The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15
THE TIME HAS COME
Says Mayor Ross of Wichita
When Cities
Must Take This Advanced Step
Toward Socialism.
Many Important Subjects Dis
cussed by the Meeting.


league, now in session here, declared
with more enthusiasm than attended
the adoption of any other measure, for
the condemnation of water and light
plants, whether the franchise has ex-
pired or not, when a. city wishes to be
come the owner of its own light and
water systems.
The committee refused to recommend
the measure, but it was called up over
the protest of the committee by City
Attorney Bird.
]. w. Adams, representative-ele elect
from Wichita, said such a measure
would brighten capital away from Kan
sas.
IF capital is afraid of US we viii try
10 worry along,'' said some one
Mayor Marshman of Kansas City
said such q. measure is what is needed.
Mayor Ross of Wichita, said that he
thought the time had come to take an
advanced step.
When the vote was taken it was found
that the delegates were almost unani-
NOUS in favor of city ownership.
The cities of the first class in Kansas
made a stroke for home rule today The
representatives to the municipal league
convention want the control of the
liquor business left entirely in the hands
of the mayor and council.
A movement to have the police judge
elected startled Acting Mayor George
w. Kierstead of LeavenwOrth. He Is
chairman of the committee on legisla-
ton and the question was referred to
his committee. He reported q recon-
Tnendation for law authorizing the
appointment Of the police judge by the
mayor.
Il would like to know why the police
judge should not be elected the same as
other city officers" said Councilman
Davenport of Fort Scott.
Acting Mayor Kierstead was driven
to explanation.
1T viii never do to elect the police
judge in the river cities" said he L
suppose you are all aware Of the fact
that all our revenue outside of taxes
comes through the police department.
1t is therefore apparent that the mayor
and council should have control of the
Office of the police judge as well as of
the other police officers"
Mayor Marshman of Kansas City
seconded Mayor Kierstead- In our
town we are often divided into factions
and we consequently might have
mayor belonging to one faction and
police judge to another, if the Office Of
police judge were elective They would
consequently be continually at logger
heads and it would cause no end Of
trouble If he is appointed by the
mayor he would work with the mayor
and there would be harmony"
After this there was but one thing to
do. and that was to indorse the report
Of the committee, and that was done
with an almost unanimous vote.
Following TINS 2CUlO0 a resolution I'M
peratiVely demanding the repeal of the
metropolitan police law was adopted
without discussion.
If the wishes of the Kansas Municipal
league are respected the office or com
missioner OF elections will be abolished.
A resolution demanding the repeal Of
the commissioner of elections law was
adopted without discussion.
With this resolution was another pro-
viding that it shall only be necessary
to register in the event of a, change of
residence, instead of annually, but
again LeaVenWOrth and Kansas City
made themselves felt The representa-
tives from those cities said that they
could not do without annual registra-
ton to prevent AIissOurians being inn
ported for election purposes, and the
provision was quietly put to death.
The law will not be changed to pro-
vide that the city treasurer shall collect
the city taxes. Such a measure re-
ceived serious consideration and was
reported from the committee without
recommendation.
r. T. Guthrie, councilman of Wichita,
thought the change suggested a good
one I'VE have trouble in our town.
said he, in getting a settlement from
the county treasurer though there Is a.
law providing that he shall report quar-
terly the amount Of taxes and penalties
collected for the city. I figure that
there is due the city Of Wichita about
$4,000 in penalties which should have
been turned over long ago.
City Clerk McFadden of Topeka said
ne was not ready to see a change. 1.-The
question of additional expense" said
he, lis a most important one for 1t
would cost the city a large sum to col
lect the taxes. We have a law which
was passed in 1895 providing that the
county clerk must make a report to the
city of taxes collected and uncOllected
but it is not done. If that law could
be enforced there would be no need for
the collection of taxes by the city treas
urer''
City Attorney Bird objected to the
change because of additional burdens
on the city. THE county clerks and
county commissioners have ridden with
q high hand over the cities" said he,
land it is time something is done. In
our county the commissioners RENTED
81 600 in penalties to one tax payer who
consulted. An action ought to be COM
menced to recover this from the county.
(Mr- Bird referred to the Topeka water
company which refused to pay its taxes
an the city for two years.. Still think
we should enforce the law we have and
which we suffer"
The acting city attorney of Fort Scott
said our system of taxation and tax
collection Is the best in the world and
should not be changed.
Mr. Bird introduced a substitute en-
structing city attorneys to commence
q suit to compel county treasurers to
make the settlements with the city as
required by law and this substitute was
adopted.
Kansas City wanted a measure recon-
Enended providing for q two mill levy
70 improve county roads entering cOun-
~ seat towns but not much encourage
Enent was given to the measure and it
was finally killed.
Mayor 1Larshnan said that an or