The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
Question of City Government by
Commission to Be Submitted.
Mayor Will Be Asked to Issue q
Proclamation.
OUT OF WARDPOLITICS
Would Conduct Municipal AT
fairs on Business Basis.
City Attorney Drenning Is New
Preparing Petitions.

Petitions will be circulated shortly
among the voters of Topeka caldng
upon Mayor Green to issue a proclanla-
ton for a special election to submit
to the people of Topeka the question
of changing the form of city govern
ment from that of a mayor and coun-
cilmen numbering IL to the commits
sion plan of mayor and four commits
sioners.
The interest in this has been gradu..
ally at work and a number of prorni-
nent business men of the city have
been sounded for an expression. The
sentiments as expressed are favorable
to the calling of special election and
petitions will be placed in circulation
within the next several weeks, il is
promised before the end of June. Des
Moines, Iowa, will vote on this game
question June 20 and that city is
in the throes of an exciting political
contest, the issue of which is similar
to that which will present itself in To-
peka when the local election is called.
Local supporters of the commission
plan of government are waiting par
tally upon the results in Des Moi1es
before campaigning actively here.
The law making it possible to adopt
government by a commission went
into effect upon the publishing OF the
session laws of 1907. on the 9th of
May, about three weeks ago The law
provides that the petitions must coz
tain the names of al least 10 per ent
of the total number of qualified voters
at the last city election. The total
number of voters cast at the last city
election was S,45S The petitions must
therefore contain at least $50 names.
However, this is not worrying the aGi-
tators of the change in city govern
ment. The petitions are to be fled
with the city clerk and after this Dro-
vision has been complied with and 1t
is discovered that the petitions con-
tain a sufficient number Of qualined
voters, the mayor must within ten
days after the filing issue a proclania-
ton calling for special election within
60 days following. The proclamation
is to be published once each week for
three continuous weeks in the Official
city paper.
At this special election mayor and
four commissioners are elected. They
hold office until the first Tuesday IN
April, 1909, If elected this fall or next
year The office becomes vacant end
another election must be held on the
first Tuesday of each odd numbered
year. Upon the change of the form OF
government to commission the official
terms of members of the city council
and mayor expire. The other city en-
ployes. however, hold over until me
next general election. The mere fact
that the city changes its form of gov
ernment from the present form to
commission in no wise effects the ten
ure of Office of the other employees cf
the city. Should the election prevail
this fall these officials will hold their
jobs until the first Tuesday in April.
1909.
majority is sufficient to carry tor
the change of government at the spec
ial election.
F. 6. Drenning, city attorney. is at
present working on the petitions
number of which he announces will be
ready soon for circulation.
1--WE realize that it will have to take
a whole lot of education to make the
voter understand the good points cf
the commission plan as against the
present method of government" said
Mr. Dreaming. 1.-THE fight to change IS
not going to be an easy one.