The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-22
M'COLLUM WINS.
City Council Allows His De-
cember Pay Check.
Only Opposition Comes from
Democratic Members.
QUESTION OF A BOND.
Appears That Chief Doesn't
Care to File One.
Initial Steps Taken for Control
of Water Plant.
QUESTION OF A BOND.

Chief of Police A h McColIun VIII
have money to spend for Christmas, all
right. The Republicans rolled the band
wagon over the Democratic council
men who tried to hold up McCollums
nav check last night. The Democrats
said that McColum was entitled to no
nay until he should file with the coun-
ell his bond of $1,000, which is a little
ceremony which the chief has neglected
But they didn't say it loud enough, ap-
parently, for when the vote was taken
its acclamations were all McCollum's
way.
Not only did the chief get his own
pay, check safely over the reefs, but he
dragged with him two vouchers for his
unknown spoilers whose only name on
the city's records is For Secret Service.
One of the vouchersw sa for $22.5O
and one for $50. McCollum gets the
money and pays 1t to whoever he
pleases. Both vouchers were o. KID
by Mayor Bergundthal
Councilman Griley started the fight
as soon as the city clerk said:
THE claims and accounts commit
tee report back the several claims and
accounts with the recommendation that
they be allowed and paid
Somebody moved that the report be
adopted. and Griley moved as an
amendment that the claims of A. Z.
MeCollum be rejected.
Councilman Snyder seconded the
amendment and said: II am opposed
to allowing any money to Mr.. McCol-
lum for purposes of which the city
council knows nothing, and of which
the city has no record. Here are two
claims for $3.50 which no name ap-
pears except that of Mr.. McCollum. 1t
is supposed they are for the services
of spoilers. don't think the city
should pay out money to get spotter
state
That's where you are mistaken" in
tefrupted Mayor Bergundthal.
II don't see how am mistaken. Mr..
Mayor. If this man McCollum can con-
tract bills for the city. for which the
city is liable. 1 don't see why the city
Is not liable for any of his acts. And
If the city is liable. he should have
bond to protect the city. l am opposed
tospaying bills for McCollum until he
des his bond"
fThe city contracted those bills. not
Mr. McCollum' said Mayor Bergund-
nal. You ought to hire lawyer.
Then Councilman Griley decided to
sit in the game. He said: Il am not
going to say anything about these two
vouchers fer spoilers, but 1 think that
when we employ a man as chief OF
police he should obey the ordinances
of the city. The ordinances require
clerk has a bond. and so does the CITY
engineer and all the other city Off
GERS. Why shouldn't McCollum have
one too? am opposed to paying Nc
Collum any salary until he puts up his
bond and does business according to
law
Councilman Ryder was the only one
to speak on the other side of the ques-
lion. He said:
These claims have been allowed by
the claims and accounts committee.
The debt has been contracted. and
think the city is bound to pay it. Nc
COllum is holding the office of chief
of police. and 1 don't think it is ma
terial whether his bond is on file or not.
I understand that under certain pecu-
liar conditions it is possible for chief
to be appointed from month to month
and serve without bond. The fact that
Mr.. McCollum has filed no bond does
not make an entirely new condition.
and believe that the bills should be
paid"
Griley and Snyder voted for Griley's
amendment, but apparently all the rest
of the council voted against it, and Nc
Collum got the cash.
Passing the Christmas salary appro-
priation ordinance was the chief bust
ness of the meeting. The pay rolls fol
the month were as follows:
Sanitary department ............S 401 .0(
9once department. .-.-.....--.... 1913. 81
Street department ............... 1,445.4t
Engineering department ........ 1890
Electric light department. 800. 61O.S;
Fire department ................ 1853 81
I1lecllOn commissioners dept. l5U.Ot
"A. e. McCollum, secret service. 225(
"A h. McCollum, secret service. COZ
The appropriation ordinance for De
cember was follows:
General revenue fund .... 81 7S5 81
Fire department fund . $50 81
Police department fund .... 972 a
General improvement fund 5000 438 q
Total ..... .. 81 756 a.
MAYOR will SIGN CONTRACT O' +
by vote of the council Mayor Bergund-
81 nj To- hi Incl rrfo -
contract with the Midland Bridge COM
pany for repairing the East Eighth ave
virtually gives the company until Febr rus
airy l to finish the work on the bridge
enced considerably by a letter received
yesterday by the city clerk in which the
lumber for the bridge had been loaded or
the cars at the Arkansas saw mill on De.
cember 10, and is supposedly on the way
70 Iopeka now. In view of the fact that
some Topeka lumber men have had lum.
Der consignments from Arkansas on tile
ROAD Ior Two months recently it would
seem that there is no immediate danger
OF having the East Eighth avenue bridg-
completed as Christmas present for any
The trouble seems to be with getting
tinbers large enough for the work The
bridge was washed out by the June flood
and the contract for repairing it was le
soon after. What the Midland Bridge com
pany has been doing since then must %
left to the imagination of people who ar,
hercely demanding that the bridge b.
fixed so that they can come to town with
OUT going around by way of Pauline o.
some other seaport.
PREPARE FOR CITY OWNERSHIP.
councilman Swendson introduced a res
olut1on last night instructing the mayo
and water works committee to begin III,
collection of information and preparation
OF plan for the management of the wa
Ter works plant when it comes into tn
control of the city. This move was sug
SgeSted some days ago in the State Jour
nai, and 1t is something which will requir
a lot OF work and study on the part of tn
people who will have it in charge. Tn
resolution. which was passed without op
position, was follows:
Whereas. The proposition of the Tope
"a Water company to sell its plant to tn
cry OF Topeka for $4,000 has been accept