The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-11
IN new HANDS.
Mayor Bergundthal at Head of
Municipal Government.
Council ReOrganized With s. T.
Howe as President.
WATER BONDS CARRIED
Canyassing Board Declares They
We're Legally Voted.
Received Overwhelming Majori-
ty Of 1906.

The canvass is completed, the oath is
administered. the inaugural address
is made and W. S. Bergundthal is may
or Of Topeka by virtue Of majority of
1855 votes officially counted.
A new city council has organized with
Samuel T. Howe for president in place
Of Mr.. Bergundthal. AS new members
of the city council, S. R. Kutz succeeds
Mr.. Bergundthal from the First ward
Luther Nellis succeeds Frank Blanch
from the Fourth. and J. c. Sinner sue
eeeds II. S. Nichols from the Fifth.
Without a dissenting vote, the can
vassing board determined that the wa
terworks bonds carried by a majority
Of 1866, which by a peculiar coinci-
dent is only four votes from the ma
jority which Mayor Bergundthal re-
ceived. The bonds had a majority of
1,665 of the male vote and 1900 of the
female vote. There were exactly 1900
blank ballots cast on the proposition.
The canvassing board refused to count
these ballots in the total Vote but even
If they had, the bonds would still be
carried by IS majority If it is decided
that women had no right to vote. the
bonds carried by 1865 majority of the
male vote. Whatever way the oppon-
J HtAlS u city OWllSiSillp NNaHl 10 1lA II,
they can not escape the conclusion that
there is a safe majority in favor of the
proposition.
The school bonds We're declared car
ried by a majority of 1872 of the male
vote and 2144 of the female vote a total
majority of 1856, or almost 900 more
than the waterworks bonds received.
The first official act of the new coun-
ell after the six newly elected members
had taken their seats was to approve
the bond of $1,000 furnished by Police
Judge Clad Hamilton. who was sworn
in and will in the future preside over
the police court.
Mayor Bergundthal announced the
following appointments, which were all
approved without a dissenting vote:
Chief of police, Carl Gon; fire marshal
! George Q. Wilmarth. city engineer,
James f. McCabe; license collector, H.
Ward Page; food inspector, J. W.
Farnsworth.
NEW COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Mayor. Bergundthal made an excellent
start last night in his appointment of
committees. He showed himself to be
a hero of compromise, and even his pO-
liticaI adVersaries are commencing his
! good Judgment. He did not turn things
upside down and shove the supposedly
inirnieal members into inconspicuous
places, but the list shows a conscien-
tious effort TO put the best men into
their proper places, regardless of per
sonal or political considerations
w F. Weber is retained as chairman
/ of the streets and walks committee, and
/ George Neil as chairman of the ways
and means committee. Both of these
men We're Parker appointees. The most
radical change is in the membership of
I the police committee, which is taken out
of the hands of the Democrats, and Civ
/ en- to men who are in full sympathy
with the anti-joint policy.
The complete list of new committees
for 1903 is as follows:
( Ways and means-Geo. Nell chair
man; ]. W Blossom, Joseph Griley, s.
A SWendSOn, ). T. Howe, L. NJ. NelliS-
Streets and Walks-W- F. Weber,
chairman; E B. Snyder, S. R. Kutz, J.
c. Simmer, c. Y. Wolf, Geo. w
Tincher.
Claims and accounts@S. A Swend-
son, chairman: Joseph Griley, Geo Neil
Police department-S- T. Howe, chair
man: Geo. Neil, c. V. Wolf.
Licenses r. Kutz. chairman; W. F.
Weber, L. NJ Nellis.
Waterworks-Ge w. Tincher, chair
man; S. T. Howe, c. Y. Wolf
Public buildings ~ Joseph Griley.
chairman; S. A Swendson, j. w. Bios
SOM
Gas and electric lights-E. B. Snyder.
chairman: S. R. Kutz. Geo. Neil.
Judiciary. NJ. Nellis chairman; 5.
r Kutz, S. T. Howe.
Health and sanitation-J- W Bios
N--~~-A --'NN-1f
Fire department-c. V. Wolf. chair
man; L. NJ Nellis. Geo. w Tincher.
Sewers. c. Sinner, chairman; E.
B. Snyder. w F. Weber.
MAYOR BERGUNDTHAL'S SPEECH
After the canvass of the vote had
been completed. and the result an
nounced Mayor Bergundthal was
sworn in by City Clerk Squires-
Mayor Parker was not present at the
meeting He went out of town on bus
mess. Councilman Howe acted as pres
ident pro tenn. Contrary to the usual
custom the council did not present
Mayor Parker with the chair which he
has used during his term of office Sew
eral Councilmen were opposed to 1t on
the ground that the council has no right
to give away city property.
on taking his place at the mayors
desk Mr.. Bergundthal said:
Members of the city council and fell
low citizens: When took my seat two
years ago as a member of this council
I had not the faintest notion that I
would ever preside here as mayor. But
circumstances over which I seemingly
had no control have arisen. and it is
now my good fortune to assume the du-
ties of this position. During my service
in the council my associations have
been exceedingly pleasant and I hope
that this council with me as the presid-
ing head may be equally as pleasant
and harmonious.
members of the city council should
know that there is only one thing ex-
pected of them, and that is to Faithfully
and fearlesslv perform their duties as
members Of the council DO this honest
" and there viii be no difficulty. Both
new members and old have only one
end as members of this body. and that
is to better the city which we represent.
If we bear this in mind, all VIII be well.
We must act with each other harmoni-
ousv. bear with each other. regard
each others opinions, and let our delib-
erations always be governed by the in