The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-07
Topeka's Scouts Make Report on
Texas Municipal Government.
sfCfty Club" Organized 20 Com
tinue the Investigation.
EN- FROM WICHITA.
Committee Sent Here to Hear
the Texas Reports.
J. B. Billiard and a Few Others
We're Against the Plan.
Some Prejudice Among Negroes
Because 1t Is <rexas Plan"


The CITY club sprang into being
last evening 1t is not a social club nor
q drinking club nor not even an ath-
letic club.
The city club is organized to look
fully into the commission form Of gov
eminent and decide if it's the sort Of
thing that Topeka wants and needs
II it Is, the City club Will proceed 20
push the thing along and frame it up
for presentation to the legislature.
Topeka is not alone. Wichita was
with her last night when the two mem
bers Of the committee, ex-Mayor w s.
BergundthaI and F. G. Dreaming, city
attorney. presented their reports on the
Texas commission plan OF governing
municipalities
wichita is intensely interested in the
agitation for q commission and display
ed this interest by sending Senator >
J. Stewart, James Allison, Judge J. N
Haymaker and E B. Jewett to Topeka
to hear the reports made public last
evening
I've are going to do just as Topeka
Is doing, investigate" said Judge Hay
maker. We think our present form Of
government offers some opportunities OF
IMPROVEMENT Just what sort OF
change we may finally be in favor or
don't know; probably eliminate the
ward boundaries and elect the council
men from at large, probably we may
decide that the number Of cOuncilmen
should be reduced and leave the bound
aries as they are I think that we can
improve on our school board by cutting
down the number to five we, SHAH cor
operate with Topeka and on our return
home will take similar action as you
have done here this evening, by ap-
pointing a legislative committee ana
other committees as may be necessary
It was not expected that anything OF
q final nature would be undertaken last
evening. It was to be round table ana
this was what 1t was
Mayor Davis acted as chairman and
introduced the two members OF the
committee to 70 citizens. many OF them
prominent bushes men, After spend
ing an hour in talking of the different
phases of the question which came UP
the following resolutions were adopted;
..FThat it is the sense of this meeting
that the commission form of govern
ment appears TO be expedient and that
we take such measures as. may be nee
essary to secure the passage OF char
ter act by the legislature which may De
presented to the people for adoption
THAT this Organization be made
permanent and that it be known as the
City club and the present onlcers De
made permanent" Following TINS
these committees were appointed TO
aid the workings of the City club;
Executive and legislative: w. Fl. Da-
viz chairman; w A S Bird, Z. "
Knowles. Joab Mulvane, Warren M
crosby. James Troutman, Harold
Chase, C. w. Merriam, VIM. Green and
s. T. Howe
COMMITTEES on organization: z. L.
Copeland. VIM. Green and S T. Howe
Ways and means: Harold Chase, G
e. Jordan and F. E. Freeman
Charter: A. A. GODDARD, NJ Snatung-
er ]. IS. Iarimer. W. s. Bergundthal,
F. G. Dreaming.
The permanent organization has as
its president Mayor W. H. Davis, with
w. C. Ralston assistant city attorney,
as secretary
] B. Billiard of North Topeka OBJ
jected to any plans which looked to a
permanent organization because he
thought that the plans should be inves-
rieated before a decisive step should be
taken. The more he studied over the
matter. he said, the more reluctant he