The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-10
THEY SHOW FIGHT
Insurgents = in City Council
Demand Immediate Hearing.
Firemen Salary Question Causes
Fight Among Aldermen.
HUGHES DOUBLE ROLE
Promises to Support Salary In
crease, Then Backs Down.
New Startling Facts in Contro.
versy Are Revealed.
For.
Against.

Stanley.
Questionable.
Drew
Tandy.
in the city council on the matter of
raising the salaries of the firemen in
the city of Topeka.
The odds are in favor of the raise
and it looks on the face of the deal
as though the fremen of Topeka
would receive the wage scale that was
petitioned for them by 400 of the
largest tax payers in the city of To-
peka. Nevertheless there is going to
be fight. The two men against the
raise are radically against it and they
will do all in their power to see that
the; firemen do not get the increase.
Hughes Change of Front.
Ever since the failure of Chairman
Hughes to bring the mammoth petit
ton before the committee on ways
and means last Friday night the coun-
suspected that there was a leak some
where. The fact that the petition
was in the chairman's box for con-
sideration and was missing that even
ing aroused their suspicious and they
started an investigation.
Since then it has been found that
Councilman Hughes is dead against
the raising of the salaries. This is
what has surprised the councilmen
and what has caused war at the city
hall Before the petition was sent out
over the city delegation of f1remen
went to Hughes and asked him if it
would be advisable to ask for raise.
1T will be the only thing to do and
I will do all in my power for you,"
answered the councilman
With this idea in view the fire.
! men sent out their petitions. The re-
suit was marvellous. In a few days
every man in Topeka who was ap
preached signed the petition willingly
and honor that they would come be-
fore the council and argue in favor of
| the raise. AS result 400 of the
heaviest tax payers in the city signed
the petition, their signatures repre-
sentfng at least SIS. 000,0 900 worth of
property in this city.
Where does Hughes stand now !?
that is a question that can easily be
answered by a conversation which
took place at the council meeting last
night. Councilman Howard went to
Hughes during the meeting and said:
when can the ways and means
committee have another meeting and
pass action on the petition of the fire.
men %
Here is Hughes answer-ft should
be read carefully and compared with
his answer to the firemen not long
before.
II don't expect to call meeting for
that petition The majority of the
it We -cants m oT1key with that petit
ton at this time we will leave it to
the commissioners-bes the city
hasn't any money to raise these
bring this petition up before the COM
mittee or call a committee meeting
for it,"
"But we as a committee will de-
mand that you call meeting" in
terrupted Mr.. Howard.
'tHo! Ho! We will see about that"
sneered Hughes and he walked away
from the astounded councilman
This series of answers enraged
Councilman Howard and he
sounded" the members of the ways
| and means committee at once. He
found. this startling fact-Out of the
six members of the ways and means
committee four of them are for it. the
chairman, Mr.. Hughes, is against it
and Drew is one the fence He says
that he will work for the f1remen if
he thinks the city has the money.
Howard Is Aroused.
Chairman Hughes stated to Mr..
Howard that majority of the coun-
cilmen were against the proposition.
According to a canvass they are all
for 1t with the exception of Drew
who is half way for and the chairman
himself who promised the firemen
personally that he would help them in
the favoring of the petition.
Hughes has slid this petition out
of our way for two nights said
the matter. But we as a COM
mittee are going to demand that he
call meeting this week for the con-
sideration of the petition. If he re-
fuses to do it there will be war in the
city council. The firemen should have
this raise before the end of this year
and under the administration of this
present city council-and if the ma
| jority of the councilmen have their
say above the powers that be- the
fremen will get just what they are
asking for and what they deserve.
| 1.-THE firemen have rendered their
services under the present administra-
ton and we know what they have
DONE" continued Mr.. Howard at is
up to us to raise their salaries and We
should do it. If the city can possibly
stand the expense the firemen will dis
continue trying to live on s65
month"
The proposition to raise the salaries
! of the f1remen came up the first Of
this year. At that time the electric
light plant employees also received at
| tention. But it was practically under
stood that at the end of this year both
should get their raise: The electric
light employees We're favored but the
firemen are still laboring under the
old scale adopted years ago. A num-
Der of the firemen have resigned dur
/ ing the last year and it is but a ques-
ton of time until the force will be
materially weakened by the lack of
| experienced men. The strict examina-
lions in connection with the eligibility
| of firemen make it hard matter to
get the right men for the place
The matter now stands with the &C
lt;on of Councilman Hughes. One mem
Der of his committee car demand that
] a meeting be called. He has refused to