The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-10
The Police Board Issues a Sensa-
tiOnal Paper,
Addressed to the Mayor and
Council.
CHARGES REPLIED TO.
The Bullpen Held Up In All It's
Horror.
The Board Says 1t Has Obeyed
the Laws.
CHARGES REPLIED TO.


The board Of police commissioners
held a meeting last night aud prepared a
formal reply to the grave charges
brought against them by the mayor and
the city council The reply is no less
severe than the charges, denying each
charge brought against them. denouncing
charges as mere street rumors taken up
by the council and never given an inves-
tigation, and demands that the charges
be confirmed by proof or retracted.
A copy Of the statement was given to
Mayor Harrison this afternoon and il will
be presented to the city council at its
next meeting.
The reply in full is as follows
To the Honorable. the Mayor and COuncilrnen of
The City of Topeka
GENTLEMEN.- We acknowledge the
receipt of the report of the ways and
means committee of your honorable body
with reference to the work of this board.
and beg leave to submit our reply.
AS to the charge Of removing the iron
cell from the basement of the city prison.
we hold that the law which la positive
terms vests the entire control of the
police department, together with the
premises belonging thereto ia our board
certainly gives us the right to change the
location Of any piece Of furniture on the
premises We deny that we have de-
stroyed any city property.
Regarding the rock pile, our record
shows that the whole intent Of our action
in relation thereto was to sAprOtect men
out Of employment and seeking work. in
this time of widespread distress and
need, from the penalty prescribed by an
ordinance of this city for being found
in the city without visible means of sup
port onr concluding resolution distinctly
stating that nothing in them -shau be
construed 10 f9 r1aTaFTT- Vls ~ nuyn
committed crimes
We are accused of turning prisoners
loose without requiring fines to be paid
or worked out lit lis charged that the
police Judge has not paid over fines coli
Iected as required by law, THAT the police
commissioners have paid out moneys un-
lawfully, and before the same has been
appropriated by the city council To all
these charges we make explicit denial
And we have right to ask why not 4
single member of this committee, which
has published broadcast such grave
charges against our board. never visited
the prison or premises, or inquired into
the facts in the case, at the only place
where the truth could have been ascer-
tanned. We demand Of your honorable
body that some proof beyond hearsay on
street rumors shall be produced to con-
firm them, or these charges retracted as
8publicly as made
Fortunately. the law under which we
derive our authority IS clear and explicit
in very many particulars The act Of
1889 pertaining 10 the police government
of cities contains the following to-wit'
4 .sIt shall be the duty Of the mayor and
council of such city to pay upon the re-
QUESTION of the commissioners for patrol
wagon, horses. harness and necessary
/ supplies, and TO provide all necessary ac-
+ c0mm0datiOns for the sessions of the
board. and to provide police court room
station houses and prison. and TO furnish
warm and light for same. IO pay foI
food for prisoners, to provide for THE
monthly payment of the police judge and
/ police officers on the certificate Of the
board as to the amount due each; also
for such Office expenses, record books
stationery, printing. telegraphing
/ badges, clubs, and the repair and