The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07
ROGERS RESIGNS.
City Engineer Makes Charges
Against Mayor.
Claims Office Dumping Ground
for Political Garbage
COUNCIL WILL ACT.
Aldermen to See if Rogers
Charges Will Hold Water.
WIS. Fulton, Assistant Engineer,
Appointed to the Office.
COUNCIL WILL ACT

This is the way history has repeated
itself at the city hall the last few
months-and the uphe@val came to Il
head last night when John p. Rogers
rendered his resignation to the city
council as city engineer. His resigna-
ton was accepted by the council and
in addition to the acceptance commit
tee of five was appointed to investi-
gate he charges of politics" against
Mayor Green, and Assistant City En-
gineer Fulton made by Mr.. Rogers in
his formal resignation communication.
At an informal discussion held in the
mayors office between Mr.. Rogers and
Mayor Green Monday afternoon it was
decided after a heated argument that
Mr.. Rogers should either resign at the
council meeting that night or the mayor
would be obliged to discharge him for
cause. 1t had already been decided by
Mr.. Rogers that his resignation would
be rendered to the council and the ac-
ton came as no surprise.
In his formal resignation to the coun-
Gil last night Mr.. Roger made a num-
Der of sensational charges against
Mayor Green and Assistant City En-
gineer Fulton. He claimed that his Of
flee had been made dumping ground
for political garbage" that Fulton had
made a wholesale altering of his plans
approved by the mayor, that he was
continually knitted in the back" by
people who called themselves his
friends, and that "detestable methods
had been employed in the office to in
jure his work.
The charges were so startling and
serious that through the suggestion OF
Councilman Miller the city council ap-
pointed a committee of five to investi-
gate every charge made by Mr.. Rogers
and sift the whole trouble to the last
grain. The city council has always had
great confidence in the engineer and
were between two fires. The commit
tee will spend this week investigating
and will report at an early date.
Mr.. Rogers Letter.
The letter sent to the council by Mr.
Rogers and read to the council during }
death like silence reads as follows:
Topeka. Kan, Dec. 6, 1909.
Mayor and Gentlemen of the City
Council:
In the administration of the affairs
of the city engineers office find have
reached a point where l must relinquish
my officia' position or maintain it under
circumstances and conditions too hui
initiating for a man of principle to con-
slider. My express orders have been
diSregarded, my plans set aside and
subordinates been sustained in Who'll
sale altering of plans which bear the
approval of the mayor and council and
upon which contracts have been en-
tered into and bond issues made.
AS long as the office could be run on
an engineering basis I was satisfied to
do the best could but since it has be-
come a dumping ground for political
garbage must v-cate to maintain my
self respect and escape the knife
thrusts in the back from some who pose
as my friends to my face. IT'S not the
ambitions of subordinate I object t.
but I loathe the detestable methods
employed.
My respect for each and every mem
Der of the city council is of the highest
order and our relations have ever been
most cordial and pleasant. From the