The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-19
Their FIRST row
City Politicians Clash at City
Hall Meeting Today.
Eandy and Hayden Shake Their
Fists at III. G.. Root.
BAD FAITH IS CHARGED
Root Filed Claim Based on a
Contractors Letter.
Warm Reception for ''Intruder"
at Commission.


'.ney. that they are ready and willing to
Isface an alleged political frame-up
i sprung at the eleventh hour in an ef-
fort to defeat them. Shaking his fist
am Ter Roots nose, George p. Hayden,
city attorney, cried:
Get into court with your claim you
toward and see how far you get with
/ it, and Hayden held his fist about
two inches, from the nose of the To-
n~ka attorney But don't come
around here Just before election ana
file a claim for nothing excepting po-
tlitical purposes ., of
streets. who early in the controversy
had missed Roots nose by as narrow
a margin as Hayden, gave the parting
shot at the retreating attorney
Before he GIN get into court say
Tandy. .election will be over anu ne II
The filing of the claim is asserted TO
I The for the purpose of bringing 10 hSht
a recent confession OF M u IoIS ,ii
of Torson & Son, contractors. VINO olu
on the East side sewer me youllEel
Torson recently got religion ana IN
formed the city commissioners that ms
father had been bought on 81
$4,000 by j. A Pringle' success ~ ~
4 hidder for the contract TO construct
tie sewer.
Do Not Believe story
Tho CITY commissioners do not be
/ lieve Torson's story. Torson piu was
100000 less than that OF Ffliisle an
Roots claim represents the ulllel el L.
the $4,000 would have made IN His
assessment if it had been posslole Ior
The citv commissioners to accept the
Tors.l bid -, -..,,,,1,,
AcceDtance of the TorsOn bid Would
have been next to Impossible the con-
4 missioners declare because Iorsoh ao-
,,oitted in an open meeting that ne was
unable to furnish bond, that ne haa
bid too low and acceptance OF con
tract would means loss TO MINI tno
xUrote a letter asking to withdraw ms
hid and at a meeting of the city com
missioners reiterated the statement
that he had bid too low ana again
asked that he be permitted TO VIII
draw his bid. With Torson uhapIe
TO produce bond. asking that he pc
pernitted to withdraw his bid and ad-
hitting that he had estimated too low.
the commissioners declare there was
nothing else for them to do.
No sooner had Miss Eta Covell, city
clerk. read the Root claim than Mayor
House spoke up:
THAT claim will be placed on file,
he said 1T is made for no other pur-
nose than to make political capital ana
will not be considered for one minute
by the city commissioners. You have
The courts for recourse but you can
get no recourse from the COMMISSION
ers''
MAY l speak a few minutes" asked
Root.
u don't know whether I want to to
hear anything from person who Will
use such political methods, or not
said tine mayor, but go ahead:
u didn't understand until just re-
GENTLY that there had been a lower
bid began Root.
Come inside and sit down and I'll
tell you all about it. said House Rool
stood outside the railing. 80 o,,.u
"Come in and sit down ana you IL
hear all about it" exclaimed Tandy as
he arose and pointed to d chair INSIDE
the railing. Root took the chair.
House Explains.
There were three bidders for the
Last side sewer contract sald MAYOR
House ''Torson, Pringle and the Mer--
chants Construction company ne
Torson bid was about S2o,OoO lower
than the Pringle bid. He apparently
had paid no attention to the engineer
estimates and the commissioners al
WAYS had great confidence in the en-
gineer in our employ at that time
$50 Mr. Tandy, Mr.. Hayden and my
seI4 went to Kansas city TO lnvesu-
rate the TorsCns. We found nothing
in narticlIar against them, excepting
that they had never had job of such
magnitude.
Then at n meeting of the city com
,uissiCncrs Torson arose. stated he had
and would like to withdraw his bid.
| MI. Hayder asked him if nc were
able to secure bond
'.'Torson replied that he was not.
'.Recently," continued the mayor,
we received a letter from the younger
Torson. His letter was filled with
religious stuff. and after aslIing-all of
us to Get Right with Cod he told
us that Pringle had paid his father
$4,000"
Mayor House paused.
Now, Mr. Root" he said. Il ask you
rs n citizen. if you occupied the posi-
tion of a commissioner, whether with
Torson unable tc secure bond, with
tail with that of the engineer. with
his confession that ne he had bid too
low and with our knowledge that he
had never tackled a job of such pro-
portions. would you have given him
the bid %
Pinned Root Down.
Root evaded the question.
THAT is not. answering my ques-
ton" said House.
Root did not answer it
why come up here and play poll
tics" shouted Commissioner Tandy, as
he sprang to his feet and shook his
fist under Roots nose. why don't
you go to the courts, if You believe
you have any recourse. That is the
worst kind of political buncome, cap
able of plaster paris monkey or a
long tailed rat.
You know you are coming up here
to make politics out of this business.
for $40. 600 as is every other commits
Those bonds don't ANnire 3f-