The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-28

correct and no effort is being made by
the county attorney, the sheriff or the
city officers to prevent the violation of
the law. The sheriff once said that it
was necessary for him to play double
on this proposition and 1 guess he is do
ing So
Mr.. GIeed-It seems TO me that the in
formation which comes to the chief of
police and police judge should be re-
ported to the county attorney for use in
these cases.
Mr.. Foster-That has been demanded.
"Of the present administration in
Quired Mr.. GODDARD.
Yes SIR replied MI. Foster. 'I pre-
pared a blank form,'' he continued,
which met the approval Of the police
judge and made several requests that
the information be furnished 1t was
furnished in two cases. The evidence
was used by the county attorney and
the witnesses were summoned before
him. The jointistS learned of the pro-
ceedingS and quit business. They could
all be driven out of business if the police
judge and chief of police would furnish
the information which comes to them
in the discharge of their official duties.''
Mr.. Godard-Are these joints to which
you refer run as public places. Do they
have open bars?
George B. HarriSOn-IH take you to
one, Mr. GODDARD.
Thank you,' was the reply of the
attorney general Mr. Harrison then
submitted what information he had to
the officer. He said:
There are 40 open saloons or joints,
as you please, in this city. There are
over $50 drinking places. In many of
them are what they call the Kansas
bars, a cheap wooden bar which is sup
piled by the brewers and liquor agents
for prohibition states, which when de-
stroyed by the temperance people repre-
sent only a small loss. Then there are
those places which have polished bars
and plate glass mirrors. 1 understand
that the chief of police has ordered them
all up stairs. Kneissler, who is the
agent for the Val Blatz company, is
still at Ala Kansas avenue. Long has
his joint in the basement but George
Klauer is on the first floor
Il would like to have Mr.. Bonebrake's
opinion" said Mr.. Gleed.
Mr.. Bonebrake said: Il think there is
no question about the enforcement of
the law. The power rests with the po-
lice judge and the city marshal. When
I was a member of the police commits
sion I called up Officer Summers by
telephone and asked him if he knew
where liquor was being sold. He said
he did not. L said to him if you stay
on the police force you will know. I
called him up later and he said he did
not know. He was then discharged. We
told the men to walk into the places
them and confiscate their supply of
liquors. We discharged several men
who declined to do this.
I'VE instructed the police judge to ac-
cept no straw bonds. We also instruct
ed the chief to discharge policemen who
would accept $1C0 or other amounts as
a forfeit and permit the man to go away
never to return until again arrested. We
required the police judge to fix the bond
at a reasonable amount and require
that unless it was furnished the often
business after being compelled to stay
one night in Jail. BY the exercise of
main strength we drove them OUT
Mr.. Gleed-We think these things
should be righted in Topeka because
of the influence thsse violations have
on other towns in the state.
Judge T. F. Garver-If other laws
were neglected one-tenth as much as
the prohibitOry law is judicial anarchy
would soon prevail. I agree with Mr.
Bonebrake that the law can be enforced
| if the officials do their duty. 1 think
there are many places in this state
! where the city officials profit by this
traffic. They are being bribed to per-
nit violations of the law. They do not
SO understand it, but the collection of
monthly fines amounts to no more
than a bribe. I have been told in the
| past such things have been done in To-
peka, but L can not speak with author
| ity upon the present conditions.
Mr.. Bonebrake-The system is being
worked in Topeka now We see in the
papers where these men deposit 800 or
such a matter but we never hear of the
case coming on for trial
Mr.. Carver think the policy of
wearing these violatOrs out is a good
| one. When they see they can not make
! money they will get into other legiti-
mate business.
There is another feature of the law
which I think is neglected and that is
| the provision which specifies that the
| property used in the commission of the
offense should be destroyed. 1t seems
to me that if the property was destroy
ed there would be an end to the eX-
penSiVe bars and plate glass mirrors and
other stylish appointments. 1t would be
a wholesome lesson, too.
-'I believe that the safer method for
the attorney general a this time is to
"
that they are neglecting their duties
Lay StXesS upon their liability to prose-
cution cHin1inally for doing. Recently
there was a shooting Scrape in POtwin.
The officers were Immediately on the
ground eager in their search for evil
dence. Prohibitionists are some times
accused of making an exception of this
law. The officers make an exception
of it in a majority of cases. They ar
rest a small darkey boy for shooting
craps or Swiping a watermelon; raid
tenders, but permit the greater ones to
go unmOleSted."
Mr. Bonebrake-Yes, pardon me for
interrupting you, judge, but five or six
of the policemen spend all night out
in some suburban spot watching an
old colOred man and woman who are
suspected of running a, joint Then they
arrest the decrepit woman.
Mr. Garver-Yes, and 1 notice that
they made a brave raid on the old shot
tower a few days ago. There is no
excuse why these officials should per-
nit these places to run. L think an as
sistant attorney general should be Sc
Iected. Then should follow proceedings
against city officials who neglect their
duties. They imagine they are saving
money to the taxpayers by collecting
these fines but it is a mistaken policy
If they were reminded of the nature of
their offense 1 believe it would bring
them to an end.
Mr. Godard-Mr. Carver, you think
then the way to begin is to prod the
officers?
Mr. Garver-Yes, sir.
Mr. Godard-Would you recommend
criminal prosecutions?
Mr. Garver-No, 1 would first call