The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-08-19
Supreme Court Will Hear
The Case September 16
Mayor and Members of City Council Made Party
To Suit. Disagreement Over Terms Re-
spOnsible For The Action

Mayor w. V. Griffith and the councilmen of the city of
Liberal must the $4,000 bonds to aid the build
ing of the Kansas Oklahoma Railroad between Liberal Kan
and Forgan Oklahoma show why they should
not be turned
This down by the Kansas Supreme Court
yesterday when that body acted upon the petition of o. p
Byes president of the road asking mandamus compelling
the turning of the bonds.
For several months there has been dispute between Of
fcas of the and the city council the bond matter
The company claims to have complied with the require
ments of the council while members of that body are
Iof different opinion.
Several meetings both official and unofficial have been
held between officers of the company and members of the
council and times business of the city have been invited
in to help settle the matter.
AT the meeting of the council last Tuesday night officials
of the company present and again formally demanded
that the bonds would be turned =.
This the council refused to do and being of the opinion
that further parey would be of me President Byers
asked Court for writ mandamus compelling the council
to turn over the bonds
The court acted favoraby upon the showing made by Mr.
Byer and although official notice has been received by
either the the council newspaper reports originating
Topeka bring the information that the hearing has been set
for Topeka on September 49,
this hearing the will be definitely settled and it
lis expected that Mayor Griffith and the members of the council
Will be Subpoenaed TO topeka Tor the nearing
While the Democrat has its opinion in the natter and
while this opinion shared by least part of the councimen
shall not be purpose at this time into the details of
the viewed from personal angle.
representative of the Democrat visited w. p Byers son
of Byer president of the road who handling the bust
end of the proposition locally Upon being asked for an
interview Mr. Byers replied that possibly the least said at this
time the better.
Pressed fuher for statement Mr. Byers said "I is most
egreabe that has been necessary TO take this matter to
the courts We have acted in good faith with the city council
and given much information good business warranted
We have believe that the courts will uphold in
stand"
Continuing Byers sad "We had hoped to work har-
monouy with the council and everybody concerned but
necessary have to the courts get settlement
and would have done this had not thought had
good enough to win"
Mr. Byer expresses much regret that the proposition did
go through without litigation that Liberal might be spared
the unfavorabe which will be INDUCED in but says
that they much stake give up, and that in view
of they already made it up them TO
complete the road
Mayor Griffith next visited and asked for interview
He at first declined to make statement but later changed
his mind and decided to talk little.
In explaining his stand Mr.. Griffith said:
"The Kansas and Oklahoma Railway by its Presi
and Directors entered into argument with the City
Council before the call for the bond election made the