The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-07
KILL THE JUNKET.
City COuncilmen Rebel Against
FultOn-Drew Tour.
Declare 1t Is an UnWise Id a
and Waste of Money.
WILL VOTE 1T DOWN.
Aldermen Intend to Take Final
Action Tonight.
Famous Trip to Seattle May
Only Be a Dream.
WILL VOTE 1T DOWN.

The proposed iunket to Seattle, Chi
CO go. Denver. Kansas City, etc. which
was to have been taken by City Engi-
neer Fulton and Councilman Drew for
the purpose of securing points to build
a garbage crsmatory in this city, will
be a beautiful dream after tonight and
the gentlemen who have ordered their
| smelling salts will be the ones to wake
| no.
| If a majority of the members of the
| city council carry out the threats that
| they have been making today the jun
ket AMI all other preliminary enjoy
ments to the construction of the To-
| peIa garbage plant will be officially
cancelled by the city council.
1t is contended by the councilmen that
the jun!<et to the aforementioned cities
should be called off for two reasons:
% 1t would be a shameless waste OF
wealth.
(2) It should be left to the commits
siOnerS.
Concerning the financial end of the
proposition it is said that it is almost
a folly to go to Seattle to inspect the
plant they have at that cIty-or TO airy
city the size of Seattle where they nave
plants which cost in the neighborhood
OF $500, 900. The councilmen against the
iunket claim that none of these elabor-
etc plants would be practical Tor use IN
Topeka and it would be q waste OF
money to send two men to inspect tneIn-
Il can't imagine our representatives,
going such a distance and taking such
g. trip to see plant of this KIND, sara
Councilman Hughes this afternoon
agree with Councilman Miller that 1t
would all be the height of folly to at
tempt such a thing and I will vote
against it if brought before the meet
ing of the council tonight
Leave to Commissioners.
Another argument that is far reach
ing among the councilmen and IS the
S<,I,% p hn
their postponement of the garbage
situation tonight is the proposition to
leave the whole garbage question IN
the hands of the newly elected COM
miSSionerS.
1t is maintained that it would be
waste of time for the present city
council to take up the matter The
new commission will be. in power in
a few weeks and with their improved
methods of tranSacting business and
ordering improvements 1t Is SAID tnat
they could build the plant and make
all arrangements much faster than
the council.
The garbage situation at this time
is not much better than it was many
weeks ago. The land for the plant
has not been purchased. The plans
and specifications have not been
drawn up In fact the city does not
know what kind or patent plant 1t
desires The whole matter is "up in
the air ana Ln6E0 1ldS OSSh AAllAO
progress since the bond election last
fall.
I'VE couldn't make any progress
with the plant now" said Councilman
Miller this afternoon by the way
matters have to come before the
council and referred to different COM
mittees it would be a waste Of money
to try and do anything I am not in
favor of sending these men on trip.
1 think it should be left to the COM
missioners."
Councilman Fraser, the father of
the garbage plant idea and the man
who has worked the hardest in its
course through the city council has
not given up hopes. He is still ready
to make his last fight for it and wants
the council to handle it until the
swan song is tuned up.
But from the sentiment expressed
around the city hall it is very doubt
full If any action will be taken by the
present administration. The matter
will undoubtedly be left over for the
commissioners to handle. From the
spirit Of the people over the city it
would be wise for the commissioners
to make the garbage plant their in
action