The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-01
REFUSE INCREASE
City Commissioners Won't Pay
Excess on Coal Contracts.
Plans Being Made To Buy Fuel
Outside of City.

Despite an open threat" on the
city. the commissioners this morning
voted unanimously to hold up pay
ment fof so cent excess price on the
coal supply for the year just ended
The threat" was made by p. j. Mon
Afghan, of the Southwestern Coal COM
. pany. who stated that the city would
receive no bids on new contracts TOR
coal unless the excess price was al
lowed. He further declared that his
company would not furnish the city
with fuels unless payment over the
contract price should be made.
The city will not pay the excess, &C
cording to action taken at the morn
ing meeting of the board of comnls-
sioners. No contracts will be entered
into for the years supply OF coal nor
will the CITY heed the warning given
by Monaghan.
Mayor House and Frank Newland
were both reported as being in favor
of allowing the excess until TINS
morning when it was learned that
Monaghan was acting as agent Tor the
Western, Mining and Coal company.
Monaghan denied that he was agent
and asserted that he was losing 40
cents per ton on the coal supplied the
Monaghan's Statement.
1t was understood by both the may
or and Commissioner NeWland thaI
MONAGHAN was dCllllE 90 ehe - 49,
mining concern and received Genus
De,. ton commission. Monaghan When
asked about the commission, decidr 81
that his profit was supposed TO De i've
cents a ton. but later in the CONVERSE
lion referred to the profit as com
mission" 80 fi-s+
tiDe during his administration had
his feet against the bake oven &C
cording TO Mr.. Tandy. He was III
favor of granting the increased price
becausA he stated, the city mlshJ IlIiu
il hard to get coal II Monasl
bthreat was carried out. He had also
told Monaghan that he would Work
10 have the bonus" allowed.
Commissioner Tandy opposed the
granting of the so cents and TOOK the
stand that the proceedings were near
~ blackmail on the city rms Iuea
was also held by Commissioner For
George p Hayden, city attorney in
the argument this morning declared
that granting the excess price was not
legal in the face of the expired con
tract nor was it up to the city to set
the contract aside. If the excess
price is to be granted in spite of the
contract, it is up to the courts to de-
eide the matter he said.
Total Is S1.53S.36.
The excess asked by the Southwest
ern coal company totals $1,53S. 3f
and dates from April %, the first
car load of the May supply The
water department bills show a total
excess of $9O6.70 while the light de-
partment has an excess of $631.66.
The excess, according to Monaghan
was added to the city's contract each
month since May, when an agreement
was made between the miners anC
mine operators for increased wages
The cost price was increased SO cents
a>ton and the increase was handed or
to the consumer.
according to George 2. Hayden, city
attorney, as a business proposition
not because the dealers deserved i
nor out Of sympathy. Their reason
was strictly business. By granting the
bonus the state secured better con
tracts for future contracts and then
too the bonus was granted for only
one months bills.
Light Plant Short.
The light plant now has coal OF
hands to supply the department FOL
twelve or fifteen days, COMMISSIONS
Newland reported. and the watel
plant has enough for fifteen or twenty
days In the meantime. the city will
try to purchase from local dealers, bu
II the coal firms Of the city are SLOW
in making bids and accepting order
for the City's supply, outside concern
will he consulted Even now Com m is