The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-31
THE PLOT THIckENS.
Another Effort to Raise the High (?)
Cost of Printing.

There was &, silent session Of the
city c0EnsRt1et9p,. this morning. TIE
meeting wags called for the pnrposesof
considering the matter of city print
ing. There waa-no other business be-
fore the commissioners. who were all
present with the exception Of Mayor
4. L. Cofran, who 10 taking a vaca-
ton sizs
After the roll call and the reading
OF the minutes Of the previous meet,
the proposed ordinance. on second
reading, yhich II passed would repeal
the old ordinance fixing the price to
be paid by the city for printing at not
to exceed 31.e scents per inch. The
capital wants it at AZ cents and SO
bid.1
Just a minute" interrupted w. L.
Porter, city commissioner of parks. 81
think it might be well to invite Mr..
Frank p. MacLennan, of the Topeka
State Journal. to be present. He is
taking an interest in this. and think
it might be well for him to be here,
so he can ask us about anything he
may wish to know. and we can also
get his views of the matter"
Mr.. MacLennan IS at liberty to at.
tend the sessions OF the city commits
sion the sa'ne as any citizen" remarked
Mr.. Bone. rs
well. think he should be here"
said Porter, land il it Is agreeable to
the other members of the commission.
and they will wait little will go to
the telephone and invite him to come
over" sSr
The other members of the commission
assented and Mr.. Porter left the room.
In few minutes he returned with the
report:
Mr.. MacLennan says he does not
care to come over and that he has no
complaint to make"
The city clerk again started the read
ing of the ordinance.
'AIl of section one" he announced
and waited for the customary motion
for the adoption of the section.
But the motion was not made.
Minutes passed and the silence grew
heavy. An occasional squeaking of a
chair only intensified the stiffness.
Finally Roy L. Bone, who was presid-
ing. heaved a heavy sigh and res
marked:
You all know the purpose of this or
dinance. Under the present ordinance
| cents per inch"
1 Then more silence.
THE passing Of this ordinance does
not necessarily mean that the city
must accept bids at higher rates. if
not disposed to-" was Bones second at
tempt to break the muteness.
| More silence and more sQueaking OF
chairs. The council chamber became as
creepy as a deserted attic on a windy
day.
| This is the hour Of watchful wait
ing" came. in q. near-ghostly voice
from Commissioner TaRdy..
More silence
'It is strange this commission would
vote instructing the city attorney to
prepare such an ordinance and then
have nothing to do with it," remarked
Mr.. Bone.
| Prolonged silence.
One would have thought by the
lapse of time htervening that the
acting mayors 16st remark had been
| forgotten; wfssns Mr.. Tandy spoke up
It do notNee yhx1 should vote or
this prop0AitY6n. Ixdid not vote in
structing tire city a1t3Sney to frame
such an ordinance" safd>the commits
sioner Of streets.
II do not see any necessity for TAX
ing action today" spoke up Porter.
l. Silence again.
I '"The chairman will entertain a mo.
Itfon. for the adoption of section one
announced Mr.. Bone after delibera.
tive period. But no motion was Of
fered.
More very Silly stiffness.
1--WE are to receive bids on printing
Monday. The same condition will exis
then as before, unless we pass thi,
Ordinance" was Mr.. Bones final at
tempt to put the city's legislative ma
chinery in motion.
Then the silence was resumed. I
was broken by Frank Newland, com
missioner OF water and lighting, wht
spoke, the first words which had com,
from him during the entire session
They were:
II move that we adjourn"
A Personal Word.