Kansas City journal., 1898-02-03
CONTROL OF POLICE.
MAY BE TAKEN OUT OF THE HANDS
OF THE GOVERNOR.
HOME RULE FOR KANSAS CITY.
DEFENDS on ACTION OF THE LOWER
HOUSE OF THE COUNCIL.
Its Consent to Submission of Amend
ments to City Charter to the
Voters Would Remove Mu-
nfcipaI Matters From
State Control.
HOME RULE FOR KANSAS CITY

Now that the upper house OF the city
council has passed the ordinance providing
for the submission to the voters OF the
city. at the approaching spring election Oh
an amendment to the city charter WHICH
WILL If adopted, take the control OF ponce
affairs out of the hands of the state OIL
ficials and place 1t under home RUE III
terest naturally centers in the acton 10
be taken in the lower house. when the
measure reaches that body. Before the
proposed amendment can be submitted to
the voters it must receive at least six votes
in the lower house. and as at least one
Democratic vote will be necessary for its
passage there the future OF the ordinance
is not certain
The five Republicans OF the lower house
have already siSniiied an intention OF Vot-
ing for the measure just as soon as the
opportunity is offered. The upper house
measure will be placed upon the calendar
of the lower house for consideration at
the next meeting of the council, and its
friends are making a strong hight Tor
speedy action there, as the time Is grow
ing short in which to act II the measure
is 10 be submitted at the coming election.
The law provides for the publication of
all proposed amendments to the city CHAR
ter for thirty days prior to the election
at which they are to be voted upon, and
for this reason immediate action in the
lower house is desired. Thus far the DEM
ocrats of that body have refused to give
even an intimation as to the course to be
pursued when the document comes before
il. All during its pendency in the upper
house, however, they have carefully watch
ed its progress, and at no time has its ex-
act status there been lost TO them. The
majority has done its duty in the council
people are denied the right to say whether
or not they desire to control their own
police department, it will be an easy mat
ter to locate the blame.
1t is reported that the recent visit OF
Police Commissioner Gregory TO Jefferson
City had TO do with this question. 1t is
well known fact that a partisan police
force is great factor in 4 political cam
palgu and il is not reasonable to suppose,
judging from the past that the machine
would willingly consent to a return to
the people of the right of local self-goy-
ernment. now withheld from them. 1t is
also said that Commissioner Gregory is
determined TO make the race for the may
orally and that he was deSirouS of con-
sultlng with the powers in Jefferson CITY
before giving expression TO his views with
reference to the pending amendment. He
knows that large majority OF the voters
OF the clty~ are in favor OF home rule in
the police department and, further, that
the time is at hand when his party will
be compelled to go on record in this mat
ter. 1t Is reported that the governor is
taking considerable interest in Kansas City
affairs just now and that he summoned
Mr.. Gregory to the capital to demand from
him al. explanation as to why it is that
Ibis question is figuring so prominently at
this time.
Commissioner Scarritt has not been at
tending the meetings of the police board
with any degree of regularity of late, ow
ing TO occasional absence from the city
on alleged urgent business. The police
force is to be reorganiZed May 4 and it
now looks as though the governor would
be particularly pleased to accept Mr.. Scar-
rltts resignation before that time. That
Commissioner Gregory visited the capital
at the request of the governor is pretty
generally conceded. The machine knows
that the people are weary of the existing
method of police control but it is unwill-
ing to part with so potent a political fac
tor as a partisan police force.
Fol that very reason the pending char
ter amendment proposition is occaSioninS
considerable caucusing among its leaders.
The attitude of the Democrats of the low
er house toward the ordinance will voice
the dictation of the machine leaders in
the premises.
The struggle for home rule has had a
queer history. Some years ago, when 1t
was started by Mayor Davenport the chief
of police used his influence, and In certain
papers had editorials lifted" under the
promise OF certain compensation. The
power of the gang was used against it.
and in due time it was smothered.
Later it came up under Chief Irwin, and
the editorial lifting "twinkler'' was great
ly in favor of it. because he would not
allow twinkler dictation in police affairs
These influences have always favored
nome rule When they could not get 4
hand in matters and gobbIe some of the
municipal pie through the police depart
ment.
Over and above all this personal depray-
ity injected into municipal affairs, remains
the fact that the people of Kansas City are
capable of self-government, and entitled to
IT: This would restrict the opportunities
OF the various gangs to impose on the city
and the public funds. Sentiment is for il ::
no one. II is believed. is against it who
has no scheme in which he hopes to rob
the city. The ''beautifyers' who for wears
have fathered the city steals, and the va
r1ous gangs who organize to rob the CITY.
oppose home rule and these alone The
business man. who accumulates property
to be assessed for the benefit of the diff
lerent varieties of thieves is for 1t, and
all others who are not working thieving
schemes by way of making Kansas City a
good place to live in.
The action of the lower house will show
whether or not that branch of the city gov
ernment is controlled by the gang plup-
gers and city bandits. If the hill Is passed
and the people allowed at the coming eIec-
uon TO make fight on jefferson CITY tyr-
amy, then vote of thanks will be dua
TO all the servants of the people who for
once complied with the wishes of the nub-
lie. In the event the measure is sand
haGged and smothered. no one will have
trouble TO place the condemnation that Will
follow such action. This will form n dis
rnct issue In the coming consideration of