The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-25
TRIM The CRAFT.
TOpeka's Street Force Will I'm
dergo Reduction.
Mr.. Griggs Promises to Leave
Out Unnecessary Work.
EACH WARD HAS SHARE
Used to Reward the Political
Friends of COuncilmen.
Commissioner Thinks 1t Should
Be Divorced From Politics.

Topeka's principal political graft de-
partment, otherwise known as the street
commissioners force, will be materially
reduced within the next few months.
and if the city councilmen sustain the
announced intention of Street Commits
sfoner Griggs. there will be a handsome
saving in this department over the ex-
penditures of previous years
Within a short time" said Mp.
GriggS today. lit will be seen that the
efforts of the city to save money are
being aided by this department We
are going to leave out all unnecessary
work. and cut down the force as mucfr
as possible 1 have given notice to the
men on the force that 1 do not expect
to use them all every day. but will try
to divide up the work that they may
all get a portion If the city council
men will stand by me, and instruct me
to hold the expense right down to the
lowest point 1 can make showing FOR
financial administration here which VIII
surprise Them
The street department is and always
has been a sort of a clearing house
where all of the councilrnen felt at lib
erty to cancel their political obliga-
lions by an s-hour a day job Conse-
Quently the expenses of the street de-
partment have been. generally speak
ing, grossly in excess of what they
would be if the department was run on
q business basis.
From 60 to so men are employed near
ly every month by the street commits
stoner. 1t has been the unwrltten law
that each ward should have its share of
the Jobs, and that the street commits
sioner should be authorized to appoint
only those who first had secured the in
dorsement of their councilman. This
was all right in theory, for the council
man is supposed to know the people in
his ward better than the street COM
missioner would. In practice. however.
1t resulted in many jobs being handed
out purely to pay political debts. The
character of the person recommended
was not considered. or If considered il
was held of minor consequence
Street Commissioner Snyder attempt
ed while in office during his last year
to inaugurate a reform. and hire his
men regardless of what the councilmen
wanted done. 1t was claimed that he
selected certain councilmen. however.
who were opposed to him, and refused
Immediately it made the biggest kind
OF row, and resulted indirectly in the
wrangle which led to Mr. Snyder
forced resignation. The present street
commissioner. Mr. Griggs. has followed
out the old custom He has appointed
only two or three men so far, he says.
on his own responsibility. The rest
have all been named by councilmen.
Now Mr. GriggS has come to the con-
ciusion that this system is wrong but
does not believe that it can be changed.
There is no doubt" says Mr. Griggs,
that the department could be run more
economically IL it was entirely divorced
from political influences. Still / must
say that the couneilmen are very fair,
as q general thing. Nearly or quite all
or the eOuncilmen are willing that
should discharge any of their appointees
In case they don't do satisfactory work
l have weeded out most of the men who
thought they could loaf and still stay