The Topeka state journal., 1902-07-26
Revised Charter for Cities Of
Kansas Completed.
Drops Out One Fourth Of the
Old Laws.
CITIES OF FIRST CLASS
Applies Only to the Larger
Towns in State.
Covers 20 Typewriter Pages
and Has Ten Articles.

Last winter the Kansas Municipal
leagure. made up of the cities Of the
first class of the state. employed W.
A. s. Bird, formerly city attorney of
Topeka, to draw up new charter for
cities of the first class to be introduced
into the next legislature for passage
In place of the conglomerate mixture
of laws now governing that class of
cities.
Mr.. Bird began his work last F'ebru-
ary. He was, of course, already famil-
lar with all the laws governing first
class cities in Kansas, and to this he
added a great deal of study of the laws
of other states on the same subject.
For the past two months he has put in
practically his entire time on the work,
and he has just now completed his re-
port.
The details of the proposed charter
will not be made public until the report
has been placed in the hands of the
Municipal league CON mittee appointed
to consider it. This committee is COM
posed of the mayors and city attorneys
of all cities of the first class. If possi-
BILE, a meeting of the committee will be
held next week in Kansas City, Kan,
to go over the report
The new charter is made up of 10
articles and covers about 20 typewriter
pages. 1t cuts out about fourth of the
old laws with respect to cities of the
first class, which have become obsolete
or have been repealed or become void
through decisions of the supreme court,
but which still remain on the statute
books.
On the other hand, there have been a
number of additions and changes made
in the existing law to conform with Sug-
gestions made by the Municipal league
and by the various city attorneys. In
some respects the powers of cities of
the first class have been curtailed and
in other matters they have been grant
ed new powers. For instance, in grant
ing franchises for public utilities the
iS crfx 1,a - o.
maximum rates. If either the company
or the public is dissatisfied with these
rates the matter can be taken into
court Provision is also made for the
part of cities by construction purchase
or condemnation.
The report will be submitted to the var
ious cities of the first-class as soon as
possible SO that its provisions may be
thproughly studied by the city officials.
Then when the Municipal league meets in
the fall they will be prepared to make
any suggestions they wish for changes In
the tn pr PProposed posed charter It will be presented
finally adopted by the Municipal league.
The cities of the first-class which. it
Wichita, Leavenworth. Atchison and Fort
Bird today, ST have endeavored to classify
the subjects so there will not be any
difficulty in getting at the aw
prepare something that will fit cities of
| 100,0 600 as well as cities Of 5000. Wherever
possible action is not made obligatory
upon cities. Many Of the present
| city, but the word 'shal1 is used in them
| and they compel all other cities of the
| frst-class to do the same thing whether
| they want to or not. / have used the
| word may instead of shall wherever
feasible
| Article One of the new charter is de-
| voted to general provisions. 1t is made up
of thirteen sections and covers two type
| written pages.
| Article Two relates to limits and boun-
| daries of cities and wards. 1t has 4 sec
tionS and covers one page.
| Article Three is devoted to elections II
! has 10 sections and covers three pages.
| Article Four relates to the legislative
department, the power and duties OF the
mayor and council as a legislative body.
| 1t has 46 sections and covers ten pages.
| Article 5 relates to the executive depart
| ment, the powers and duties of the varl
Gus city Officers, mayor. city attorney
clerk. city engineer, street commissioner
| and treasurer. 1t has 36 sections and Gov
| erS nine pages.
Article relates to the police depart
| police court and the police force 1t con
| tains % sections ard covers six pages.
Article relates to assessment and tax
alton in cities of the first class 1t ha'
|, IA sections and covers five pages
| Article relates to public improvements
such as public buildings, pavements, side
walks sewers. opening new streets, bridges
| and changing grades 1t has 80 section:
| and covers II pages
| Article relates to public utilities. sucf
| Is sections and covers ten pages.
| Article 10 is devoted to miscellaneou
matter. 1t has 80 sections and covers
eight pages