The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-21

A communication was also received
from the Foster Humane society. ask
ing the council to provide that un-
licensed dogs shall be kept in pound IS
hours before being killed: that they
shall be drowned or asphyxiated in
stead of shot: that separate yards in
the pound shall be provided for differ
ent classes of dogs.
Owing to the large amount of press
ing business on hand. the council de-
cided to postpone further consideration
of the ordinance until the May meeting
This will give a lot more people
chance to pay UP at the old dollar
rate.
The rush at the city clerks Office to
pay the tax continued up to the time
of the council meeting. over 450 licenses
were taken out yesterday, which Is the
largest number of dog licenses ever IS
sued in one da1 in the history Of the
city.
SPENCER WANTS MORE PAY.
City Attorney Spencer asked the cOun-
ell to raise his pay from $1,000 to 5000
a year. and it is generally believed that
he VIII get nearly or quite all he asks.
1t is generally admitted that Sl,zOO IS
too small salary for such an important
officer as city attorney. The county al
torney, whose responsibilities or duties
are not nearly as extensive as those OF
the city attorney. receives $500 year.
An ordinance granting Mr.. Spencer
s.. 900 a year was introduced by Coun-
Gilman Tincher and referred to the ways
and means committee.
Heretofore the state law has limited
the city attorneys salary to 1900 but
the new city charter act fixes the limit
at 81, 900. Some of the cases which the
city attorney Is supposed to handle are
of great importance. and the city has
expended large sums during the past
year in additional attorneys fees in the
waterworks and gas works suits
Besides his court work the city at
torney acts as constant advisor of the
mayor and council. as well as all the
city officers, and he is one Of the busiest
men in the employ of the city.
Mr. Spencer submitted to the council
a statement of his case. of which the
following is a portion:
TO the Mayor and Council-It has
been generally recognized for years that
the salary paid the city attorney of To-
peka is grossly inadequate for tbs
amount of professional work done and
responsibility assumed by that officer.
For some twenty years or more the city
has been paying 81 POO per year. That
the salary has not been heretofore in
creased is due only to the limitation to
that amount fixed by the city charter
some rs years ago At the time this
limit was fixed. Topeka was scarcely
more than village, had not even water
works. and had not commenced the ex-
tensive system of improvements, sucn
as sewers, DaVements. parks, etc, since
that time so largely carried on. More
I
was not necessary that the city attorney
should give. nor was he expected to
give. all his time to the business of this
city. OF abandon his own business
When I came into Office two years ago.
for the acconlmoda ton Of the public
and especially the mayor and council
and CITY officers. I have kept my office
in the city building. and have had no
Office elsewhere. This is the first time
that the city attorneys Office has been
maintained in connection with the other
city Offices.
1T is we'll known that during the past
two years have been compelled 10 give
practically all my time to the business
of the city. I have made no reservation
] of time or place for private business
/ The occupation of an Office in the city
i building renders any such reservation
/ impossible
THE work of this Office has been par
ticularly arduous and responsible in the
4 last two years. and win continue so to
/ be in the future During these two
years outside of consultation and adj
vice incident to police court cases.
t have had to personally look after anu
+ take care of the following number OF
cases:
7 Civil cases in supreme court ...-...... S
+ Criminal cases in supreme court. ?
i Civil cases in L. s. circuit COURT. 8
+ Civil cases in district court about =. 60
j Criminal cases in district court.
about --.--.--. 20
Making in all total of about 49,. 29A
SAVE, PRINTING Ri