The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-08
City Council viii Investigate
Rogers Serious Charges.
Matter Will Be Threshed Out
Tomorrow Night.
NEW USE OF FIRE BELL
Action Taken to Change Name
to wedding Bell"
Other Items of Interest Around
City Building.

A special meeting of the city council
has been called for tomorrow evening,
December 9, at which time the entire
ward representatives from over the city
will discuss the charges made by Jonn
p. Rogers, that the city engineers Of
fee in the past few years of Mr.. Rogers
administration has been made dump
ing ground for political garbage.
The letter of resignation to the city
council Monday evening written by MT.
Rogers contained a number OF serious
charges against the political moves
made in ousting the former city en-
gineer and it is the intention OF the ely
officials and councilmen 20 go TO the
bottom of the thing and find out the
real reason of the trouble.
Councilman Miller from the Second
ward was appointed chairman OF the
Investigating committee and he mas
been spending the last few days prob
ing among the records and ofnclals'
trying to gain little light on the mat
ter. His committee of five councilmen
are also assisting in the work.
1t is well known fact that the two
important points which will be touched
upon in the Investigation are: a. Were
the plans of Mr.. Rogers changed and
altered by subordinates? and (2) Has
the office been a dumping ground Tor
political garbage? Upon these two
points nlngG In0 SCCTGl VI the ICSl6I4d-
ton and the quarrel between the mayor
and John P. Rogers.
In a statement made by Mr.. Rogers
to the State Journal today the follow
ing was said:
''I wish that in whatever article you
give to the public YOU would correct the
impression that the charges in my res
ignation had referred TO the mayor and
council They were directed at and in
tended for one whom I had favored in
every way possible only to have him I'M
derrnine and knife me on every secret
occasion and the political reference has
direct allusion to the same party.
Mr. Arnold former assistant city
engineer under Mr.. Rogers, who pre-
pared the plans his successor so ruth
lessly slaughtered. is the only COM
petent witness to judge to the exten.
this alteration has been carried on"
Thus it is seen that Mr.. Rogers lays
all his blame on w. S. Fulton, who was
his assistant. Mr.. Rogers has suspect
ed Mr. Fulton for some time of report
Ing all matters to the mayor and the
feeling toward this official is exceed
ingly bitter. 1t was always thought
that the friendship between the two
men was close on account of the fact
that Mr.. Rogers was instrumental in
having Fulton's salary raised and in
1elping him out in many other in
stances.
The special meeting of the city counciIl
tomorrow night will probably reveal all
the arguments of both sides of the
question. c. A. Forter, draughtsman in
the office of the city engineer; w. S.
Fulton, ]. p. Rogers, former Assistant
City Engineer Arnold, Mayor Green and
several other Witnesses have been
subpoenaed for the investigation.
A warm session is looked for. The
men on both sides of the fence will be
present to make and answer all charges
and the council will act as Jury.
Councilman Miller having been chosen
the judge.
Through an informal, unofficial
and rumored order today Chief VIII
marth of the fire department has de-
c1ded that the fire bell on top of the
city hall shall be changed to a we'd
ding bell in order that the has-been.
is-now, and would-be weddings in the
building might receive proper recog-
milton.
The effect of the municipal work
on the younger people in the city hall
is startling. Last month the steno-
grapher to DR.. Campbell, city milk
Inspector was married. Close upon
her heels came Firemen Sanders Of
the fire department. Now comes
Cecil A. Forter of the engineers office
who is to be married tonight The
prospects are many. Assistant City
Attorney James Clark is figuring
anu AiC iAetS dcCiu6u IHaI the life of
struggling attorney is not complete
without home. Miss G. B. (she re-
fused to allow her name intentionally.
stenographer to Chief wilmarth, is
wearing something that looks sus-
picious. Chief Wilmarth has sent out
his feelers for a new stenographer
knowing the coming event. Two mem
bers of the fire department are wait
ing for the CONTEMPLATED raise in sal
airy from the city council and then
they will we'd
1t is one continual round of cigars
for the reporters who cover the
city haH-and the fever is catching.
The plans and specifications for the
North side pumping station were
carried proudly around the council,
chamber by Councilman Jordan Mon
day night. The city clerk was in !
to call for bids on this sta
ton. It will he remem hered that this
is the plant for which Alderman Jor-
dan has been fighting since the first
of the summer. Tt has had a stormy
voyage through the council but the
energetic councilman finally landed
it for his people.
Chief Wilmarth of the fire DEPART
ment would have an ordinance gov
erning the installation of moving pic
ture machines in the CITY, He saws
that the increase of the shows in the
city and the unofficial authority Civ
en- to the city officials to hold sway
over the construction of the theaters
as to the fire protection against the
guarantees the creating of
an ordinance covering this point. A
of the houses over the city
are built in a hazardous and improp-
err manner in relation to the situation
Of the machines.
Chief Wilmarth submitted the prop