The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-11

THE SPARKS FLEW
S.Street Railway Extension Causes
Lively Session.
Clay Street People Don't Want
Line.
SHAKE THEIR FISTS.
T. F. Doran and C. F. Spencer
Become Excited.
Action on Disputed Locations LIS
Postponed.
THEIR FISTS.

After four and a half hours of ora
tory. debate, shrewd and clever re-
torts and fearful pleas the committee
as a whole of the city council failed
to settle the franchise ordinance OF the
Topeka Railway company last night.
As stated in the State Journal last
evening before the meeting, the pro-
posed lines to Shorey, federal building
loops and others were passed without
any comment but the extensions asked
Fifteenth street were held up and laid
aside by the council committee.
The committee will meet at the
council chamber again tonight TO
thresh out the ordinance affecting the
streets in question. The other parts
have been decided and the vote taken
However, the street railway officials de-
clare that unless they receive all that
they ask for they will not build foot
of track extensions and the whole
proposition hinges on the action taken
by the councilmen tonight.
The battle last night was easily the
most brilliant in the history of the
city council The council chamber
was crowded and even inside the rail-
ing of the councilmen visitors crowd
ed around the desks. sitting on the
counciImens laps and using every inch
of floor space available. And no one
was disappointed at the treat he re-
ceived because the vocal contests were
between some of the smartest men
in Topeka and they were an entertain
ment in themselves.
The leaders against the street rail-
way ordinance were Charles Spencer,
ex-city attorney, and II. B. Howard,
councilman from the Third ward. The
former upheld the plea from the peo-
pie of Clay street and the latter led the
fight among the city councilmen
against the proposed extensions.
Mr.. Howard put up a brave, stub
born battle and was instrumental in
postponing the matter. He was on his
feet constantly and took up the argu-
ments of the railway people as fast as
was not quick in humorous answers
and singing restorts, but he held his
ground sufficiently to smash the course
of the bandwagon into smithereens.
L. E. Myers. vice president and gem
eral manager of the Topeka Railway
company, conducted a brilliant series
of arguments for the street railway.
He had stored in his responsive brain
all of the past, present and future his
tory of the railway company and he
could make q presentable answer on
any point that might be brought out
against the extensions He was bob
bling up and down continually and car
r1ed out his part in such a diplomatic,
tactful and clever manner that hsS al
most won over the twelve cOuncilmen
who had gone to the council chamber
The street railway people went to
the meeting last night we'll prepared
A huge map covering half of the front
wall of the council chamber showed
the present lines, the proposed lines
and the single and double track. To
support this map was Mr.. Myers, Mr..
Kelley and Tom Doran-aIl polished,
clever and shrewd speakers and diplo-
mats. 1t was hard proposition for
the people to fight again
All COmciImen Present.
The councllmen were all present
Some of them came out fatty in favor
of the railway extensions last night.
Councilmen Hughes, Lannan and STAN
they claimed for a better and bigger
Topeka They considered the lines a
unit in the upbuilding of the city and
produced some excellent arguments.
that 1t was almost impossible to get
from Potwin to Washburn college
without losing time and money And
the general had a fight on his hands
all the way. through his speech Some
one from the crowd was always break
ing into his speech with remarks. ''In
New York and Kansas City they are
tickled to death to have 30-foot streets
and here We are kicking because
only a single track goes through a
residence street" he said.
What do We care about New York
or Kansas City" called a voice from
the CTOWu we i've III
In speaking of the arguments pre-
scented by Councilman Howard, Cen
eral Hughes said: st am tired out
hearing you talk, Howard. You bob
up and down ell the time and make us
weary. Say what you want to say and
sit down. One speech is enough from
you any time"
This is a sample of the bouquets
thrown among the speakers.
Myers Opened the Ball.
The evenings entertainment started
out with a speech from Mr.. Myers
He said that the railway company
would have all that they asked or none.
He asked also that they be given a
square deal and plead that no one take
snap judgment. He said that they had
chosen the routes because they were
practical to both the railway and the
people.
Councilman Howard then jumped UP
and summed UP his objections against
the extensions: Cd Because the old
franchise said mo-; (2) because the
streets were narrow; CD because Clay
street was improved because of the
absence of street cars; (4) because
people bought lots with the idea that
there would be no street railway there
CD because of the school buildings on
the street: CD because of the large
of protests, and CD because
1t was not a fair and honest way to
do business
Mr.. Myers answered these points
one at a time He said there was