The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-10
CITY COUNCIL MEETS.
The Scavenger Ordinance the
Principal Topic.
MAYOR NAY APPOINT ONE MORE.
Ae Intends to appoint Another @caw-
enger-Other Council Matters

Second ward made an attack on the new
scavenger ordinance. He said It gave
one man a monopoly Of a business that
has heretofore been a paying industry in
the hands of several, and said the ordin-
ance as a whole savored too strongly Of
machine methods" of doing business.
The ordinance says among other things
that lone or more" city scavengers may
be appointed by the mayor. Last night
Mayor Harrison submitted the name Of
7. W. Durham for the position. The
"more" were not forthcoming, and
whether or not there is to be monopoly
of scavengeF work in Topeka rests en-
tirely with the mayor. Under the new
ordinance no one is allowed to clean
vaults or otherwise attend to the scaven-
ger work in the city without being APP
pointed by the mayor and confirmed by
the council. If there is only one scaven-
ger there viii be no competition, and no
change or appeal if the work is not salts
factory.
These were the grounds on which Mr..
Stephenson urged the appointment Of
more han one city scavenger lie said
that while he had nothing against Mr.
Durham he thought it was unjust TO give
one man a monopoly of the whole SER
vice. especially as three or four men
have heretofore been able to make fair
living at it. While the price to be
charged by the scavenger is regulated
by the ordinance at 10 cents barrel it is
an easy matter without petition to
double up in the number of barrels,
and moreover Colonel Durham must be
employed to do the work whether the
taxpayers prefer some one else or not.
Mr.. Fellows called on Mr.. Stephenson
to explain what he meant by machine
Methods
Colonel Burgess said he would rath sr
have two scavengers than one, but didn't
41ca ord
ing q machine.
In explanation Mr. Stephenson said he
had nothing to retract, and that when
citizens were forced by law to patronize
one man, he called that machine legis-
lation.
Mr.. Stevens thought a little competi-
tion wouldn't hurt Mr.. Dur ham in view
of the fact that half dozen men had
made q living out Of it heretofore. It is
quite big contract, be said, to clean all
the vaults in Topeka.
Mayor Harrison finally said II the
council wanted more than one scavenger
he would appoint another, although he
thought one was enough. He asked for
a roll-call to find out how the council
men felt about it. Those who favored
more than one scavenger voted aye, and
those opposed, no. The vote resulted:
CESS, Fellows and Griggs-6. No-Hol-
man, Ettlinger, Bradford and Fulton
The mayor observed that there wasn't a
very overwhelming majority, but that
another scavenger would be named at
some distant date
The city recently purchased the city
dump from Mr. Durham for $500 cash.
because Durham couldn't make it pay.
Mistakes Corrected.
Mayor Harrison returned to the coun-
ell two ordinances passed at the last
meeting, without his signature. The
%l.<
nature of a veto, but to correct some
small clerical or legal mistakes. One Of
these ordinances was the one commonly
called the cigarette ordinance. The title
reads, AN ordinance to prevent the sale
of tobacco. opium or other narcoticsv
ssor other narcotics" This was inserted,
and also the word scigarettes," as the
mayor explained that many cigarettes do
not contain tobacco at all.
The so-called dead wire ordinance
was returned because one or two express
mistakes were rectifed, and then both
ordinances were passed again.
Cost or Brick Walks.
City Engineer Lewis Kingman sub
mitted his sworn estimate of the cost Of
the brick sidewalks which the council
will soon let a contract for the construc-
ton of. The estimate is for six and three
fOurths cents per square foot Estimat-
ing that there are HOO lots condemned
and that the walks are six by twenty five
feet, the cost will amount to about
81, 900.
a large number Of petitions were re-
ceived last night from persons whose
walks were condemned, asking for re-
lease from condemnation provided they
repair their old walks. Hard times have
made these requests more numerous
than usual. and many Of them are from
he
nent walks if they could afford it These
petitions were all referred to the com
mittee on streets and walks.
improvements in ParkdaIs.
The matter of improvements at the
junction of Eighth and Tenth streets.
near Topeka cemetery, occupied great
deal of time at the meeting last night
1t appears that every time there is a
heavy rain the water backs up and fills
all the cellars and wells in the neighbor- |
hood. on account of the defective grading
of the streets. The neighborhOod il
question appears to be a sort Of No
man's-Iand. as there was some doubt
whether it was in the Second, Third or
Fifth wards. Mr.. Griggs of the Fifth |
was the champion Of a measure provid- |
ing for q series Of culverts there that is /
calculated to 0bviate the water nuisance.
He said: IF this district were in the |
Fourth ward it would have been fixed /
long ago" 1t will cost about $3.50 10 /
make the necessary improvements The |
matter will be considered again next
Monday night
They Changed Their MAIDS.
A few weeks ago a number Of resi- /
tents living in the block bounded by |
Lincoln, Lane, Seventh and Eighth /
streets petitioned for a sewer, and their |
block was declared benefit district as
0ne Of the frat steps to give the people |
there a nice little sewer all Of their own.