The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-22
HOT ON HIS TRACK
Mr.. Dreaming Would Better
Look Up.
Plan to Supplant Him With City
Counsellor.
IT ISN'T PERSONAL.
At Least That Is What Mr..
Holiday Says.
Reported That Six CounciImen
Favor Plan.

Mr.. City Attorney Dreaming would
better look out. The worm is about to
turn. Councilman Holiday will no
longer bear uncomplainingly the goad-
ing of the despotic interpreter of the
city's legal department.
A resolution will be introduced at
the council meeting Monday evening
Mayor w. H. Davis to APP
point a city counsellor in accordance
with the act of the legislature passed
in 1903. known as an act to amend
section 1 of chapter 80 of the laws of
1899. relating to the appointment of
certain officers therein named in cities
of the first class having population of
over 10000 inhabitants.
The statute says IN part: "The
mayor, by and with the consent of the
council, in cities of the first class hav-
ing population of over 40, 900 inhab-
ftants, may appoint city engineer. a
city counsellor. etc. The above officers
office during the pleasure of said
mayor"
The resolution will provide for the
adjustment of the Office of police
the city attorneys salary, who will
take over some of the duties of the
police court prosecutor, and the APP
pointment by the mayor of a counsel
lor by the payment of a retainer of
$1,000 year.
The police court prosecutor gets $35
a month, the city attorney is paid
$1,000. The law permits the city
council to fix the salary of the city at
torney and the police court prosecutor.
the services of a city attorney.
zone of the councflmen, spea king
in favor of the proposition, said:
I'VE want and have a right to EXPECT,
6of f6a 4ft eH4A
legal talent obtainable in the city.
Every now and then great questions
arise which the city has to meet. We
run up against a. tangle like this every
once in while. Take. the water
works and the gasrsuits. In that in
stance we had to go outside in order
to hire additional legal talent. The
Office of city counselor should be free
of politics entirely and by the ap-
pointment by a mayor this is secured.
He should be retained as long as it
is possible to do SO. so that he might
become acquainted with the city's
matters to thorough extent. I have
been informed that we can get some
of the best, attorneys in the city to
act in the capacity of counselor for a
retainer of $1,000. AS side earning
there are many in this city who would
be willing to accept the appointment
Such an Office would be free from po-
litica1 influence and the advice and
judgment which he would give the
council would be free from the faint
of politics. 1t would be wise and dis
passionate. I have been told that
Judge Hazen would accept the posi-
ton. Why, man of that sort would
save the city five times his salary in
tive years service in the citys employ.
He would be called in whenever large
questions involving bond issue OF a
franchise would appear before the
council. The city is growing to such
a size that If ranH3raS q n nf
best obtainable talent that can be
procured. The matter of routine could
be left with the city attorney and his
assistant"
proposition is entirely new to me, and
I don't know whether I would favor it
or not 1t might be a good thing.
presume that we have the authority
to make the change If we desire it,
Mayor w. H Davis said: "I don't
care to say anything about that now.
I don't believe that I would care to
go on record about that at this time. -
Six counciImen have lined them
selves up in favor of making the ap-
to make the change. The resolution
contemplates reducing the salary of
the city attorney to $1,000 a year
BY some it is said to have a per-
sonal bearing. something of an attack
upon City Attorney Dreaming.
Councilman Holiday when ap-
preached said: 'This whole matter is
new to me; of course I have heard it
discussed here of late, and understood
that it would be brought up. I don't
think that there is anything personal
at all. I believe that it would be in
PRODUCED irrespective of whoever oc-
cupied the city attorneys chair
Judge Hazen said: 81 would not
care to say what 1 would do. I don t
care to say whether would accep. or
not. It's new to me, and this is the
first time 1 have heard it discussed -