The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-17
ROGERS BACK FIRE
Ex-City Engineer Announces
Candidacy for Commissioner.
Says That Mayors Charges
Make Step Necessary.
NOT HIS MISTAKES.
HIS MISTAKES.
Claims Changing of Speeifica-
tiOns Was Responsible.
Asserts That 1t Was Done by
Mayors Order.


John P Rogers, formerly CITY en-
gineer, who resigned, gave out a hot
interview today in regard to the re-
cent action of Mayor Green in decIar-
ing that the Rogers bond could be
held up on account of his action in the
office of the city engineer.
Mr.. Rogers said that he now realizes
the mistake he made in allowing the
mayor to dictate the policies of the
employees of his Office. He claims that
Mayor Green dictated the politics of
the office for personal reasons in be-
half of his political machine. He also
claims that the cost in the change of
the Elmhurst sewer was caused by
certain changes made after the official
seal had been placed by the city en-
gineer. Mr.. Rogers also refers to the
$1,000 mistake made by present City
Engineer FULTON, who blew up the
Seventh street fire eistern and caused
the city a greater loss than the Elm
hurst sewer.
Mr.. Rogers continues with the state
ment that Mayor Green injured his
reputation for the purpose of increas-
ing his personal power in city politics.
Then he points out that the mayor ap-
pointed City Engineer Fulton for
political purposes and was ordered to
appoint an expert at L great expense
to the city for the purpose of helping
out the appointee with his duties in the
or1ee OF city engineer.
VIII Run for Commissioners.
All in the same breath Mr.. Rogers
comes out with the announcement that
he will run for city commissioner
This announcement comes as a big
surprise among the city politicians
but it is a signal of fierce hot fight
in IN -
was forced to make the race in order
that he might show the people that it
was not his incompetency that caused
the mixup in the Office of the city en-
gineer.
Mr.. Rogers has served many years
as an engineer of good reputation and
as commissioner he would have di
rect control over the engineers Office.
Mr.. Rogers Statement.
Mr. Rogers statement to the State
Journal runs as follows:
Referring to certain publications in
recent issues of the morning paper re-
iecting on my administration as city
engineer of this city. desire to state
that I administered the affairs of my
department honestly and to the best of
my ability and I have yet to hear of
a single whisper of dishonesty against
my department. 1 am free to admit
that made mistake in permitting
the mayor to dictate the employees I'M
der me and retain them in position
against my protest for his personal
good of the service. should have re-
signed at that time
He now seeks to hold my official
bond fer alleged errors in plans wherein
the increased cost was caused by GER
tain changes made after the plans had
passed from my hands to draw atten-
ton from the recent plumbers and mis-
takes of his pets. whereby the city has
suffered accrued damages of many hun
dreds of dollars and it liable to be
mulched in many thousands more
This attempt to StigmatiZe me and
injure my professional reputation is
the result of a hope to increase the
professional reputation of the party
now in the Office by the mayor for per
sonal ends. The hope being to confirm
his present appo1ntee for political pur-
poses and then hire competent high
priced engineer to do the work Of the
office at the expense of the taxpayers
His Professional Qualifications.
since finishing my technical training
at Washington university l have been
almost continually engaged in engineer
ing and surveying, serving the govern
ment several years in the army and in
terror department. coast survey, geo.
detic and land surveying. also served
the city of Topeka as assistant city
engineer under Engineers George T.
NealY and Lewis hIu&uldu- L nave
worked for the state on several occa-
sions and served (by the suffrage of
the peopIe) as county surveyor for ten
successive years, making over 1000 sur
veys without having a single one sue
cessfulIy contested, which position I
occupied at the time of my appoint
ment as city engineer in April 1907, and
I was reappointed as city engineer in
April, 1909, and served until my recent
resignation
It consider that the position of city
engineer should be held by a person
who could qualify before an examin-
ing board of our state university de-
partment of engineering or who is a
graduate of a standard school of en-
cheering And challenge the mayor to
submit the merits of his appointee to
such a test, and a proper serving OF
the public'S interest demands that the
city council stand for such a test OF
efficiency after the question of COM
potency has been so urgently raised
Since I have been the recipient or
os mucn gratuitous advertising in this
matter, 1 think that the only way l
can show my just appreciation OF the
same is to announce myself as a can
didate for city commissioner at the dp-
preaching election and secure verdict
from the public on my administration
of affairs while an official of the city.
Gard of Thanks.
To the MANY friends who have been