The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-31
Gilmore Files Protest, But
Council Listens Not.
LITIGATION RUMBLING
Lawyers Appear Before Council
With Warnings.
Other Council Proceedings Last
Night.

WIN Oil ANU aCS AoAA VI al S0AAACA -
and his mind set upon landing as
many of the paving contracts as pos
sible, w. w. Gilmore, one of the close
bidders for the second installment of
Topeka paving, appeared before the
mayor and council last night with the
intention Of destroying the value of
the bids of his competitor. John
Richie. But he failed and Mr..
Richie received the contracts as per
his bids
Mr.. Gilmore claimed through his
lawyer, Thomas f. Doran, last night
that when he appeared before the
committee on public improvements of
the council the day before. he told
them that he would have all of the
blocks on the streets or none and not
all of the paving or none as in
terpreted by the committee. 1t was on
account of this statement by Mr.. Gill
more that the committee found it
necessary to figure out the square
yards, the linea1 feet, ETC., of all the
paving and guttering over the city.
The contract was awarded on the
basis of the total bid on paving gut
tering, curbing and all and by this
process Mr.. Richie received the low
est bid.
The action that really leased Mr..
Gilmore on to his fight last night was
the big number of petitions for the
first grade paving which have been
coming in to the council the last few
days. 1t seems that Mr.. Gilmore had
the lowest bid on the first class paw
ing and he tried to show the council
that since SO many people desired this
kind of paving it was up to them to
give him the contract He tried to
prove that the tax payers would have
to pay a higher price for their new
paving on account of this.
If Mr.. Gilmore was not successful
in making the council believe the way
he did last night he can console him.
self on the assurance that he caused
a stir and mixup. There are always
a few in the council who never I'M
derstand anything until the last min
ute-they never attempt to dig the
thing out for themselves until 1t comes
time for the final action and then they
stand on the council floor filled to the
brim with unnecessary questions
This caused all kinds of trouble among
the councilmen last night as it was
necessary for those who knew to go
to the big task of explaining to those
who did not know and almost two
hours of good valuable time was
wasted for no reason whatever. 1t
seems to be customary for the coun-
cilmen to refer matter to a COM
mittee and then when the committee
works day and night and makes their
final report to the council the men
who did not inform themselves as they
should, jump to their feet and hint
graft" and Ignorance"
The whole question was solved last
night when Mayor Green made a SEN
sational statement in regard to the
temperance of Mr.. Gilmore. He said:
ST think I can see through the whole
matter. Mr. Gilmore was so cocksure
Of the contract when he appeared be-
fore the committee that he made that
Fash statement expecting to carry
everything Now he sees that he can
not get a thing without changing his
tactics and he is sidesteppng"-and
ne pounded his gavel upon the desk.
Mr. Gilmore received some hard
pointed questions last night from the
eouncilmen who composed the commit
tee. Mr.. Horn turned his back to the
council and swinging his arms in
rhyme with his convicting tongue he
repeated the conversation between Mr.
Gilmore and the committee and Their
he asked if it was not right. Mr. Gil
more admitted the fact. Mr.. Jordan
also explained the matter, saying that
the committee had taken Mr.. Gilmore
for what he had said-they were not
mind readers. Mr.. Jordan also men
toned the fact that If the people had
not been so slow in their petitions for
first class paving Mr.. Gilmore would
have received the contract easily. Mr.
Tandy slid the -astion right up tC
the contractor and he gave it in any.
Rogers also threw the sling and landed
a good blow upon the former state
ments of the contractor. The whole
natter dropped when City Attorney
lJrenning was called before the coun.
Gil to settle the mater. He held a paw.
ing estimate in his hand and said:
A man who comes before a council
committee with string tied to his bic
is doing an Illegal act. The COMMITTEES
on public improvements has the righ
to reject any bid they so desire Thi:
settles it."
Just as the city attorney finished hi.
last word the big council clock gave {
loud ring and the matter was official
~ closed. The timely ring of the clocl
made the incident so amusing tina
everyone in the galleries as we'll as TIL