The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-02

nlclpaI government prominent men OF
affalrs-public and private.
This is probably the first time
municipal government went at secur-
ing legislation just as a business man
would go after results he wanted in
an extension Of his business. They ad-
dressed themselves personally through
the mails to the man that they wanted
who was living at & distance-adver-
Using what they wanted.
Topeka has had experience in trying
TO get laws framed and passed through
the legislature. TWO years ago they had
among representatives and senators to
secure support for certain acts OF local
importance. Indifferent success attend
ed their efforts Most of the legislators
didn't have time to listen to the city
officers. They had a committee to at
tend somewhere and they were kept at
a jump getting around to these COM
mlttee rooms and looking after 1egisla-
out worrying about something which
they didn't care much about. If they
did happen to find the time they looked
with suspicion upon the requests OF the
Topeka alderman-they believed that it
contained something some where at the
expense Of the state. The cold water
was thrown on Topeka with so much
unnecessary frequency that this new
plan Of approach has been submitted
and taken Up with enthusiastically BY
telling at length what the plan is and
what is desired at stated intervals
through the mails the recipients viii
have time to discover exactly what the
situation Is. When the presentation is
made when the legislature meets here
the members viii recognize and be IA
miliar at once with the subject when
it comes up for consideration.
The booklet viii be too much of a
work of art to throw into the waste
basket" said F. G. Dreaming, city at
torney. You will be interested in 1t
because it is something expressed
through the medium of art and YOU
will want to keep it because it looks
nice and is attractive. For that rea-
son we are going to get this up in the
best shape possible. I understand that
it is the plan to send personal type
written letters to every legislator to
follow this booklet up-a regular fol-
low up to be followed.
THE mayor can appoint from the
city council legislative committee
which cannot be excelled anywhere in
the state We have some very good
men and cannot conceive of any bet
ter committee of five than is possible
with some of the men that we have in
our city council.
THE commission way of govern
ment is the only way. 1t is economical
and brings better results. It is natural
for every councilman to work for the
best interests of his ward and they do
it. 1 heard the other day Of this sort
OF Jnlng. several people talking TO
me said that they were unprepared for
a certain kind of Improvement but
that it was pushed through by the
councilmen in their ward because they
thought 1t Showed enterprise and in
terest il they did"
The best thing that could happen to
Topeka in the world. declared Council
man VIM. Green. II think the MAORI
ty of the councilmen are in favor of 1t;
several 1 believe doBSt approve of it.
We should get the charter act or
the several cities that have a commits
sion and take the best that is in all Of
them and rearrange them into a charter
act for this state. The law should be
optional Of course because no law would
get through which would be compulsory
upon cities to adopt this form of gov
eminent, and some Of the cities Of the
state don't want il
Il presume the law would have to &C
into effect under special election held
for that purpose. I don't think though