The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-07
STRAUSS WILL GO
New Chief of Police Will Be
Named by Mayor Drew
Street Commissioner Ramsey is
Slated For the Position.
FEW OTHER CHANGES.
Frank Snyder Will Be Street
Commissioner.
Policy Of the Mayor a Matter of
Speculation.
FEW OTHER CHANGES.

1t is a safe guess to say that Chief
of Police Strauss will not be reap
pointed. There is considerable specula-
ton about who is to be named by
Mayor Drew as his successor but 1t may
be stated with some degree of accuracy
that the man upon whom the mantle
will fall is none other than Street Com
missioner James Ramsey.
This information comes from what
may be considered a reliable source and
the announcement of the appointment
will be one of the first official acts of
the new mayor.
Mayor Drew will probably make few
other changes in the police department
for he will adhere to his early determ-
ination to make changes only when he
considers them necessary for the bet
terment of the department. There are
inefficient men on the Topeka police force
and when they are found they will be
discharged and better men substituted:
Not every one is qualified to be a good
police officer and an effort Will be made
to conduct the police department along
the same lines that the fire department
is conducted-qualifcati will be the
paramount consideration in the appoint
ment of officers.
Topeka had a good police force in
the days when politics did not cut any
figure with appointments-in the early
days of the metropolitan police COM
missioners. BY a careful supervision
the poor officers were weeded out and
the good retained until the city had
one of the best police departments in
tn country.
But LeWelling was elected governor
and one Of his first official acts was to
turn out all the Republicans on the
force. The result was Generalization
Two years later Governor Morrill, re-
peated the dose with similar results
and in two years Governor Leedy fol-
lowed the lead of his predecessors.
There is no cause for wonder that To-
peka has had police force unworthy
the name but it is in control of the
city now and it can be brought back to
its old glory and should be.
The place of street commissioner will
undoubtedly be given to Frank Snyder
of the Fifth ward. Mr.. Snyder is a
young man who stands well in his ward
and his friends think that he will make
an excellent officer. The other appoint
ments on the street force are minor
offices which are not confirmed by the
council and the appointments to fill
them will probably not be announced
for some time and then the appointees
will hold the places at the pleasure of
the mayor.
There is considerable speculation
about changes in the city electric light
department, and it is possible that Su-
perintendent John Marshall will be
superseded by H K Goodrich, a ma
chinist and electrician, who has been
employed at the Edison plant for some
time. A friend of Mayor Drew says
it is possible that it will not be made.
There will probably be no change
whatever in the city engineers depart
ment. 1t is a foregone conclusion that
City Engineer Barnes will stay, for he
has proved himself one of the most
thorough and important officials that
has ever occupied this important office.
There are three other places to fill in
the department, but it is understood
! that the employees are giving excellent
satisfaction and there is consequently
no reason for making any changes
There will probably be some changes
in the sanitary department but it is
believed that the favored ones have not
yet been chosen.
Food Inspector Farnsworth and Lii
cense Collector L. c. Bailey will I'm
doubtedly be retained
Mayor Drew is besieged by Office
seekers, but he has made no promises.
either before or since election so that
there will not be as many people dis
appointed as there might have been.
Mayor Drew will make his appoint
ments on his own responsibility. He
says that the council may either con-
firm or refuse to confirm his appointees
but he will make the appointments from
what he considers the best available
material.