The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-24
NETS MAY STAY.
Bill to Abolish the Metropolitan
Police System,
Is Defeated in the Senate This
Morning.
CITIES WARMED UP.
Senator Leedy Makes Them OGt
as Dreadful Places.
Only Two Senator's Vote 10
Abolish the Law.

A bill to repeal the Metropolitan po-
lice law was defeated by a vote of % to :
in the senate shortly after noon today,
Senators billiard and HeImick alone sup
porting it on the final vote
At II o'clock the senate went into com-
mittee of the whole to consider bills on
general orders in their numerical order
The first bill of any consequence to be
reached, and in fact the only important
public measure thus far considered by
the senate at this session was Mr Dll-
lard's bill Is. B No 81 for the repeal O
the police law.
Senator Dulard (Dem.) made the open
ing speech in favor of the bill. lie eX-
blamed that he presented it at the request
of the mayors, city cOuncilmen and other
officers Of all the cities of the first class
in Kansas in convention assembled. lie
urged that the rural members with
civ of neither the first nor second class
in their districts, should accept the
wishes of the city officers and give them
aelf-g government in police affairs if they
wanted it.
Senator Dennison (Pop.) said, "Let US
understand what this bill means and
what it seeks to do. The Metropolitan
Governor might enforce the prohibitory
law if the local authorities refused to do
SO. The governor does not have to ap-
point police commissioners unless he
wishes to: it is left optional with him.
This talk of self government would
come with better grace had the
cities in question enforced the law prior
to the enactment of this bill Bill Cook
might as we'll make plea for self-gov-
ernment. They had failed to enforce
the law, and failing in this respect, the
present law was enacted. 1t is a good
law. and its repeal means open saloons
in the big towns of Kansas.
Senator Leedv (Pop) said: ''The cities
are infested with bad class. that does
not extend into the country, and the NOR
ality of cities is much below the average
of farmers.
The Cities Catch 1t.
s'The city's poor people drink more
whisky, and their lawyers are less hon
Orable than country lawyers. The same
is true of the doctors. The preachers
even are not up to the average of our
circuit riders. Laughter. | under
stand there is one preacher in Topeka
who is director in a bank. He should
understand that the Savior. after work
ing at a carpenters trade most of
his life was so poor He didn't have
enough to last him over Sunday, and Ii e
had his apostles had to go out into a field
and pick corn. This thrifty christianity
ought to be investigated as we'll as other
things.
"The new Topeka board nominated to-
day is composed of one man who is too
old to take any interest in public affairs,
another who is very heavily interested in
the city financially, and Democrat who
is practically cipher l havn't much
confidence in the good intentions of this
board, although FL vote to confirm it."
Honest Jason Helmick Pop) was
greatly impressed with the "home rule"
plea of Senator Dennison, and he sup
ported the bill. He said: "All cities OF
the first class are not SOdoms or Baby
Ions. While cities have had residents
they also have many of the best the coun-
try affords; men who have been thrifty
and have retired to enjoy the privileges
of city life. 1 believe in self-gov-
ernment and I cannot bring my
self to believe that all the col
leges and beautiful churches
and schools in this city are in vain, and
that the decent element cannot control
the worse element l shall vote in favor
of the bill
Senator Brown (Rep.) said that while
locl control was preferable to boards
like those just retiring, he was in favor
of the police law as it stands inasmuch
as the present governor will appoint
good men.
On motion of Senator Shearer (Pop.
the enacting clause was struck out with
only one or two dissenting votes Later.
after the senate had come out of com
mittee of the whole. the action of the
committee was ratified Senator Sterne
of TOnaxa and SopatOr e W.
dotte, were noticeable for voting against
the repeal of the police law.
The vote stood:
Ayes-Armstrong, Baldwin, Bowling
Carpenter, Cooke, Danner. Dennison.
Dumbauld: Forney, Helm, Householder
Jumper, King, Landis, Leeds, Leedy.
Metcalf, Morgan, Parker. Reilly. Rob.
bins, Sem, Shearer, Smith, Sterne, Tav
lor, Thacher. True. Wnlcockson anc
Williamson-29
No-Dlllard and Helmick-2.