The Chanute times., 1911-12-08
Report on Free Gas
Opened the Battle
Councilmen Again Engaged ir
Sharp Shooting on the
Vexed Question.

council, Hedeen being absent, at
their meeting Monday night as re-
suit of report made by City Cash
ier Roberts ordered at a previous
meeting concerning the amount of
gas used by councilmen past and
present for which the city had not
been paid. The word "exonera-
ton" was one of the chief missiles
used IN the engagement. The
cashiers report listed the council
men from 1902 to the present time
with the value of the gas used and
unpaid for according to records of
the meter readings or the flat rate
total, or in some instances both
meter and fiat rate valuations. In
asmuch as Cashier Roberts listed
several men for whom he had been
unable to find any record of the gas
consumed, Johnson and Stewart
moved that the names of such
councilmen be stricken from the
report. Nation opposed the mo-
ton on the ground that the accounts
might yet be found and some of the
men listed be fully eXonerated.
Similarly Bideam maintained that
the passing of the motion would
put the men whose accounts were,
not located in the same class with
the coGncilmer who had completely
exonerated themselves by payment
for their gas. Though doubang'
whether any good results would come;
from the investigation of the ao-'
counts Johnson argued that If names
were to be he Qaraded favored an in
vestigation of the present council
and city officials. Hays told of his
attempt to pay his gas bill when he
became a member of the council.
He voted with the authors of the
motion for its adoption but it was
lost by the Negative votes of Filson,
Nation, Freeman and Bldeau.
A motion by Bideau that the
cashiers report be fled with the
clerk was lost for want of second.
A motion by Stewart and .Johnsons
that the report be laid on the table
was carried by the help of the votes
of Filson and Hays. Nation, Free.l
man and Bidean voted against the
cabling motion. Stewart then
offered a resolution and moved its
adoption which was seconded by|
Hays. The resolution stated:
whereas, it has been the custom
since 1902 for the city council to
have the free use of water, gas and
electricity, therefore be it resolved
by the mayor and council of the
city of Chanute Kansas, that the
custom be continued until the first
day of April, 1912. Nation on a
point Of order maintained that the
state statute could not be changed |
by a resolution. City Attorney
Evans reafirmed his former opinion
that the law undoubtedly forbade
special compensations to council
men. Freeman referred to the
recent ruling of the state utilities
commission which called attention
to the law. Without attempting to
deny the city attorneys statement
of the law, Johnson commented
that statute is handy means of
a vote. No vote was
taken on the adoption of the resolu
ton as Mayor Beach sustained thee
point of order that II tended to
counteract the law.
The exoneration question was
also on duty in Freeman's conten-
tion for more complete investiga.
ton of the accounts of the Cha.
mute Ice Co. of which he is presi-
dent in regard to the amount due
the city tor gas consumed at the ice
pl ant. Stewart stated that regu-
lator at the ice plant had reduced |
[ConcIuded on Page 81