The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07

bottom of my heart 1 thank them for
their cooperation in promulgating the
improvements I have introduced and
the character and material of our public
works.
In consideration of the circumstances
and surroundings / take leave of my
official position not to enter the pol1ti-
cal arena for purposes OF revenge but
to resume the practice of ny profession
in a more wholesome atmosphere Of
private life.
Respectfully submitted,
JNO. P. ROGERS, City Engineer.
Mayor Green Explains.
After the letter had been read and
the silence was broken by Mr.. Miller
with his suggestion for investigation,
Mayor Green took the letter and ex-
planned to the council his answers to
the charges.
The mayor first related to the
council a number of trips he had talk
en- over the city at different times and
the negligence of the city engineer he
had discovered at that time. He ex-
planned how he had asked the as
sistant Mr.. Fulton to watch the work
of the city engineer and report to
him all mistakes. He then explained
in relation to the altering of the plans
of Mr.. Rogers that the mayor and
council had found it necessary many
times to make the changes for the
best interests of the city.
AS to the dumping ground for po-
litical garbage" the mayor said:
There is no truth in this. All of the
appointments have been approved by
Mr.. Rogers and upon his recommen-
dations. This is but a reflection upon
the appointments and there has been
no politics concerned"
Summing up the whole letter Mayor
Green said:
This letter is a Islander from be-
ginning to end and there is no truth
in it. can point out SO points where
Mr.. Rogers has been incompetent and
careless"
In speaking of the statements made
by the mayor that the recommended
tions of the city engineer were fol-
lowed Mr.. Rogers said this morning:
TT does not look like I have had
my wishes fulfilled when a subor-
dinate who has been regular spy on
my actions has remained in office. I
have always known that everything
said and everything I did was re-
ported to the mayor by a man in this
office but no one would listen to me if
suggested that he be removed from
his position
Mr.. Rogers recited many instances
where the Subordinate" (who is
known to be Assistant City Engineer
Fulton) reported things to the mayor
that had been said in the office and
that had been done.
Fulton Gets the Place.
Mayor Green appointed William
Fulton, the former assistant, as city
engineer this morning. He takes
charge of the office at once and Mr..
Rogers removes his belongings. The
position of assistant city engineer re-
mains vacant and will not be filled I'M
til the mayor can find a man who will
fill the bill.
There were regrets expressed at the
council meeting last night when it
was known that John Rogers would
not be with the city administration
any more. He has been popular and
his ability as an engineer has never
been questioned. The councilmen adj
mitted that Mr.. Rogers had neglected
his office work and some of them
thought it to have been caused by the
immense amount of work in the field.
During his two terms as city engineer
Mr.. Rogers has given to Topeka some
OF the best improvements in the his
tory of the city. He has been the
cause of the present high quality of
pavement being laid today He was
the instigator of the cement curling
idea in this city. He was an enthr-
siast on good roads and pavements
and practiced to great advantage
many of his ideas. He curbed the
plumbers until every old hole in the
city pavements had been fixed I'D to
the former standard. Mr.. Rogers
will retire from public work and en-
gage in the engineering work in a