The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-15
me- NEW ADNIINIsTRATION-

One more meeting of the city council,
and Mayor Davis win have about com
pleted the organization of his various
city departments, and the new admin
istration viii be ready to settle down to
business and show the city what # can
do to justify the double vote Of conf
dence which it has received from the
people of Topeka.
So far Mayor Davis has shown good
judgment in making his appointments
He has listened to the advice of his
friends. political and otherwise, but he
has acted upon his best judgment in
view of the advice received. When he
came into office, he found that good
many Of Mayor BergundthaIsa ppointees
were doing first class work. They knew
their jobs thoroughly, and while some
of them had openly fought Mr.. Davis
in the primaries, he did not let this
stand in the way of reappointment
Thus several excellent servants Of the
city, who have been tested by time and
found satisfactory, are to continue in
their old positions.
In the making Of appointments, the
mayor of a city does his grandstand
work, but it is after the appointments
are made that he is called upon to assist
in the shaping of the policies Of the city
which really amount to a great deal
more in the end than a few appointments.
Mayor Davis and his amicably disposed
cOuncilmen have an opportunity to do
the city a great deal of good by settling
in the right way some of the big prob
lens which will present themselves.
And everything indicates that the new
mayor viii give the city the very best
Of his years of business experience It
is a rare thing for a city to have for
its head officer a business man of such
superlative ability. The members of the
council, too, are on the whole, above
the average. Some of the members are
men of long experience in city affairs;
some Of them would themselves do
credit to the office Of mayor. With such
a mayor and council, the city can con
fidently expect one of the best admins
tratiOns of city affairs the city has ever
had
Topeka is a vast business institution,
and its affairs should be conducted in a
strictly businesslike manner. This city
collects and disburses every year from
$500, 900 to $500, 900. The problems which
confront the mayor and council are
mainly business problems, and they
sAOu40 bG sCttACQ on a business DaSlS.
There has been too much Iaxity in the
disbursement of the city's money. There
have been times when politics interfered
with business sense. A mayor and
twelve eouncilmen can get together and
do things as a body which not one of
the whole thirteen would seriously. con
slider doing If the question was up to
him as an individual for action. It is
part OF the psychology of the mob, .
as Vincent would say.
With the same care that a business
man looks after his receipts and ex-
penses. the city councilmen should study
the problem of city finance. This is the
big problem; the problem which over
shadows all others. Properly solved,
this problem means q reduction in tax
alton. There are other important prob
lens; the management of the water
works and the light plant; the granting
of franchises; the erection of a city
! crematory; the issuing Of paving bonds;
the control Of joints and dives. There is
plenty of food for thought in these mat
ters for the ablest men the city can
elect.