Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-28
AT THE CITY HALL.
miscellaneous Matters of Interest to
Taxpayers md the Mu-
nicipaI officials.

An ordinance which is the outgrowth of
the proposed park system was yesterday
reported favorably by the upper house
finance committee and will be acted upon
by the city council this evening. 1t is en-
payment of benefits made in condemnation
or grading cases where the judgment is
for any reason declared invalid after such
payment" The measure was introduced
by Alderman p S. Brown and is designed
to protect several heavy property owners
in the various park districts. Several of
these gentlemen have already paid their
benefit assessments, having taken advan-
tage of the opportunity afforded them to
avoid the payment of interest. The object
of the ordinance is to have this money re-
funded in case the tracts condemned for
park purposes should fail to become the
property of the city, which might result
from the suits they propose to bring test
ing the legality of certain park projects.
City Counselor McDougal yesterday re-
ported to License Inspector Earhart that,
under the new license ordinance he must
issue permits for all kinds of slot machines,
whether or not they are used for gambling
There are several kinds of slot ma
chimes, said Judge McDougle. Some are
takes his winnings out in cigars or other
merchandise. This is the class of devices,
evidently, that the trainers of the ordi-
nance had in mind. Then there is another
kind called money machines that are
clearly gambling devices. The player
drops his nickle in and takes his chances
on doubling his money or getting nothing,
with the odds, of course, in favor of the
latter. Yet the ordinance makes no dis
elimination between these machines, so
the only thing for Mr.. Earhart to do is to
issue licenses for all of them; then, if 1t is
found that any of these money machines
are being operated the owners or agents
will be prosecuted under the anti-gambling
law
Warner, Colonel C. F. Morse and H. l..
Harmon, general manager of the Burling-
ton freight department yesterday called
upon the streets, alleys and grades COM
mtttee of the upper house to protest
against the private occupancy of about 200
feet of Walnut street near Twenty-third.
The committee was considering PROPOSE
ton to allow several firms dealing in
horses and mules to build n chute in the
street to aid them in loading their stock
into cars. This portion of Walnut street is
not opened to traffic now, and probably
will not be until the property owners are
able to build a Yiaduct over about 800 feet
of sidetracks. The professors who repre-
resent the property owners said that If
the chute is built, abutting property will
be almost worthless. 1t is probable that
the committee will not report favorably.
Councilman Brinkley. Tuesday made be-
fore the board of public works his oft re-
peated complaint that the men employed
at the pumping stations are working
twelve hours a day for eight hours pay.
He was informed that the board lad no
power to correct the matter as ordinance
No. 5SOl specifies how much the men shall
be paid and limits the number to be en-
ployed. If their hours were reduced to
eight, the pumps could be run only six
teen hours out of the twenty-four The
board has no authority to employ the third
shift.
Mayor Jones says that saloonkeeper
Christie should be indicted for perjury.
While before the police board said he
Christie swore that no gambling was be-
ing conducted in his saloon, vet facts
brought out before the legislative invest-
eating committee demonstrate the con-
trary. The punishment for such an Of
tense is imprisonment for not exceeding
seven years.
The board of public works has decided
to have a mechanical engineer pass
upon the merits of the street flushing ma
Murray. The board is in doubt in regard
to the practicability of the device though
assured by Superintendent of Streets Wal
ter Davis that it works admirably Muir
rays bill of 1886 has been presented.
The board of public works has re-
ceived communication from the property
owners on Seventeenth street. between OIL
i've street and Brooklyn avenue asking
that that section of Seventeenth street be
paved. a petition to the same effect has
grades and alleys committee for several
months.
AT the request of City Assessor Yost CITY
Counselor McDougal yesterday decided
that personal property In Kansas CITY be-
longing to non-residents is taxable in Kan
sas City, as it receives the protection of
tho city government.
The one-story frame residence building
in the rear of 732 Locust street was yester-
day condemned by the superintendent of
buildings. 1t was found that rats had eat
en- the posts which supported the structure
rendering it unsafe.
C. s. Squier, assessor of the water works
department. once played the pipe organ in
the First Baptist church. OF Kansas Citv'
He still recommends immersion and will
furnish city water for the purpose at
schedule rates.
The park board met yesterday and LIST
ened 10 the reading of the minutes of the
preceding meeting, which are as follows:
Park board met and adjourned, there be-
ing no quorum"
Hon. Webster Davis has opened his lect-
ure tour in llliEois. having made his initial
address at Camp Point. He will return 10
Kansas City in about two weeks
City Treasurer Green begins to see evil
dcnces of better times. People are navinp
their special assessment taxes with COM
meEdable promptness.
Twelve deputy assessors are now on
gagged in compiling the city assessment
sheets.
Bills for water rents during the month of
January Will aggregate $4,000
NEW Superintendent.
II. a. NnIlenS VIII Have Charge of the
Kansas City Office of the Pink
ertOn Detective Agency