The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-24
COuncilmen Have Adopted New
Manner of Warfare.
The Three Classes of Pavement
Fought Over Last Night.
CENSURED BY MAYOR.
Green Says Council Committee
Plans Conspiracy.
Battle of Words Between Mayor
Green and Committee.

There is conspiracy among you fell
lows to keep the people from getting
what they want. 1 think you have
conducted this committee report in an
underhanded manner and 1 don't like
1t. 1 am getting tired of this so-called
intimated policy when instead there is
secret behind the whole thing"
These were the startling words of
Mayor William Green at the council
meeting last night when he had heard
the report of the committee on public
improvements concerning the new
pavement which will be laid in Topeka
this year. The committee On public i'm
provements. w. G. Tandy. c. E. Jordan
and ]. ]. Lannan, were to make their
final report to the council last night on
the approval of the estimates of the city
engineer of thirty-five blocks of the
new pavement to be constructed this
year. They reported favorabIy on the
plans of the city engineer but by some
unknown method the mayor was not
Informed of the true aspect of the re-
port and he told them so last night.
The original approval meeting of the
committee was held in the mayors of
flee Tuesday afternoon. The mayor of
the city is supposed to be on every
council committee and this one espe-
cially is an important one. Tuesday
the committee met and transacted the
usual business but the mayor did not
hear the approval of the class plan.
This new division of pavement into
classes was originated by the city en-
gineer this year. 1t is an excellent
idea Pavement is divided into three
classes-the first class ID Lower
brick with cement grout and upper
brick blocks with asphalt filler or com
bination aSphalt-pitch filler. The sec
ond class (2). Same as first class ex-
cept sand filler for the brick blocks
= IL. IL,
courses and the small brick This class
is like the old pavement that is crumb-
ling away over the city at the present
time.
Last night the committee tried to get
the council to adopt the pavement of
the first class. This is undoubtedly
the very best pavement ever laid in the
city of Topeka. The cost is a little diff
ferent. being about twenty-five cents a
yard between the best and poorest but
the committee figured that the cost
would be a minor matter in a few
years time
!, When the committee. tried to send
this approval through the council last
night Councilman Howard rose from
his seat and said that the people were
not getting hand in on the selection
of the pavement and he believed they
should be given q show. Then Mayor
Green took up the cue and the worst
fight and the keenest was held for the
next half hour. This is the first time
mayor GFeen mas ever accused his
councilmen of underhanded methods
and it was the biggest surprise of the
year There was not a soul in the gall |
leries and the mayor had a clear field
to tell the councilmen just what he |
thought of them. The MAYOR has all
ways relied upon President Jordan of |
the council. w. G. Tandy, chairman of |
the committee and j. ]. Lannan for
we'll founded advice. They. have al |
ways been the mainsprings of the !
council and they have always hung to- |
Eether on every proposition.
Plea for New Pavement.
Tho fight started after a long speech |
in favor of the first class pavement bv |
Mr.. Jordan. He said that the seity was |
paying for 40 per cent of the pave |
ment laid and that they had right to |
have little say in the matter He |
said the committee under the city en- |
glneer had gone over the matter very
carefully and they had found that the |
new pavement would last many years |