The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-10

cleaning Of police buildings aa may ha
necessary. it being the true intent and
meaning Of this act that all the necessary
expenses Of the police department shall
be borne Dy the city out Of tine general
revenue fund, notwithstanding the gov
ernment of such department is vested
exclusively ia said hoard.7
Our record of the past shows clearly
that we have been very careful not 10
encroach upon the rights 0L other 1e-
parfments of the city government. nor fo
officially intermeddle with their affairs.
We submit that no department 81 tao
city government has more carefully
guarded the financial interests of tic
city, or has been more economical, than
ours, Notwithstanding the fact THAT the
law gives us the right q double or treble
the expenses we have been making
Under the circumstances we deem the
resolutions officially epOrted rs us AS un-
called for and extremely unjust. and we
invite everybody Interested ia the well
fare Of the city t1 visit our headquartera.
inspect our work at the city prison before
passing uniavorable judgment upon ns.
We beg leave further to say chat we
have been informed by resolutions pre-
sented TO your honorable body. that the
"bull pen" was a sshumano punishment.
Allow us to say that the stocks. the
whipping post, the rack. the wheel. AND
all the tortures Of the InQui5itiou were
also 'human" punishments. and the Ver-
turies unanimously condemns them as
devilishly inhuman also.
If any dungeon of former days was
more cruel place of confinement than tho
lamented "buil pen" IN the cold, damp,
dark basement oil the city prison sitting
in q cesspool Of hlth-the Lord have
mercy On the powers that pat human
beings into it. And for abating this vile
abominatiOn; for removing the cell pres
liminary to using such parts of it as
might be servicable IFS the construction
Of q suitable cell for the solitary couiIue-
ment of such cases requiring snch treat-
ment we are threatened with the terrors
Of the law.
And your honorable body further de-
mands of us. t0 sat once restore the iron
cell to its former condition We have
held feelings of high esteem and deep
respect for the Individual members ot
your honorable body. We look upon you
as the pick and the pride Of your respec-
tive wards, tho chosen representative
men of the most humane and enlighteu-
ca city Of our land. It IS then with great
surprise and sorrow that we note the ac-
tion Of the mayor and council. In The
passage of ordinance NO. 1858. i'm which
you make it the duty of the marshal 0E
this city to compel all persons. -meu,
women and children, convicted off petty
crimes ia our police court. t0 work out
their fines upon the rock pile. 0r upon
the streets of the city.
lit is not for us to question the unfath-
omabIe wisdom Of the ordinance-nalziu
power, and we are reluctant 10 object to
amy Of its demands upon us But with
all due respect % your honorable boays
we must positively decline 20 put women.
children and cripples to hard labor au
the streets and public works Of this eIt1s
All of which il respectfully submitted.
Resolved. That our secretary be aud
is hereby instructed to transmit COPY rs
the foregoing to the mayor and council
of this city also, 10 request the puolica
ton of the same ia the STATE JOURNAL
H. g. NOUNu. Secretary