Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-25
PROPOSED POLICE REFORM.
A GOOD PROSPECT FOR LOCAL Gov
ERNMENT IN KANSAS CITY.
Members of the Council Favor Amend
ing the City Charter So as to Do
Away with the Present Po-
IiticaI Machine.

Members of both houses of the city coun-
ell are becoming thoroughly aroused to
the necessity of making a change in the
administration of the police department,
and it is probable some decisive step to-
wards the reform will be taken before the
close of the year. Alderman Morrison, of
the upper house, is particularly eager for
the change. He said yesterday:
.'It is an outrage that Kansas City is
compelled to pay the salaries of the police
department, and while doing SO is allowed
no voice in its control. 1 will work and
vote for an ordinance calling special cleo
ton to SO amend the city charter as to
deprive the governor of the authority to
govern Kansas City through the medium
of police commissioners appointed by him.
and while we are about it L think we
should not confer the power to grant and
revoke saloon licenses upon the non-parti-
san board which it is proposed to create.
This power to conduct brokerage business
in saloon licenses is a most important part
of the political machine which the present
Metropolitan police system foists upon us.
1t is but means of rewarding or punish
ing the hordes of ward heelers: the pack
ers of conventions and runners of pri-
maries. This makes n power that is al
| most invincible in politics, as it practically
determines the personnel of every county
| and city convention. don't know where
| the power to grant and revoke saloon IL
| censes should rest, but l am positive II
| is now vested in the wrong body. Perhaps
| 1t would be well to give the power of grant
| ing saloon licenses to one body or officer
and that of revoking them to another. In
| any event, the system cannot be worse
| than it is now"
| Alderman Nunson, of the upper house
said:
AZ am heartily in favor of holding spe.
| ciaI election to amend the charter along
| the lines advocated by the Journal. l am
| in favor of the taxpayers of Kansas City
| ruling Kansas City. The present system
| of having man in Jefferson City run the
| most important of Kansas City's depart
| ments Is contrary to all rules of good gov
| errnent and is a ruse of which the rea,
| pI rpose is to build up and maintain g
| political machine"
Alderman Eyssell, of the upper house
said:
You may quote me as favoring the home
| rule scheme. It is a wonder the abuses Of
| the present system haven't been exposed
| before and am glad to see that the Jour
| nal is advocating a much needed reform
| If an ordinance calling for charter re
| vision is introduced in the upper house,
| shall vote and work for it,
| Councilman n. p. Simonds, of the lower
house said:
II am in favor of amending the charter
| so that Kansas City can get control o.
| its police force. AS long as Kansas City
| pays the bills she should be permitted tC
| say to whom she shall pay them. 1 am {
| member of the auditing committee and
| notice that while every other city depart
| ment sends in itemized statements of thei!
| expenses. the police department makes {
| demand for u lump sum- There is no in
dication that this money is misappropriat
| ed hut the fact that we have no right t
| demand an itemized statement is contrary
to all business principles, as well as t.
these of government and politics. If th'
| ordinance for charter revision comes VI
in the lower house 1 shall work and vott
| II ~