The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-03
MUNICIPALITY LAWS.
How They Should Be Changed
Being Considered.
BY REPRESENTATIVES, FROM ABROAD.

TenIssht There VIII Be a Banquet to
the Visitors.
/ The! committees representing the cities
of the first class in Kansas met last night
at the council chamber. All the cities
were represented except Atchison.
Mayor Harrison presided.
| The reports of the committees from the
different cities on proposed legislation
were read.
City Clerk Short, of Kansas City, was
the first to report. He had an armful of
hills. which will find their way to the
legislature, which embody the wants OF
Kansas City.
eral fund relieved by making a two-miH
assessment for lights and to have the six
mill Limit for the general improvement
fund reduced to four mills. Clerk short
thought this amount would be sufficient
If DolI tax could be collected, and he
. thought it could
He said Kansas City was in dilemma
because she had no money to repair her
pavements, and bonds could not be issued
| for that purpose. He had bill to pro-
vide for the issuance of bonds for repair
| ing pavements and yiaducts.
| Another clause suggested was for
bonds for opening streets and changing
grades. Kansas City wants the sidewalk
contracts let by the year.
The Kansas City committee thinks
! that Judges and clerks of elections are
not paid we'll enough, and that their
compensation should be So day instead
of So for the entire election. Clerk
| Short also thinks that councilmen can
not afford to waste their lives in the ser
| - mir a
suggested that the city fathers be
allowed So for each council meeting and
| So for each committee meeting.
| City Attorney Tillotson reported for
| Toneka the Recommendation of changes
in the law. as published in last evenings
| JOURNAL. referring to settlements with
the county clerk and the liability OF lot
owners for injuries resulting from de-
fective Sidewalks He also reported in
favor Of placing a ninety day limit on
claims for damages for personal injuries
| Topeka also asked that law be recon-
mended authorizing the purchase of
water works by the city. Other sugges-
tions were made as follows: To provide
for the building of bridges in cities OF
J the first class by the counties; to prevent
the vacating of city plated property by
/ the county commissioners; TO eXtend
| the time of the city assessor for making
returns; to change the law governing
the conforming of and building new
I sidewalks.
Capt. ]. Lee Knight presented a report
in favor of establishing joint work houses
by the counties and cities to be used as
places of punishment for petty ottenses.
City Assessor Campbell, of Wichita,
said that the suggestions of his commit
tee had been nearly all covered by the
representatives of other cities lie
thought the city assessor should be PAID
a salary and keep his Office open every
day in the year as we'll as have more
time in which to make his report
Wichita thinks property should be as
sessed at its full value.
Councilman Hook, of Leavenworth,
reported that his committee could not be
present and asked that the report gu
over Until today.
p &C. Hesser, president of the city
council of Fl. Scott, made the report for
that city.
They want the control of the poor
turned over to the county, the pay OF
couneillnen raised to $1OO per annum
that She poll tax law be amended to allow
the street commissioner to decide whether
poll tax be paid or worked out. the sal
airy of the city attorney raised from 5000
to $1,000 year.
On motion of Mayor Barnes the report:
were, referred to the city attorneys fol
compilation.
The representatives of the cities of the
first class will hardly finish their work
today
The county attorneys will probably
complete the compilation of their repor
on charges in the laws to present to the
meeting late this afternoon.
There will probably be some difficulty
, in agreeing upon some of the proposed
measures, among them being Topeka
scheme TO make the lot owners liable TO
| any damages which may result from th'