The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-02-11
"My Price Is $3.50" Senator
Says as Sol6ns Prepare
Skids.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
REPUDIATES OWN WORK
"Let Knehans Do 1t" Council
men Decide-Papers to Change
Hands at Once.

] iillSSSu yesterday iIOfNlliS DIS dIIOIIGN
for the City in widening streets in the
West End in preparation for new
S150,O00 sewerage system.
He was asked to turn over to City
Counselor Oscar 4. Knehans, all doc.
uments belonging to the city bearing
on the case that was taken out Of his
hands, and Knehans was instructed to
proceed with the proper legal steps to-
ward condemning property and widen
7 ing The five STREETS under consideration.
This action was taken yesterday
morning by the Judiciary Committee
of the City Council and City Engineer
Chris Silver, who had been empower
ed to act by a resolution of the COun-
Gil passed October Is, last.
Lanes service was terminated on
the heels of vote of the Council
Monday night, ratifying the action
which Chairman Charles Armgardt Of
the Judiciary Committee, announced
his committee had taken in retaining
the Senator last fall Fellow members
deniedthe committee had met in nearly
four months.
The ratification by the Council Of
Armgardt's announced committee ac-
ton, marked the closing scene of .
jambouree in the Council meeting
Monday night that was followed close
ly by a split between the Judiciary
Committee and Propositions and
Grievances Committee of the Council.
The direction of the street widening
proposition had been assigned, in the
first place, Jointly TO the two COM
mittees and the City Engineer.
On Armgardt's announcement that
Lane had been employed, Jay E. Fowl
err of the Grievance Committee, got a
motion before the Council to have his
committee relieved of responsibility,
stating ne did not propose to be snub-
bed on committee work.
The motion was carried five to three.
The direct reason that is given by
the Judiciary Committee members for
Lanes dismissal is that he wished to
charge the City $3.50 to get the City's
West End case into court.
The members of the committee met
yesterday morning at Blacks garage
Councilman Hoeller, who is a member
Of the Judiciary Committee, went to
the garage to sec Black, also a MEM
Der, on business. Black suggested
that Chairman Armgardt and Silver
be summoned and the Lane controver-
sy settled by holding conference
with the attorney.
The other two men were found and
the four proceeded to Mr.. Lanes Office
in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. build
ing.
Chairman Armgardt, in telling of
Lanes retention as the City's attor-
ney, stated that the Senator had in
formed him that no fee could be plac-
ed on the job at that time, but that
his fee would be reasonable.
When the committee approached the
attorney yesterday morning, they in
sisted that he name 4 price for the
work. The Senator then told the
committeeman that he would not
charge anything for the work that he
has done to date on the West End
proposition, but that inorder to get
the eases into court, his price would
be $3.50.
The City Counselor's salary for the
entire year is $500.
The committeeman withdrew from
Lanes office to the corridor, where
they held a whispered conversation
and determined to repudiate their ac-
ton, said to have been taken last fall,
and roll" the city's attorney.
They agreed unanimously on the dis
missal and on entering Lanes office,
they announced to him, their determin-
alton. Lane, it is said, expressed no
surprise and showed entire willingness
to acquiesce in the decision of the COM
nittee.
"The committees action is final"
one of the members declared last
night" and it will not need the ratifi-
cation Of the Council, for we have been
empowered, we think, to act"
Senator Lane announced he was
ready to turn over to City Counselor
Knehans all the documents in his pos
session.
At the time the Council Monday |
night ratified the Judiciary Commit
tees employment of Lane, Mayor |
Rage advised the conlitteemen to
have the City Counselor work with |
Lane in doing the legal work for open |