The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-04
HE PROMISES WELL.
Mayor Elect Fellows Says He Will
Surprise His Enemies
BY DOING THE RIGHT THING

While He Is Mayor OF To9eka-Says
He Has Not Promised the Offices to
His Political Friends.
There never was a man in Topeka more
sought after than is Mayor elect Charles
A Fellows just now. The Office hunters
are looking for him and they wait for
him in every stairway. When he walks
up the street he runs a gauntlet of hungry
place hunters, who assure him that they
are responsible for his election. If his
hair turns gray this week it would not
surprise his friends.
81 have not made single promise"
said Mr., Fellows to a JOURNAL reporter
last night If there was one thing l
was determined to do it was to get
through this thing without being tied
down by promises and no man can truly
say that he has been promised an Office
By me-"
Mr.. Fellows may be preparing sur
prise for those who have said and be-
lieved that he would turn all the offices
over to his political friends without re-
gard to fitness. and the working force of
the city would be greatly crippled by his
election.
"In any appointments I may make"
said he, s'the fitness of the man will be
the first consideration. I have fully made
up my mind that no one will be dis
charged because he was for Harrison at
the primary. l intend to consult the
council in all my appointments The
council must confirm the appointments
and take that to mean that it should be
consulted before they are made The
council is good one and we will work
together in all things"
"There will be no wholesale discharges
of employees of the city?"
"No. SIR" replied Mr.. Fellows with
emphasis. 81 thought that l was to be
defeated at the primary, and | had made
up my mind to ask only one thing of Mr..
Harrison-that he would not discharge
those in the employ of the city who had
been honestly for me at the primary, and
having made up my mind on that point,
l do not wish to be inconsistent now that
it went the other way. l have not fully
mapped out my policy on all matters, and
l would prefer to wait until have given
the whole subject careful thought before
/ express myself"
If Mr.. Fellows was SO disposed there
are at least thirty places which he could
fill by appointment, though the action of
the legislature in making the Offices of
city clerk, city attorney and city treas
urer elective took away the appointing
power for three of the principal city Of
fees.
Following is the list of officers who
might be removed if Mr.. Fellows were
disposed to make a clean sweep:
City engineer, salary $3.50 per month,
though the present city engineer is work
ing by contract for $50 less; one rodman
and one tapman at 500 per month, each;
one inspector at $50 per month.
Street commissioner, salary, $50. 50;
one deputy, $50; one foreman, $50; mem
bers of the street force appointed by the
street commissioner, wages $3.50 per
day.
City physician, salary $50 and $25 for
expenses, monthly; five sanitary officers,
$50 each per month; two members of the
city board of health, So for each consul
tetion.
One dog tax collector, $50: two weigh
masters, $40 each; one superintendent of
the city dump, $40; one or more scaven-
gers; food inspector. SIS; chief of fire
! department, $3.50; assistant, $83.
Superintendent of city electric light
plant, 1925; one engineer, $75; one trim
mer, 800; two trimmers, $50 each; one
fireman, $50; one helper, $40.
City assessor and deputies.