The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-06
ONLY ATHOUSAND
Mayor Thinks That Isn't Enough
for Chief of Police.
Difficult to Get Good Man at
That Price.
FEY z on 80
TALK OF GOODWIN.
RumOr That He Is Slated for
the Place.
DIR. StOrrs Has Had Enough as
City Physician.

The probability is that one of the re-
forms which will be advocated by May
or-elect Davis when he becomes head
Of the new city administration will be
an increase in the pay for the chief OF
police. At present this position, which
ought to be one of the most important
Of all the city Offices, pays only 81, 900
year, which is such a small salary
that it either puts a premium on graft
and dishonesty or else makes 1t neces-
sary for man to have an income in
dependent Of his salary. Chief Stahl
has been Independent of the salary,
but some other men who have held the
job seem to have made a lot Of money
out of it in spite of the small pay at
tached.
Mr.. Davis thinks that the position
ought to be pay enough SO that a good
man can be secured who can afford to
be honest in his administration of the
duties Of the Office. There is no position
in the city which affords such tempta-
tions in the way of Illegal rake-offs. 1t
IS easy for chief who is SO disposed
TO feather his nest to the extent of five
or ten thousand dollars in the course Of
a term in the Office.
It is reported that A. G. Goodwin is
the man who is backed by Al Bauer.
W. +. SchOch, and others for the job of
chief Goodwin was one OF the mem
bers Of the tribunal which steered the
Davis campaign in the primaries, and
which was the power behind the throne
| in the election. While it was H. g.
Larimer, W. C. Ralston and John
| Rodgers who were noninally head of
the Republican campaign, it was the
| Schoch crowd which looked after the
/ fine points. Consequently, the backing
of this aggregation will go long ways
| landing man in a job.
1t comes pretty straight that Street
| Commissioner Snyder and Fire Mar
shall Wilmarth will be retained in their
/ present positions. There is no doubt
that Frank Snyder is one of the most
/ efficient street commissioners the city
1 has had for a long time, ana can han
die the large and rapid increasing street
work of the city in very efficient man
ner. His work is recognized by the rail-
road people as being of unusually high
! grade, and he has frequent opportuni-
/ ties to engage in railroad work He
| had charge of the excavation work for
the new Santa Fe shops when they were
under construction, and the way he put
/ that job through attracted the attention
of the railroad officials.
Fire Marshal Wilmarth has managed
his department so long and ably that
the city would be lost without him,
and it is recognized that it is better
| policy to keep d man who will run the
/ department on non-partisan basis as
| Wilmarth runs it. To change would be
to invite difficulties.
There is likely to be quite a fight for
the office of city engineer. Vint Park
hurst, a nephew of Mr.. Davis partner,
and P. L. Wise, formerly city engineer,
are candidates John Rogers, county
surveyor, is also mentioned, but is max
/ ing no fight for the place. 1t is quite
possible however, that Mr.. McCabe will
| be retained. He is thoroughly familiar
with the city and the work, and has
made good record for efficiency and
| economy while in the office.
DR.. Willis Dana StOrrs, city physi-
clan, says he could not be induced to
accept the job again if it should be
! offered to him on a silver platter
studded with diamonds. Since there
seems to be no general disposition to
present the job to DR.. StOrrs in this
way, he is probably out of the race.
There are plenty of level headed
young doctors in Topeka who can
hold this job without trying to do so
| many original and spectacular stunts
as Storrs did.
It is not yet known whether Mayor
! Davis will adopt the usual plan, and
allow the heads of the various depart
ments to have the principal say IN
| choosing their assistants, but he Will
probably do so. This would allow
the city clerk, city attorney. city en-
gineer street commissioner, chief OF
police. and other department heads, to
select their helpers. But If the mayor
/ chooses to do so, he can appoint all OF
these assistants
Take it all together, the mayor has
I 1t within his province to dispense
quite a large quantity of patronage
The following is a list of the appoint
? ments which the mayor can make
with the salary which each position
pays: