Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-02

WHAT WICHITA NEEDS.
The paramount need of the city of Wich-
ita at the present time is an honest, efficient
government; men of moral standing and
the very best business habits and ability.
Wichita is no longer frontier trading post
nor a cowboy town; but a great commercial
center.
In the old times, the chief qualification
; looked for in those days for candidate,
from mayor down to policeman, was that of
being good fellow" which in English
means to be off-handed, "blow in" a dollar
frequently with boon companions and stand
in with tho boys. Day before yesterday the
writer overheard couple of citizens speak
! ing of a couple Of men prominent in the
city council, and they admitted that the
|, parties referred TO did not amount to much
in the matter Of running city government
but they were good fellows" Good fellows
are just what this city don't want at present.
What she needs are men of the highest
social standing and the best business ability
men who will do their duty in any emerg-
eney, regardless of the good or bad opinion
of ''the boys"
We have frequently called attention 10
the filthy condition of the city in general
and the laxity shown in executing the laws
the leniency shown to criminals and law
breakers and the disposition of the author
ties to cover up evil deeds and to shield
evil-doers. Whenever we found it necessary
to call attention TO this state of things, a
cry was raised by those interested, together
with certain newspapers, that it was impo
itic 10 LET the outside world know that this
city was not model Of law and
order, or that everyone who chose
TO plumber and rob our people
were not Angles. We conceive it to be the
duty of daily journal to expose every evil
deed of which it has coguizance and to fol-
low every evil-doer until brought to justice
or compelled to leave town. The EAGLE
will never become party to the covering |
up process. Our police have had to bear a
good deal of blame that probably ought to
be credited to those in authority over them.
I The writer had conversation with an ex-
policeman some time ago concerning GER
tain criminal matter that had been covered
up. He said il was useless to Try TO deal
with certain criminals according TO law,
when officials high in authority we've as deep
in the mire as those who ought 10 be brought
to justice. There is good reason to believe
that if our city council would support the
police in doing their duty the latter body
would be as efficient as those of most other
cities.
Just now there are some matters of vital
importance that should command the atten-
ton of the city government. Anticipating
the spread OF cholera in this country next
summer, every city in the United States is
adopting rigid and vigorous sanitary meas
ures. This city is VIGOROUSLY filthy; it APP
pears to be nobody's business to see that
sewers, back yards and closes are kept
clean, The sewerage is wIetchedlv made
quate. 1t is urged in this connection that
remain bad. There is reason 10 believe
that competent engineer could by going
a couple Of miles down the river
find sufficient fall. 4 large main sewer or
canal could be cut through the city to that
point which would serve as an alimentary
canal for complete system of sewerage.
Hog pens abound along the river and when
ever a rain comes The filth from these is
washed into the river and in high tide the
water is backed up to the scource of our
water supply and its filthy particle neces-
sarily permeates all the water supplied
from that quar.er.
Several wagon loads of rotten potatoes and
other trash have lately been omptied on the
rivers brink last week which will add its i'm
purity to the water; again during last week
pile Of rotten manure has been stacked up
against the street on the rivers edge at the
east end Of the bridge. The field breath of
this hotbed Of rotting manure permeates the
air we breathe right in the heart of the city.
During the present cold weather, perhaps,
no harm will result from all this accumula-
ton of filth, but when a thaw and warm
"eaAi4Si Soiiles A'leH lbe cry II ripe ior all
manner Of disease.
The moral atmosphere OF the city is also
dreadfully corrupt.
1t appears to be useless to move for any
reform while the present council holds. II
is seldom that the affairs Of city of the
magnitude of Wichita is found in SO de-
plorsbly loose and corrupt condition.
Corruption, looseness and irregularity reign
on every hand. When such laxity and cor
ruption exists in city government, the in
lection generally spreads to society and all
forms of vice and immortality creep into the
foul atmosphere and flourish in it
The EAGLE shall always regard it duty
TO point out a disease, if one exists, that
threatens to undermine the moral and
physical health of the city, and it should be
the duty Of the city government TO discover
the seat of the disease and not only to pre-
scribe remedy, but to administer the dose
no matter how nauseous it may be to a GER
tain class.
Men who will do this, no matter if they
be called bad fellows, are what Wichita
wants just now If cancer is found to
exist in the body polite we take it that it is
best to make it known and have it cut out.