The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-04
J. r. MULVANE JOINS.
Topeka's Leading Banker is Now
a Municipal Lacquer.
THE LEAGUE OPENS ITS EYES

To the EVIL Of Municipal Office Hold
ing by Hts Members and VIII Adopt
an Amendment to Prevent 1t.
John R. Mulvane, Topeka's richest
man, Joined the Municipal league at the
meeting last night. His name was signed
to the following:
ITO the Municipal League of Topeka:
believing that the affairs of our city
government will be better administered
by the separation of municipal politics
from state and national politics, and be-
ing in accord with the declaration of
principles of the Municipal league of
Topeka, l hereby make application for
membership in the same, and hereby
promise that, if admitted to mem bership
in the league, l will, so far as consistent
with other duties, attend its regular
meetings, and endeavor to promote the
objects of its organization"
Mr.. Mulvane was not present, SO his
name was not signed to the roll of mem
bership, nor has his initiation fee been
paid There was no dissenting voice
when the vote was taken and Mr.. Null
vane was declared unanimously elected
to membership.
1t seems that the league is at last
awakening the people of the city to the
defects of n municipal government If the
league keeps on in the way it has started
and the people who are now joining the
organization will take an active part in
the work, it will prove of great practical
benefit to the city. The good men of all
classes are now presenting their names
and are being voted in as members.
There were nine other gentlemen be-
sides Mr. Mulvane accepted as members
last night as follows: n. P. Garretson,
Francis 81. Ayers, II. Worrall, X G. Mar
tin, P. W. Bruce, q. E. Gipe, H. w. Bonn
gardner. A II. Wetherbee and N. N.
Stebbins. This briggs the list of mem
bers up to eighty-tive
The league did wise thing last night
in taking the preliminary steps to make
office holders ineligible to membership
in the organization. George D. Hale
proposed the following amendment to
the constitution:
an office under the city administration
or who becomes a candidate for any
municipal office shall be dropped from
the roll at once"
An amendment was also proposed
which allows people who live in the
suburbs, but outside the city limits, to
Join the league.
The amendments both went over and
will be voted on at the next meeting.
Inc names OF donors OF lOts IOE the use
of the unemployed were read, and Chair
man Sheldon announced the appointment
of the following committee, which will
manage the distribution and use of the
vacant lots: W. G. Campbell, A A Rip
ley, Z. F. Lannan and M. N. Stebbins.
The committee will solicit further dona-
tions and make all arrangements for the
cultivation of the ground
The feature of the meeting last night
was a paper by ". C. Campbell on "Mu-
nicipaI Government in England" He
reviewed book on that subject which
discusses the various phases of munich
pal control of public utilities He said
that all the reforms pracficed in the
cities of Great Britain would not now be
practical in Topeka because of the cost
they would entail
Mr. Campbell said that the league
could do great work in removing the
suspicion existing in the minds of many
people in Topeka about municipal own
ership of utilities.
He said that there had been too much
recklessness- in the granting of fran
chises in Topeka and alluded to the re-
cent grant Of q franchise to the new tel