The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-14
IS TO BE NO SOFT SNAP.
Commissioner of Elections Must Do
His Own Work.
AN END TO A LOAFING JOB.

Council Cuts Down the Clerk Hire of
the Election COmmi IS iOner-Ofher
Council Matters.
The city council is after the allowance
of the commissioner of elections for
clerk hire. The election commissioners
decided at a recent meeting to reduce
the allowance from $500 to 5000 per an
mum, but Councilman Skinner thought
that was too much and the
commissioner should do the greater
portion of the work himself and
he prepared a resolution requesting the
commissioners to reduce the allowance
to $100 1t was that resolution which
was introduced last night. 1t is simply
in the form of a request to the election
commissioners, for 1t has been found that
the council has no authority to reduce
the allowance.
Councilman Skinner said when he in
troduced the resolution that he had no
ill-feeling against Commissioner McMas-
ter, but he felt that he could do the
work with but little assistance, and
so his duty as a councilman was
clear He believed in conducting
the affairs of the city on a business
basis. 81 am going to vote that
way" said he, mo matter what the re-
suit may be, and those who vote other
wise do SO purely on a question of poll
ity." This was said with Councilman
SINNERS characteristic irony.
Councilman Drew said: 81 am in
favor of making reduction, but doubt
if 500 will be enough when there are
two elections in one year. Last year it
cost the city $3.50 for clerk hire in the
office of the commissioner of elections,
and l do not believe that the commits
sioner registered a single vote"
Councilman Bradford: II do not see
what good our action can have. The
matter is in charge of the election COM
missioners and they have already re-
duced the allowance, besides 1 do not
think that 500 is enough"
Councilman Skinner: "But the peo-
pie want to know whore the responsible
ity rests"
Councilman Stephenson: ut is a
bad plan to make a reduction now for
1895 of all years will be the busiest at
the Office of the commissioner of cleo
tions. Il is bad policy to make the re-
ductiou now"
Councilman Stevens: TT is the duty
of the election commissioners to settle
this matter and l don't believe in dictat-
ing to them what they shall or shall not
do"
Councilman Elliott: 81 understand
that it is only the wish of the council to
recommend. not dictate"
Councilman Skinner: "Gentlemen,
this is a matter of duty with me. When
this resolution is introduced my duty is
ended and I can GO home and sleep the
sweet sleep of a child One member re-
quested me to wait until after the spring
election, but 1 recognize no politics in
this matter-that is not what we are sent
here for"
The resolution was amended to read
5000 instead of 500, and it was then
passed by the following vote: Yeas
Burgess, Drew, Elliott, Pattison, Skin
ner; nays-Bradford, Rouudtree, Steph-
enson, Stevens; absent, Fulton.
The council ought to cut off the clerk
hire entirely. The commissioner of
elections has nothing to do if he doesn't
do the registering himself.
The office is useless one and ought
to be abolished altogether. An additional
clerk in the city clerks office could do it
all