The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-15
City Will Not Touch Security Of
Former Engineer Rogers.
Matter Has Been Dropped by
Committee and Attorney.
PEOPLE WILL PAY.
Second Levy Will Be Placed or
Sewer District.
Shortage of $500 in Elmhurst to
Be Made Up.

The plan suggested some time ago
in the city hall to tax the security bond
of former City Engineer John P.
Rogers to pay for the additional cost
in the Elmhurst sewer has been
dropped with thud by the city Off
Gals. The bond of John Rogers will
not be touched; in fact. the commit
tee of the city council to which the
matter was referred has never taken
up the matter and probably never will.
1t was claimed by Mayor Green and
City Engineer Fulton after Mr.. Rogers
had been given a chance to resign that
Mr.. Rogers had failed to take the
right soundings on the sewer site when
the people first decided to build the
sewer. AS a result, it was necessary
for the city to pay out about $500
extra to the contractors for the work,
after the people had been assessed
their expense.
Following this statement, City At
torney Ralston was under the impress
sion that the Rogers bond could be
taxed for the loss and cut on account
of negligence" etc. Mayor Green fol-
lowed up the decision of the city at
torney with communication to the
city council, in which he recommend
ed that some means be taken to make
up for the loss.
These matters were referred to the
judiciary committee of the city coun-
Gil in connection with the city attor-
ney. The judiciary committee has had
a long time to meet, but has not met
And the prospects are that it will not
meet to dig hole in the Rogers bond.
According to City Attorney Ralston
this morning, it is probable that the
cost of the sewer in addition to the
original assessment will be placed
back upon the district which paid for
the sewer in the first place. An extra
levy will be made at once and the
people will be required to pay.
1t is not known just why the COM
mittee dropped the matter so sudden
ly- None of the committee viii have
anything to say about it. The matter
seems to have disappeared suddenly
from their lives and they do not care
to have it mentioned. City Attorney
Ralston is also on the mysterious
island. He admits that it will be nee
essary to assess the people
Some of the members of the city
council have a different idea of the
matter.
"Since the estimated cost of the re-
pair of the Seventh street cistern de-
stroyed by City Engineer Fulton, the
committee has decided to leave the
Rogers bond alone,'' said one of them
today. There is disposition to criti-
else the engineer for blowing up that
his bond. if he has any bond. The
committee has come to the conclusion
that it is better that the matter be
pushed aside and left on the shelf in
definitely
1t is conceded by the city officials
that the people who paid for the dig
ging of the Elmhurst sewer are going
to raise a howl when it is known to-
day that it will be necessary for them
to pay for the additional expense on
the sewer 1t is thought by some that
they will take the matter to court.
When asked concerning the rights of
the city to make a second levy on
this sewer district, City Attorney Rails
ton said:
'"They may take the matter to court,
but l can not see where it will make
any difference. 1t is not a matter of
an injustice to them. They would have
had to pay for it anyway if the proper
assessment had been made in the first
place. 1t is simply a second levy Of
taxes for the building of the sewer
and. although they may be incensed, it
is simply a matter of paying on the in
stallment plan, with the second INSTALL
ment unexpected