanted to do
things your own way? You wanted TO
IN boss and intended to be so, disre-
Rarding the councils action You
though you would run the whole thing
to suit yourself. You are making YOUR
self the laughing stock of the town and
ton"
The committee adjourned without
any definite action and will meet again
probably Friday.
BIames 1t on Eaton
"The whole trouble originates gentle