The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-04
CAN'T Get A BOND
Chief Medium Meets Disap-
pointment Everywhere.
City Council Will Rush to the
, Rescue.
is TO BE EXCUSED.
Plan to Amend Ordinance Re-
quiring Bond.
Will Be Allowed to Serve With
out One.
is TO BE EXCUSED

Up to noon today, it can be stated on
good authority that Chief of Police Nc
Collum had failed to find anybody to
go on his bond of $1,000 which is re-
quired by the city ordinances. Chief
McCollum said some weeks ago that
he would have his bond ready for the
council to approve tonight.
Instead of filing a bond, the friends
of the new chief have taken a new
tack. 1t is likely that an ordinance
will be introduced at the council meet
ing this evening repeating the ordin-
ance which requires bond from the
chief of police. Councilman S. T.
Howe has such an ordinance ready, and
is only waiting to be sure that the
chief of police can not make good on
his bond before introducing it.
This ordinance repeating the one
which requires a bond from the chief
of police has been prepared, it is said.
after a consultation of the mayor and
his close friends. 1t will be put for
ward as an administration measure
and all friends of the administration
will be expected to support it.
Meantime, the Democrats, and some
of the so-called liberal members of
the city council are lurking around with
long knives, and may start something
this evening on slight provocation
They are said to be anxious to prefer
some charges against Chief McCollum,
ana start an investigation OIL the ru-
morS of Doodle which have been fly
ing around recently. One of the mem
bers of this anti administration faction
said today:
I'VE are going to take a new tack this
evening. Just watch our smoke No.
won't tell you what is up, because you
would print it and spoil the plan"
There has been a persistent rumor
that Chief McCollum would resign this
evening, but it is denied by those who
/ fo n
attribute the rumor to anti-administra-
ton people who are trying to create the
impression that the joints are not being
controlled at all by Chief McCollun.
S. T. HOWE DEFENDS McCOLLUM.
Samuel T. Howe, chairman of the po-
lice committee, is the man whose in
fuence really counts for more than
probably any other man with Mayor
Bergundthal. He said today:
ct is true that I have an ordinance
in my pocket repeating the law which
requires the chief of police to give
bond. / have had the ordinance ready
for ten days, but I don't know whether
| it will be introduced this evening or
not. IF Mr.. McCollum fails to get bond,
| it will probably be introduced.
Il do not see that it is necessary for
a man holding the position of chief Of
police to give bond. A bond is for the
purpose of protecting the public against
! loss of property. The sheriff of coun
4 ty is different from a chief of police.
! The sheriff has to do directly with
property rights; he is concerned with
police it is different. All his actions
have to do with criminal prosecutions
"He has the right to seize saloon
equipment. but it is questionable
whether thu law intends to give pro-
lection to such goods. The user may
not be the owner. but the owner is
certainly in sympathy with the user.
1t don't seem to me that he is entitled
-,1, SC
claimed he would have from the chiefs
| bond. 7 believe that it would be good
policy for the city council to reoeal
! this law requiring a bond. instead or
| violating it That is my principal rea-
son for preparing this ordinance. I
| don't think we should have an ordi-
| nance on our books which we ourselves
| violate. OF course it would be possible
to just let this run along from month
to month and not require that the
chief Ale any bond. but rather than do
| that am in favor of coming right out
and repeating the law.
"Chief McCollum was appointed while
I was away, and so I had nothing to do
with it. have found him to be an ener-
getic officer believe ne is thoroughly y,
rumors of corruption. If anybody has a
particle of evidence to offer, or can tell
kind. I would be glad of it. All anyone
can tell you is: Why, the joints are run
ming wide open, and somebody must be
| getting something for it, I don't know
whether the joints are wide open or not.
but have reason to believe that Chief
McCo11um is making the joints and dis
orderly houses more trouble than l,; any
| stories of Doodle and wide open joints
are circulated, believe, by. the. Demo-
Gratis and the jointkeepers for the pur-
pose of making it appear that the law
..The fact that Chief McCo1lum has
made 800 arrests in seven weeks and has
made 400 arrests on warrants is pretty
good evidence in my opinion that he is