The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-04
Claims and Accounts Committee
Holds Star Chamber Session.
Debarred Reporters and Held
Consultation in Whispers.
STREET WORK COSTLY.
October Pay Roll Larger in Spite
Of Economy"
Try TO Make Water Co. Pay for
Adding Machine.

The claims and accounts committee
meeting Friday afternoon went into
executive session over some Of the city's
business and barred out the newspaper
men, closing the door while they put
their heads together and whispered.
Star chamber sessions seem to be in
favor of late. The investigation into
the alleged charges against Chief Of
Police A. G. Goodwin was held par
TALLY behind closed doors. However the
committee talked so loud in this in
stance that a person standing seventy
five feet away could hear every word
that was said, so that the effectiveness
Of the closed door session was some
what destroyed.
The members Of the claims and ac-
counts committee were more tactful-
they whispered. It seems that the bust
ness OF the city must be tucked away
into rooms where doors may be closed.
Il is usually presumed that a discus
sion OF the city's accounts and claims
Is open to the press.
II have nothing to say" said L A.
Ryder, chairman of the committee
ASK the other members of the COM
mittee. The members of the commit
tee would not have barred you out un-
The committee is composed OF Coun-
ctlEnen Ryder, Howe and Horn.
The payroll Of the street commissioner
for the month Of October reached the
large sum of 81, 442.05 Thirty laborers
were given employment during the
month and twelve teams. In addition
three fOremen were employed and some
skilled labor
The streets, however, do not show
any Improbable Improvement during
the month Of October. not in compar-
tson with the amount of money ex-
pended The month had large number
Of rainy days in it but this fails to ac-
count still for the large increase in
the payroll
Former Street Commissioner Frank
Snyder, whom Street Commissioner
Ramsey has succeeded. had a payroll
for October, 1904, OF S2,429.40. Ramsey
claimed that he would retrench on his
department and make showing which
would eclipse by far the expense &C
count Of his predecessor. 1t looks as
II this promise is not going to pan out.
Ramsey set his gauge at $50 $50 for the
payroll for his department during the
year 1905 He claimed that he would
keep within that amount It viii take
some close figuring to do it. The worst
months, as regards expenses, are yet to
come The winter months and the early
spring always prove expensive.
AA@ ctelI1ls ana accounts committee
have decided to take the monthly pay
T1ents due on the adding machine which
has been turned over to the city along
vita the other property acquired in
the purchase of the wafer works. out
OF the settlement due to the former
owners of the Topeka Water company.
The machine was purchased by the
former company for its Office here and
vas paid for on the installment plan.
The city has been paying monthly ever
since Il acquired possession. The city
thinks that the machine should have
been turned over without membranes
The amount involved is something over
sos,
The remaining claims and accounts
were allowed without protest.