The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-26
Saloon Keepers of Wichita Have
Been Heavily Assessed.
Paid $50 900 License to the
City I'm Last 81 Months.
DID so CHEERFULLY.
Money Thus Collected Used For
Charitable Purposes.
Kept Up Hospital, Children's
Home and Library.

Wichita, March 26-At a meeting of
the city council quite a sensation WIS
created by the reading Of an article
from the Law and Order" in which
Colonel Lewis charged the city officials
with corruption and with the misappro-
priation Of the funds accruing from sa-
| loon fines. After the members Of the
council had expressed their opinion upon
the subject, Councilman Davidson moved
that committee be appointed by TIE
mayor to investigate the charges made
in the article and to report the same to
the council at its next regular sessi IL.
Mayor Ross appointed Councilmen DaV-
idsons Dewey and Luling for this puc-
pose and these gentlemen have prepared
the following statement:
From the perusa1 of the same it viii
be plainly seen that not a dollar was
appr 0pT1ated for any other than a strict
" necessary purpose for the maintain
ance Of the city government and for the
beautifying of the city parks After
considerable money was appropriated
monthly for worthy charities from this
same fund. Without this source of rev
emu an extra tax levy would have to be
made for the maintenance of some OF
the necessary departments since they
are not provided for in the regular levy
and this would bring an extra burden
upon the taxpayers A careful Inspection
of the tax levies of some Of the cities the
size of Wichita reveals the fact that
there is not a single one that is con-
ducted on more conservative basis nor.
when everything is considered, is there
one that has as small a tax levy as
Wichita
Tie following is the statement in full:
To Finlay Ross, Mayor, Wichita, KaI.:
The special committee appointed to
investigate the charge Of misa pprOpri-
alton of funds collected by the police de-
partment. report as follows
Statement Of receipts and disburSn-
ments since July, 1898:
W. have made a detailed statement
as above set forth of the disbursements
from the police department since it was
turned over to the city, for the reason
that some of our citizens, whose resi-
dence here is not of long standing. might
believe the reports that have been circd-
lated by irresponsible parties.
A large per cent of the money turned
over by the police department comes
from the saloons in this manner. Once
each month the saloonkeepers are ar
rested and put under cash bond Of $50
to appear for trial Usually they do mel
appear. and the $50 is forfeited to the
city Since July 1st. 1898. $50 922 So has
beer turned over to the city treasurer.
and after paying the expenses of the
police department and appropriatins
$500 per month to the park fund, there
has been turned into the general furG
the city council in paying appropFia-
TORS not provided for by levy A few
Of Tie items paid out OF this fund are as
follows:
City Hospital, $50 per month.
ChIdren's Home. $50 per month.
Helen Gould Home, SIS per month.
Public Library, $50 per month.
Old Soldiers pavilion, $50
Improvement Of old cemetery, $500.
st. Francis Hospital has also received I
aid. The balance of this fund has been /
used for sidewalks. intersections. streets |
and other necessary improvements. E,v- |
cry dollar appropriated to the general |
fund has been paid out for some legisi- |
mate and useful purpose. and is a mat
ter of record in the city clerks Office, |
open to the inspection Of anyone who de- |
sire to know the facts.
While it IS not part of the business \
of this committee, vet we thought it |
would be interesting for the public gem
orally to know that during your admin \
istration we have found in our investi-
gation that the indebtedness OF the city |
Of Wichita has been reduced nearly
$50 600, notwithstanding the fact that
several beautiful and useful parks have
been purchased for the benefit of our
citizens and have been made and are be
ing made beautiful and attractive by
the most judicious and economical ex-
pepditure Of public money
Respectfully submitted,
c. L DAVIDSON.
H H DEWEY