The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-07
MAYOR VERY SHY.
He Doesn't Care to Discuss City
Physician Storrs.
Would Like to Shift RESPONSE
bility for His Blunder.
EXECUTIVE INACTIVE.
Has Done Nothing Whatever TO
Get Rid of Storrs.
Meanwhile City Suffers from
Uselessness of Health officer.

Mayor w. S. Bergundthal is not the
kind of a man to desert his friends
when they get into trouble. Self pre-
servation, however. is the first law of
nature, and nobody can blame the may
or for trying to get out from under the
official ruins of w. D. Storrs. the city
physician.
Il didn't appoint Storrs on my own
responsibility" said Mayor Bergundthal,
today. Il never knew him until he was
introduced to me by a well known doc
tor. He had recommendation from a
number of Topeka doctors, and on the
strength of those recommendations, I
gave him the job.
Blame for Storrs' absurd official con-
duct, however, is going to be placed by
the people of Topeka on the mayor and
city council. They are the ones who
could terminate Storrs' career in short
ORDER if they had the courage of their
convictions. Even without legal auth
GRITTY, Mayor Bergundthal could un
doubtedly force Storrs to resign. Either
Mayor Bergundthal approves of Storrs
| policy and should be held equally re-
| sponsible with Storrs, or else he does not
approve of it, and should be held re-
responsible for his retention in Office
There has been no official protest
| against Storrs almost criminal course
| which amounts to the same as official
| approval and he has the right to SO
regard it.
At the present time, Mayor Bergund-
| thai wants to throw the responsibility
on the shoulders of DIR. Ryder, the new
| ly appointed councilman from the First
ward, and the members of the health
and sanitation committee.
1T is up to the health committee to
| do something" said the mayor today.
| While that committee is discussing the
| FarnSworth business, it Snnight as we'll
| take up DR.. Storrs case too Even
| if it does not want to do anything in
the way of an official investigation of
Storrs' conduct, it can recommend to
| the council any revision of the health
ordinances that it desires, and SO define
| DR.. Storrs duties, and limitations, that
| there will be no further trouble. If the
city council by ordinance specifies that
the record books of the health depart
ment shall be public property, open at
all times to public inspection, think
there will be no further trouble
/ DO you approve of DR.. StorrS'
policy?" was asked.
Il don't care to say; don't want to
mix up in this; it is Storrs' own bust
ness.''
stefan if you had occasion to do it over
lagain?"
Il don't know might not
DO you think that the public is en-
titled to access to the records of the city
physicians Officer"
Eyes, it seems to me that these rec
ords should be open to the public, just
the same as the records of any other
public office. I don't believe in keeping
public records secret. If had my way,
there would be no secrets in the city
records
Don't you think that DR.. Storrs
would change his plan if you directed
him to do SOP"
II don't know, I'm sure. know this:
that I have no authority to fire him.
Storrs was confirmed by the city coun-
Gil, and he can be dismissed from office
only upon charges filed with the coun-
ell and proved in an open investigation.
If anybody has charges to file, let them
come on
Mayor BergundthaPs way out is to
have the health and sanitation COM
mittee take the mill stone off his neck
It would help him politically to have
Storrs squelched in some way, but he
seems to fear that if he does the
I squelching himself, it may be consider
ed a reflection on his own administra-
ton.
s.Dr. Ryder is a very able man. said
Mr.. RergundthaI. 'I place a great deal
of confidence in his judgment about
things and I was much interested in
his expression concerning the city ply
stefan in Thursdays State Journal.
believe that DE- Ryder will do what he
believes to be right, regardless of con
sequences. and l would like to see his
committee take up the city physician
natter
People are looking forward with con
siderable interest to the next nayoralty
campaign. and there are indications o.
3, hard fight to defeat Mayor Bergund
} thai for denomination. He is entitled tt
a second term, as is customary with al
mayors who make a successful record
} but the unfortunate mistakes of the city
physician are likely to be charged III
: against the mayor, and make his roae
/ 10 the denomination a rough one.