The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-13
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City Council Refuses to Consider
Liquor Ordinance.
Referred to Committee to Go the
Regular Course.
TALK OF WATERWORKS
Members Still AYerse to Letting
People Vote.
Councilman Howe Would Wait
Till Next Spring.
TALK OF WATERWORKS

An EFFORT was made to declare an
emergency ruling in the city council
last night and pass the ordinance drawn
rp by City Attorney Dreaming since the
action Of the supreme court in declar-
ing the old ordinance invalid on last
Saturday; the effort, however, lost and
the ordinance will go through the usual
channels before it will come up before
the city council for final passage. On
motion to suspend the rules and de-
clare an emergency made by Council
man Howe, the following vote resulted:
Ayes, COuncilmen Howe, Green, Swend-
son. Sinner and Hughes; noes, Council-
men Rice. Nipps. Ryder, Simms, HolIi-
day and Horn. The motion lost by a
vote of to 6, requiring .two-third ma
jority.
In the discussion which followed the
introduction of the proposed ordinances.
City Attorney Dreaming said: This or
dinance follows almost word for word
the sections of the statutes of the ses-
sion laws of 1901 or that of the statutes
IN the general statute books. The only
change which has been made over the
OLD ordinance is with respect to the
penal clause. AS the ruling of the su-
preme court holds for the maximum
L have changed the ordinance to com
statutes that is, the payment of a 500
nne, SIX months in jail and the pay
ment Of the COSTS
Councilman Ryder in asking for de
lay said; I am in sympathy with the
law. But I cannot vote for the sus-
pension OF the rules until we have look
ed into this ordinance. We have on too
many times hurriedly acted and after
wards had to pay for 1t. When I am
asked to take immediate action upon a
subject 1t implies that I have fully in
Vestigated and am fully acquainted
with the subject. am responsible to
never had a copy of the ordinance.
have no knowledge of the matter be-
cause have not had an opportunity
to investigate it.
Councilman Green said: 7 stand up
for the enforcement Of the law. It is
plain to me as A 3 Q. All this matter
has been tried and passed upon by the
courts and the ordinance as drawn up
/ ings.''
Former city Attorney Spencer who
was present said: ut is true that
most Of that law has been tried and
heard in the courts and that it has
been tried as probably no other law
has. But there are several defects in
/ the ordinance which can be materially
/ strengthened and bettered. I desired
/ to amend it in some particulars but I
! considered 1t unwise at the time when
the city had these liquor cases on
hang
That's Just what We want" said
councilman N1pps. we want to find
out the defects and make it as strong
as possible
Want to. Manage WaterwOrIzs.
The council resolved itself into
committee of the whole at 1910 and
discussed the management of the
w,a5terwoTrks The resolution of Coun-
! Gilman Green calling for an election
was the nucleus for the discussion.
/ Councilman Howe stated he consider
ed the law faulty and that it was pos
sible to govern the plant under ordi-
nance without having recourse to the
adoption of the state law. He urged
the old plea of waiting until the next
spring election and by holding the two
elections at one time and save ex-
pense.
Councilman Ryder made a lengthy
speech in which he revamped the old
arguments which have been made
against the adoption of the state law.
Il question seriously the adViSability
of long terms of Office" he said. ''I
am in favor of short terms. Long
tenure of office leads to monarchy and
we are free nation. By this law you
give the board OF commissioners abso-
Lutte power to regulate the rates and
the people through the council have
no voice"
Councilman Ryder made an attack
upon the neWSDapers upon their meth
Cd of presenting the situation and
claimed that an injustice was being
done several councilmen who are OPP
posed to adopting the law at this time
by making it appear that they stand
for political management.
When Councilman Ryder concluded
it was the time set for the adjourn
ment of the committee of the whole.
Ryder together with Councilman
Simms left the chamber. the remain
der of the council remaining.
! Councilman Green was vfsibly net
tied and took umbTage at Ryder's at
titude. Il think it is unfair from DR..
Ryder to take I'D all the time in this
manner" he said. HE has taken up
all the time in explaining his side and
has given the other side no chance to
be heard. want to be heard and
have a right to be. want a vote on
this matter tonight"
c. K. Holiday made a speech. He
said: This is bowling outrage. a
bowling outrage I say, to try and
cram down our Threats this vote to-
night. There are a lot of things to be
said against this law. There are a lot
of defects to be pointed out which
have not yet been pointed out. And
I am not going to stand for any at
"0h, that's all bluff came back
. from Mr.. Green.
Bluff You're the greatest set OF
buffers since you have begun talking,
that I have run across" came back
the retort from the Second ward coun-
! Gilman.
. No further action was taken and
the council will discuss the question
at the next council meeting June 10.
: Three WaterwOrks Funds.
. The following resolution directing
the city treasurer to establish certain
funds for the waterworks department
, was adopted:
To establish the following funds.
, First, general fund.
: Second, special fund.
Third. interest.
All cash receipts of the water
q works department shall be placed Il
the credit OF the general fund. All ex,
penses of operation and maintenance,
shall be paid from the general fund
. No money shall be appropriated from