The advocate., 1891-03-18
KANaAs LEaIsLATURE.



department. Under Tho law tho police gov.
ornmSnt is wholly independent Of tho mayOr
and council, sHo0Dt that 10 Is made tho duty
OF tho mayor and the council 10 pay upon
the roquidtlOn of tho commissioners, out Of
the general revenue fund Of the city, OK
ponsos created by thom.
Your committee found tho time at their
disposal too short 70 examine oil tho w.t.
noaBOs Wo we're advised could give important
testimony bearing upon illegal practices In
ths application Of the police government.
Thoro are ok cities Of tho frst class In the
state. Metropolitan police commissioner
have bean appointed FOX tho police govern
mGnt Of each, and some Of the boards have
beon frequently changed.
Mr.. Bonning, a member Of tho board of
pOlios commissioners Of tho city OF Atohi-
son, testified that tippllng shops, gambling
d0no, and tho keepers Of houses Of prOstitu-
tion wor0 regularly fined. His testimony
was confirmed by number OF respectable
oitizonS, and tho records Of tho board. Evi-
donoe, explanatory, was given by R0publi-
cans, PrOhibitionigts and Democrats. They
all expressed their belief that tho prOhibi.
tory law could not be enforced in Atchison,
and IL Was Ia tho interest Of society and the
treasury OF th0 city 10 have tho laws executed
10 regulate and not 70 suppress the sale OF
intoxicating liquors. A joint keeper t0sti-
fed that no and others we're ordered by the
police to close their doors during the visit
Of thO Legislative committee.
An extensive correspondence ls pre-
gentsd between Hon. Bailey s. Wag-
gener, mayor Of Atchlson, and Hon. Ly-
man U. Humphrey, Governor Of Kansas.
10 commenced in December, 1889, and
continued until April, 1890.
The following appears in a letter from
the Mayor TO the Governor, bearing date
February 10, 1890:
1. That since Tho appointment of the
board OF police commissioners in 1889, there
has been In operation In this city an average
Of about forty "ioints," or places whore in-
tOEicating liquors we're sold in violation Of
tho law.
2. That during an that time the present
chief Of police had systematically collected
money from the prOpFietoS Of these 'iOints"
az a liOonso Cor the privilege Of selling
liquors In violation OF law, and 10 secure
immunity from arrest.
3. That large amount Of money was
collected by the chief af police without any
arEegts having boon made, and which was
paid for Che express purpose, by parties
who we're selling liquors in violation Of the
law, 70 avoid arrest.
4. That In December, 1889, as mayor Of
this city, instituted an investigation and
asOortainod that large sum Of money had
been thus collected by the chief Of police,
and In no manner accounted for by the
chief 70 tho police Judge, or 70 the city
treasurer. That after this investigation had
proceeded tO point where exposure was
inevitable, tho chief Of police, on DeOem-
ber "a, 1889, paid 10 the city treasurer the
sum Of S1,2a5, and asked and obtained o r0-
osipt from Che treasurer, and had II ante
dated 10 December 3, 1859.
T. That said chief Of police has never
made and statement 10 tho police Judge or
city treasurer, showing from whom and on
what account the same had been COleCtedj
but tho OiIidSviNq, copies Of which you now
have in your pOasOBsiOn, show OonCluSivoly
chat said sum OF e1,2i5 was collected by
said chief OF police as license for the
privilege Of selling Intoxicating liquors in
violation Of Law As ''hush money" 70 secure