The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-08
Salaries Are Increased by City
Council Last Night.
End Of Bitter Fight Between
Insurgents and Others.
FULTON is CONFIRMED
Insurgents" Lost This Battle
by One Point.
OratOry and Debate at Council
Chamber Session.

In spite of the cold water dashed
against their lights last night, the lin
surgents' in the city council stand out
in the spot light today-the victors in
one of the biggest fights that has ever
taken place in the city council cham
Der.
BY vote of to they won their
battle for higher salaries for the city
flremen and by a vote of to 5 they
lost their organized objection to City
Engineer Fulton, whom they sought to
keep from approval of the council
after the appointment by Mayor
Green.
1t has always been contended that
the firemens raise was the big issue
with the insurgents" In fact, it was
this salary fight that gave them their
name as insurgents The matter has
been up before the city council for
months and not until Councilman c. E.
Jordan from the First ward could APP
pear upon the scene and give his vote
as the seventh and final point. could
the insurgents" feel sure of their
ground.
Councilmen have deserted their
ranks. others have given them their
promises and then with flimsy excuses
have backed away, and everything i'm
aginabIe in the way of obstructing
the path of the insurgents" in their
fight has been overcome by the
staunch councilmen. But they won
last night and to the city firemen and
those most closely interested. the
names of Councilmen Howard Jor-
dan, Miller, Lannan, Fink, Fraser and
L. i
considering the candidacy of a number
of those mentioned above it looks as
though there would be something hap
pening when the election for the city
commissioners took place.
The confirmation of the appoint
ment of w. S. Fulton as city engineer
came as a surprise and setback to
the insurgents The matter came
up for a vote and five strong hearty
noes" came out against it. But the
six little ''yeses'' had a majority over
them and they lost.
1t seems that the insurgents"
thought that it took a majority of
the council to approve a man-and
some of them think this yet. In this
case, their five votes with a council
man absent made them the winners.
But when the vote was announced
Mayor Green announced that Fulton
was confirmed, and the insurgents
Yell back IN their chairs aghaSt. COun-
Gilman Miller arose and questioned the
decision, but the mayor sat him down
with beautiful quotation from law
Councilman Hughes, who was
against the appointment left before
the vote last night and this killed the
chances of the insurgents" The col
onel had stated that he would vote
against Fulton, but disappeared at the
last minute. The vote last night means
that w S. Fulton is city engineer until
the end of the council term and an
other year in addition. He fills out
the uneXpired term of ex-Clty En-
gineer Rogers.
The Firemen Vote
The fireman salary raise matter was
brought out and the argument opened
by a speech from Councilman Stan
ley who started out with rapid fire
of questions, in which he intimated
that the city did not have the funds
to make the salary raise. Councilman
Howard, true to his former stand, an
swered Mr. Stanley word for word.
Stanley wound up his arguments by
saying that the whole proposition was
windy legislation
Then Councilman Blakely arose and
for Is minutes he told of his ideas on
the subject-Mr. Blakely has ALWAYS
been in favor of the raise but he
thought it best to wait until the COM
mission form was Incorporated and
leave the matter to the commissioners
lie thought that the firemen were dis
loyal if they could not wait for the
commissioners to act and if they were
quitting every Gay because of Their
salaries.
Councilman Fink explained his vote
by saying that the big petition was toe
strong for the council to turn down
He said that he believed the taxpayers
wanted the firemen to receive more
money and he was in favor of needing
the petition.
Alderms n-S-atesman - Gen. Hughes
arose and gave the real speech of the
eVen1ng-even though he had given two
more before and was breathless. The
colonel put the matter straight to the
men In the council who were runnine
Tor mayor and commissioners and told
them that they were digging theil
own graves" putting the yoke AROUND
their own necks, etc. Don't lay thu
blame of higher taxes on the old coun
cir when you are commissioners sale
the general, you have done this your.
selves and you are to take the blame
from the people,"
When Councilman Jordan arose Their,
was quiet as upon his action depended
the fate of the firemen. He said tina
he had always been for the raise in TIN
salaries of the firemen and would vot
for 1t. He said that he was for ;
general raise all over the city, that h
had visited so many other cities tina
paid more than Topeka and that h
would always work for a salary revis
ion all along the line.
Alderman Lanran sprung a new fea
ture in the f1remen fight when he pu
this question up to the council: Gen
tlemen, have you ever realized that tn
firemen receive much less per hour tha
any other employee of the city?"
In the final vote Alderman Blakel
voted Yes because he said the mat
ter would pass anyway and he woul
be for the fremen in this event
Those who voted for the firemen an
who will have their names engrave
en- the fire bell are: Jordan, Fink, Ian
ran, Miller. Howard. Fraser, Simpso
and Blakely
Those against were Tandy, Drew
Stanley and Hughes.
The following salaries will now b
given the members of the fire depart
ment per annum:
Marshal $l,o 81
Assistant marshal ............. 2C
oS