The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-23
WANT AN EXPERT
City COuncilmen Would Hire an
Experienced Engineer.
He Would Have Charge of All
Department Affairs.
WILL KEEP FULTON.
Think He Would
Make Good Assistant.
Movement on Hand to Consider
Changes.


at the city hall today concerning the
opposition of six of the city council
men against the appointment of w.
8. Fulton as city engineer. The six
rebelling alderman now have plan
to keep Mr.. Fulton in Office but hire
as his superior an engineering expert
whose duty 1t would be to check over
carefully all of the records in the
office of the city engineer and attend
to the new duties which will come up
between now and the time that the
city council will retire in favor of the
new commission form of government.
The councilmen believe that the
new propositions which face the city
at this time must be handled by
better trained man than Mr.. Fulton
"a man who has had experience in
the technical part of engineering
work and in municipal calculations.
Today the councilmen believe that
it is the duty of the city to hire an
months until the commissioners come
in power. The new South side dixie,
the Melan bridge and several other
heavy matters are coming up before
the city engineering department in a
short time.
II believe we should have $4,000
man who can cope with the rail-
road, street railway and government
engineers in this work said Coun-
Gilman Howard this afternoon. 1.-THE
railroads and government are not go
ing to send any $1,S00 or $1,000 man
here to attend to this work and I do
not think that the city should place
such man before them for the pro-
lection of our interests.
Il have all the confidence in the abil-
ity of Mr.. Fulton as a young man. He
IS exceptionally bright for his age and
experience and we could not afford to
lose him from the employ of the city
But he would not be able to cope with
these big engineers who are coming to
this city soon.''
L believe We should have a $4,000
man and get him right away said an
other alderman this afternoon. IF the
council has authority at the next meet
ing in January to hire an expert at
sure that We will do it and do 1t at
once. We have too much invested mon
ey in this city and too many interests
to protect to leave the matters to
young engineer. We must have an eX-
pert at once"
Another councilman was in favor OF
hiring this man at once and have him
start right in in the checking of the
old plans and Specifications and all
work that has passed through the en-
have done 100000 worth OF improve
mentS,'' he said. I'VE must see that
the money has been spent 1udiciously.
We want to know just where it has
gone and just what value 1t has given
to the city. At this time Topeka is
torn UP and muddled with the result
of half fulfilled paving contracts and
these must be settled at once"
Councilman Howard is in favor of
making Engineer Fulton the assistant
in the office under the new expert-if
the latter is hired. I'VE can not get
along without Mr.. Fulton said Mr..
Howard. I'VE must have a man in the
office who is well acquainted with the
work and who will be of valuable as
sistance to the expert engineer. Mr..
ulton is an excellent man for this
work and I will not only support him
for a position of this kind but will see
that everything is done to allow him
the salary limit of $1,000 year. The
state law will only allow him this sal
airy and as we cannot get an expert en-
gineer for this price it is necessary to
hire a man under a new title. 1t is I'M
fair to unload all of this mammoth
work on Mr.. Fulton and do not think
that the council will do such a thing
The sentiment has been given out
that the rebelling councilmen were in
favor of throwing Mr.. Fulton out of
office and out of the city employ. This
is a mistake. The idea is 20 get a man
at the head of the engineering office
who will unravel the tangles of the Of
flee and protect the interests of the city
against the invasion of railroad and
government engineers which are due in
a short time.
It is understood that at least two
more councilmen will join the six orig
inal members Of the rebellion against
the appointment of Mr.. Fulton as city
engineer by Mayor William Green.
With such an overwhelming majority
against the approval of the appoint
ment it looks as though Mr. Fulton
will never be officially known as "city
engineer of Topeka" Though Mayor
Green says he will stand by him and re-
appoint him as long as the council
turns down the approval
The sentiment at this time indicates
that it Is likely that the council will
hire an expert engineer for the new
work and hire W. S. Fulton as head as
sistant in the office.