The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-26

I QeDTeCIdLGS
cidental repairs are made as needed the
machinery in question in the judgment
of your committee Will be 1or q long
| term of years serviceable as 1t now Is
your committee believes, however,
that the capacity of the plant is IN
sufficient for the needs of the city and
| that almost Immediately upon taking
over the plant the city will be confront
ed with a probable expenditure OF TWEEN
ty to thirty thousand dollars, in order
to provide the required capacity"
MAY SUE COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Unless the city can compel the cOun-
| ty clerk, county treasurer anC county
commissioners to comply with the law
and make certain reports in regard to
the amount of monies paid over to the
city on tax receipts, it seems likely that
the city will cause a suit to be brought
against these county officials to 1nfllcl
the penalties upon them provided IN the
law
The law requires from the county
officers a very detailed statement or
all sums of money paid over to the city
and the county officers are understood
to have agreed to refuse to furnish TINS
information because it involves a large
amount of work. They will probably
allow themselves to be arrested to test
the law. The penalties provided in the
law are a fine not exceeding $1,000 ana
imprisonment in the county jail not
exceeding one year.
The resolution passed last night by
the council will be followed by legal
action unless it is complied with II
was introduced by Councilman Howe,
and is as follows:
Whereas, 1t was provided in section
$50 of the general statutes of 1901, Whlcn
provision is substantially re-enacted IN
section 1856 of the charter act for cities
of the first class. passed by the legis-
lature of 1908, that the county treas
urer, county clerk and county commits
sioners shall certify to the mayor,
council and city clerk certain informa-
ton concerning tax matters in which
the city is interested: and
Whereas. It appears from state
ments made to members of the city
council by the city clerk that the pro-
visions of the statutes herein referred
to have not been complied with there
fore
Resolved, That the said officers be-
fore named be requested to furnish at
as early a date as possible the Informal
ton required by said statute, and the
city clerk is hereby directed to furnish
each of said officers with copy Of
this resolution
FINANCIAL REFORM MEASURE.
councilman Howe introduced last
night scheme for the creation of a
new committee of the council to be
known as the committee on appropria-
tons, which will be delegated with the
important duty of the superintendent
Of the expenditures of the different de-
ment of the law which prohibits a city
from paying out more money than it
has in the treasury. 1t is a reform
which goes to the very root of the
financial evils which have afflicted To-
peka'S government in the past, and if
adopted will tend to promote economy
and businesslike management of the
e1ty's money. The resolution was read
and on motion referred to the conlc2it-
tee of the whole council It will be
called up by Councilman Howe at a
meeting in the near future. The resc-
luton IN full Is as follows:
Whereas. 1t is provided by section 1S1
OF the charter act governing cities of the
nrst class, that no Indebtedness shall be
incurred nor order or warrant of indebt-
edness issued or drawn on the treasury
IN payment of any indebtedness to exceed
the amount of funds on hand, in the
treasury at the time, except for building
sidewalks or where provision for the is
suance of bonds has been made and
whereas, 1t is provided by section 80
of said act that officers and employees of
the city shall be personally liable for the
creation of any Indebtedness contrary to
the provisions of said act or the Ordi-
nances of the city, and
Whereas, In order to comply with the
provisions of said charter act as afore-
said it is imperative that the expendi-
lures of the city shall not exceed the re-
ceipts, and
Whereas, A proper management of the
financial affairs of the city would seem
TO require that the probable cash receipts
of the current fiscal year be estimated
closely as possible in order that the sum
may be divided among the several city
departments according to their respective
needs: therefore, be it
Resolved, By the mayor and council
of the city of Topeka:
''First-That the problems involved are
of so great Importance that the subject
should have the careful study and work
of a committee upon whom is placed no
other duty;
'second-That there be and hereby is
created new committee of the council
to consist of three members and in adj
dition the mayor and city clerk-who
shall be members ex-officio, which shall
be known as the committee on apprOpri-
atoms. The mayor shall be chairman of
such committee.
Third. That it shall be the duty of
said committee and it is hereby author
lied to demand from each city depart
ment an estimate of the ordinary REQUIRE
ments of such department for the months
of the current fiscal year and also, as
near as may be ascertained from previ-
Gus experience an estimate of the proba-
BILE extraordinary expenditures that will
occur.
'1Fourth-That the committee shall care
fully consider all such estimates and shall
have power to revise the same by adding
to or deducting, as its judgment may die
tate, so that the expenditures shall not
exceed the receipts of the fiscal year.
"Fifth-TNat when it is ascertained
what amounts may be safely appropri-
ated to the respective departments it
shall be the duty of said committee to
prepare an ordinance making appropria-
lions by items for the several depart
ments which shall govern all expendi-
lures and which appropriations shall in
no case be exceeded except as may be
otherwise provided.
'Sixth-If a careful estimate of the
probable revenue receipts will permit, the
committee shall provide in such ordi-
nance for reserve or contingent fund,
from which moneys may. be transferred
to cover an unavoidable deficiency in de-
partment appropriations, whenever so
recommended by said committee and ap-
proved by three-fourths vote of the
council.
''Seventh-In anticipation of receipts
from revenue during the current fiscal
year the committee shall have power 20
devise means whereby funds may be
temporarily obtained, but never in ex-
cess of the amount which receipts during
the year will replace"
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
The city engineer submitted the follow
ing estimate on the cost of repairing
cleaning and frescoing the council cham
Der, which was adopted:
Repairing plaster Observation-Disclosures. $40 90
Scaffolding ...... Observation-Disclosures. 1850