The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-12-14
MR. BILLIARDS. LETTER.
President of the Police Board obsti-
nate Without Reason.

President Billiard of the police board
has made . formal reply TO Mayor Eel
lows letter in which ne defends the pO-
lice administration Following is the
letter:
North Topeka, Kan, Dec. 10. 1857
Hon. C. A. Fellows, Mayor, City of To-
11th which was published in yesterday
mornings Capital. only reached me
this morning, over "a hours after its
publication.
In answer, permit me to say that I
regret very much to learn the decision
of the majority of the council insisting
on a reduction of the police force. We
certainly cannot give the city of To-
peka a good police service with a less
number of men than we now have.
From the tone of your letter infer
that you somewhat misunderstood me
IN my conversation with you on the
subject 1 certainly did not say nor
intimate that the police board would
violate or disregard the laws of the
state. nor ask the consent of yourself
and the city council to do so. The mem
beFs of the police board have Just as
high a regard for the laws of our state
as yourself and the members of the
city council can have.
What did ask you was whether
yourself and the council would really
insist upon the reduction of the police
force to conform with Judge Hazen's
late decision, regardless of the effect
such a reduction would have upon
the efficiency of the police service, when
you know that the police force IS not
more than is absolutely necessary for
the protection OF the lives and property
Of the people.
The police force of Topeka is organ
lied the same as that of all other cit
les Of the first class in the state ac-
cording to the metropolitan police law
IS it has been understood and con-
strued since its passage about ten
years ago. All former boards of To-
peka and other cities have understood
the law the same as this board. Judge
Hazen has just given it a new meaning.
This decision Is not final The case
viii be appealed and 2. carried to the
highest court of the state and d final
decision obtained as soon as possible.
While the case is pending and until the
final decision, do not consider it a viO-
lation of the law to continue the police
force under the same plan as now or
ganized: the same plan that has been
recognized as legal by the courts and
attorneys of the state as we'll as people
generally for nearly ten years
1t is true that 1 suggested that in
case the council insisted upon re-
ductiOn of the force. that the salaries
might be raised; but did not say nor
mean that it would be done as a matter
of spite work. but as a matter of ne
CeSSity to enable the board to continue
the efficiency of the force. If we could
devise some way to obtain the same
amount of service from 21 men that
we now get from &C. the q men would
be entitled to more pay than they now
receive. We intend to continue to give
the city as good or better police serV-
ice than we have in the past if We can
possibly devise some means to do so.
Any fair minded person that will care
fully examine the records of the police
department will admit that the present
force has been the best disciplined and
most effective police force the city of
Topeka has ever had; more thieves
have been arrested and convicted and
there has been fewer robberies.
In the matter of economy our board
is ready and anxious to do anything
that can be done consistent with giving
the city proper protection. The mem
berS of the council know very we'll we
have not a man that can be spared
In fact. we need at least six more men
to be able to give the residence portion
of the city the needed protection And
when you say that the efficiency of the
police force viii be impaired by taking
off few of the ''fringes and plumes
that it has been decorated with as a
matter of display" 1 must ask you to
specify and state what you mean by
the ''fringes and plumeS-'' - If you VIII
kindly point them out I assure you the
board viii promptly cut them off
whether they are covered by the dec-s-
ion of the court or not The facts are
there are no .'plumes and fringes'' in
our department that can be taken off.
There is not man that can be spared
without impairing the police service:
and YOU know this to he true and every
member Of the council knows it. TEey
have already been asked to point out
any of our men whose services could
he dispensed with, and have failed to
do so.
Am very glad to learn that yourself
and the members of the council are do
ing everything you can to reduce the
expenses of the city and the burden Of
the tax payers Being tax payer my
self. I am interested in that line prob
ably as much as yourself or any mem
Der OF the council ana certainly appre-
ciate your efforts in that direction.
Permit me to remind You that several
months ago our board rendered to the
city council the assistance of the entire
police force to assist in the sanitary
work of the city. With our sanitary
sergeant at the head of that depart