The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-01
CITY AFFAIRS.
City Council and Mayor Meet
Quietly Last Evening
And Select the Heads of the
City Departments.
NO CHANGES ARE MADE
Except That of License COllec-
tor and Some SubOrdinates.
Unsuccessful Fight Made on
City Physician Mitchell.

City Engineer ............W. H. Barnes
Street Commissioner Jas Ramsey
City Physician. r. NJ. Mitchell
Food Inspector. .....J. p. F'arnsworth
Fire Marshal. C. o. Wilmarth
Supt. Electric Light plant. j. Marshall
These are the heads of the city de-
partments for the ensuing two years.
The city council held an executive
session with Mayor Fellows last night
and the above appointments were ratt-
fed and will be formally made at the
next meeting of the city council on
Monday evening. The council Will also
confirm the appointments.
There is but one change and that is
in the office of license collector. Frank
Kingsland of the Fifth ward was re
moved and Luther G. Bailey of the
Third ward was elected in his place
Mr.. Bailey is a well known insurance
agent and has office on West Sixth
street. He is a bright young man and
belongs to the young crowd" in city
politics. Mr.. Kingsland who has held
the position for the past two years lives
between Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets on Kansas avenue. He was re-
moved for cause but not for any official
misconduct. The position pays sal
ary of $50 per month.
There was but one other fight made
and that was on City Physician Mitch
ell. Councilman Skinner of the First
ward led the fight on DR.. Mitchell and
it was thought he might be turned
down, but the informal vote on his
confirmation stood six for and three
against. The other candidate was DR..
Boyd, young man who is claimed by
the Second ward.
There were rumors of a fight on
Street Commissioner Ramsey but it
failed to develOp.If a fight was planned
it was abandoned for Mr.. Ramsey was
confirmed without opposition.
City Engineer Barnes who knows
very little about politics and a great deal
al inc a ted
confirmed without opposition but his
office force did not fare so well. James
F. McCabe, who has been employed as
head man of the office force was dis
charged by Mayor Fellows Mr.. Nc
Cabe is a son of DR.. S. F. McCabe and
has been connected with the engineer
ing department for q long time. w S.
Fulton is retained in the department
and McCahe's place will not be filled at
once.
Food Inspector F'arnsworth who is
the first man to comprehend the duties
of a food inspector, was retained. The
mayor and council know a good man
when they try him and there was no
occasion for a change.
Sidewalk Inspector Withers will un-
dOubtedly be retained. There was no
action taken so far as his position is
concerned.
No one anticipated a change in either
the head of the fire department or city
plant. Both men have had but little
to do with politics and there We're con-
In the sanitary department no more
changes were made. T. S. Williams will
act as sanitary officer in place of NeIs
Mcconnell without opposition but
change was made in the disposition of
the work in the office. Charles Drew,
who will be clerk to the city physician,
will also do the office work that has
heretofore fallen to Sanitary Sergeant
G. w. Fowler This will enable Ser
geant Fowler to do more outside work.
BY this method it is figured that the
services of one sanitary officer will be
saved.
One change has been made at the
city electric light plant. Albert Ed
wards has succeeded Frank Beach as
trimmer. Both men are colored and
are from the First ward.
Mayor Fellows has been busy all day
listening to the demands of people who
have heard of contemplated changes
and want places. The scramble is al
most as bad as it was 2 years ago when
Mayor Fellows was first elected. 1t is
doubtful if many more changes will be
made soon. There is no occasion for
making changes when the person hold
ing the position has a clean record.
The meeting last night was held in
Mayor Fellows private office. 1t was
a secret session and was in the nature
of a conference to prevent the pOSsibil-
ity of an unseemly contest IN open
council over the confirmation of the
appointments. Councilman NetteIs
was the only member not present and
he is in Kansas City taking testimony
in the stock wards case.