The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-11
STUDYING POLICE FINES.
A Committee of the City Council In
vestigating Irregularities

The little furry between the city
council and the police department has
not entirely blown over and the special
committee to Investigate the method Of
conducting the police department will
report at the next meeting of the city
council. The report will severely
criticise the police department for the
careless manner in which fines are as
sessed and RENTED and security &C
cepted and forfeited.
Councilman Skinner. who asked for
the investigation, said at the time that
there was something wrong, but he
was not able to say where the trouble
was 1t appeared from an examina-
ton of police reports that there was a
leak but Mr.. Skinner and his COM
mittee did not find good evidence of
any crOOkedness, though they find suf-
hcient ground for criticism
The police report for June shows that
S11S in fines were assessed during the
month and but So. As collected. In July
S448 We're assessed and but Sc collect
ed These reports made Councilman
Skinner study over them and he asked
for an Investigating committee The
mayor appointed Mr.. Skinner chair
man and named as his assCc iates COun-
cilmen Drew, Warner and Nettels.
A better committee could not have
been named, and several sessions have
been held and the police affairs sub
jected to a thorough airing The re-
scented soon
The committees report shows a loose
method Of conducting business in our
police department. They find that ar
rests are made and the cases dOcketed,
and that the record ends theTe1WithOut
showing how the case was. disposed of.
They also found that fines are RENTED
without it appearing upon whose au-
thOrity; that offenders are fined and
released on promise ofTfuture payment
and no payment or only part payment
made.
In criticising the police adminstra-
ton the committee will say that
stricter adherence to sound business
principles is required to run the de-
partment as it should be conducted.
They say that it is not good plan to
assess fines and then exercise the par
doning power by renting them. The
committee thinks that when a prisoner
is fined he should be held to the letter
of his sentence with strict rigor
The committee viii recommend
change in the method in which fines
are worked out. that yard of stone
broken shall give a prisoner credit for
81 and in that way he may secure an
allowance of more than 81 day by
hard work. The present system gives
him 81 for every day he works, but
there is no line drawn between the
prisoner who works with a viii and
one who does not.
The committee has taken time to
look up the law relating to the pardon
ing of city offenders, and they say that
they are satisfied that it is beyond the
province Of the police department or
any one connected with it to remit
fines or pardon Offenders. That right
belongs to the city council, but it must
be on recommendation of the board of
police commissioners.
The report viii not heal the breach
between the council and the police de-
partment, but it is evident that If Coun-
Gilman Skinner sucreeds in securing
the reforms he AIMS at he will have
done the CITY q service.