The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-02-11
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Tribune Story Brings Split
In Joint Committee On
Street Widening.
KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON"
SHOUTS JAY E. FOWLER
Armgardt Alone Remembers De-
tails OF Lane Meeting
Other Council News.

hour the City CouEcll last nlgnt
rassed motion ratifying the action
cf The Judiciary Committee in hiring
Senator Thomas F. Lane. to do the le-
cal work in connection with widening
five streets in the West End in prepar-
alton for z new sewer system.
4 few moments after the motion
mad been carried, the Propositions
and Grievance Committee, at the re
quest CT two of its members was mus
tered out OF service in handling the
street widening situation.
The rumpus in the Council and the
split between the Judiciary and Propo-
sitiorz and Grievances Committees fol-
lowed the exposurein The Tribune that
thcr. had been no committee meeting
for nearly four months, combined with
VIII. the latter committee took as
snub when it learned that Lane had
been hired without that committee
having been consulted.
City Attorney Whitelaw to have Har-
mony. Benton, Themis, Hanover and
Painter streets widened and opened to
complete sewer plans. The ordinances
were inaccurate. according to the de-
cisi0n of the Council and were taken
from Whitclaw's hands and given to
the TWO committees, the Judiciary
composed Of Charles Armgardt, chair
man, c. B. Hoeller and w. d. Black,
and the Propositions and Grievances,
composed Of Arthur {. Bowman, chair
man. Charles Kaess and Jay z. Fowl
er. They were to work with Chris
Silver and were authorized to employ
a special competent counsel.
According to the statements of all
the committeeman, there never has
been Joint meeting Of the two COM
mittces to examine the proposition,
and Chairman Armgardt declared that
the Judiciary Committee employed
Lane.
Mr. Armgardt opened the verbal
typloon when ne charged that the
story in The Tribune Sunday carried
the inference that he, as one member
Of the committee, was responsible for
the action of the body He told the
Council details of the meeting when
he ard Black and Hoeller went to
Lanes office. They obtained no price
OF tie work, but statement from the
attorney that it would be reasonable,
Arm"ardt said.
''He only began work last Friday"
Mayor Rage declared.
Councilman Hoeller approved the
statement by Armgardt, when Black
rose and, rs he had been quoted in
The Tribune, denied that he had at
tended any such meeting when Lane
was hired for the West End Job. He
said he remembered hiring Lane for
the Mcrriwcther street Job.
Bowman declared The Tribune was
right, that he had not attended any
meeting and Fowler voiced the same
statement.
Armgardt turned upon Black and
cndeavcred to make the Councilman
remember the meeting by pointing
out the circumstance that the three
were forced to make a second trip to
the attorneys office because of a prior
visitor.
Black declared he remembered that
meeting, bat said that was the occas-
ion when Lane was consulted with rel
alive to the Merriwether street lob.
HoalIer then announced: You're
right, that was Merriwether street we
talked about then"
Armgarit contended the West End
job was considered also. He declared
that ne had asked the Senator several
times how the work was progressing.
'"How are you getting along with
these streets; SENATOR l asked him,
Armgardt said, land his reply was al
way, Fine"
81 took that man at his word when
he told me that, and l could mention
others here, but / won't, because l
want to be in harmony with the Coun-
Gil and the Mayor"
"Wait minute! Why weren't we
asked to this meeting ." Fowler cried
at was a special committee and l
believe your committee was not in it, "
he was told.
An argument ensUed over the ques-
ton as to what COMMITTEES had the Job
of looking after the streets in question.
The records were called for and set
forth -unerringly that both committees
had been authorized to serve jointly.
Those records ought to show one OF