The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-14
City Council Makes a Move For
Harmony.
Hearing of Charges Against
Judge Magaw Postponed.
SOON OUT OF OFFICE.
His Term viii Expire in TWen-
t. Days.
Councilman Swendson Votes
A al sst Postponement.

The council met last night to hear the
trial of Police Judge NIagaw on the
charges preferred by Chief Of Police
Stahl. but nothing was done in the mat
ter. and it is probable that nothing VIII
be done. The considers tion OF the
charges was postponed until March q,
BY a vote Of to 1. The next meeting
win probably result in the same manner
A majority Of the council do not want
the charges investigated as they think
il can do no good. and would simply re-
suit in a division of the council without
either exonerat ting Judge MagaW or up
holding Chief Stahl. 1t is looked upon
by a majority Of the members as a per
sonal fight made on Judge MagaW Dy
Chief Stahl It would take at least
dozen meetings to listen TO the charges.
hear the testimony and hear the pleas
of the attorneys Before the council
could do this the term Of office Of Judge
AIagaW Will expire. as 1T Is Tor Dul
twenty DAYS more until the man who IS
elected mayor appoints his successor.
For these reasons it is believed the
council viii either continue TO postpone
the hearing or instruct Chief Stanl 10
withdraw his charges 1t is an easy
way out of a useless squabble-
Before it was time for the council to
meet last night the members went into
the ways and means committee room
and attempted to patch matters up
proposition was made by Chief StahlS
friends that if the other members would
vote for the confirmation of Stahl as
chic they would have the charges with
drawn They talked and argued for just
an hour. but the friends Of Nasaw re
fused to agree to vote for Srahl, and
told Stahi's friends to go ahead with the
charges if they wanted to do So Conn-
Gilman Swendson is the Only member
who absolutely insists on trying Ma
gaw. and he always takes himself Sc
when the members returned to the
council chamber and the meeting " as
called to order. Afr. Belts moved that the
hearing Of the charges against Judge
NfagaW be postponed until March 21
This started a discussion in which Mr.
SwendsOn opposed the pOSrponement
He said that both Chief Stahl and Judge
AIagaW should be ready and If they
were not 1t was not the fault of the
council
Mr.. Belts said that he male the mo-
tion to postpone because it had been UNI
derstOOd the matter was to be settled
without trial. and SO Judge Magaw had
not come prepared and his attorneys
were not present.
Mr.. Warner suggested that Chief Stahl
withdraw the charges and this brought
Chief Stahl to his feet He was given
permission TO talk. and said that he was
convinced his charges were true. but
that they had been brought at the re-
quest of the council. and he would not
withdraw them unless instructed to do
SO.
Mr.. Miller said that the trial should
be postponed. as he thought no good
could come of it as it would only cause
a division Of the members on the ques-
ton. He thought that by postponing
chance would be afforded to settle the
matter without A trial which would not
only be unpleasant for the council but
for every one else as well.
When the vote was taken Hughes and
Miller were excused from voting. and
A
members voted for postponement.
MUST TAKE DOWN FENCES.
The street commissioner was instruct
ed TO take down the barb wire fences
which have been put up by the park
commission. as it is contrary to an or
dinance of the city to construct a barb
wire fence within the city limits. The
fences were put up by the park board
temporarily to keep people and animals
off until the grass and shrubs Nget
started.
USE OF AUDITORIUM GRANTED.
The council granted the use OF the Au-
ditOrium to the committee appointed by
the G. A. r. posts for Memorial day
and for Sunday. May &c. for the purpose
Of a memorial sermon. The Owl club
asked that they be granted the use Of
the Auditorium for April for an en-
tertainment and ball The request was
granted.
PARK COMMISSIONERS WANT
WATER
The board of park commissioners
asked the council to allow them 1885 to
put in pipe and hydrants to water the
various parks in the city As the cOun-
Gil has given the board $500 for the
street fund, and as they have no more
to give, the park boards request was
referred to the committee on ways and
means.
NEW SIDEWALK WANTED.
A petition was fled asking for a side
walk on the west side of Harrison street
between St John street and Garfield
avenue.
WIDEN THIRTEENTH STREET.
A petition asking that a benefit dis
trict be created for the purpose Of widen
ing Thirteenth street from West street
to Mulvane street, in the Third ward