The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-07
Thinks Commission Plan of Gov
eminent the More Costly.
Finds That Galveston System
Would Add $4,000.
INCREASED SALARIES.
The Proposed Change Would
Create New Offices.
When City Has a Population of
$4,000 Cost Will Increase.

Wichita, Kan, Nov. THE Beacon
| says:
There is one item that some persons
| seem to have overlooked in their adj
vocacy of government by commission
| as provided by the Kansas law, and
| that is the item of salaries, which I'M
der the proposed commissions will be
| materially increased. This increase will
aggregate $3.50 a year, or $19,7S0 for
single term of office in the matter OF
liked salaries alone. This is a matter
which the people of this city will likely
look upon with disfavor. Increase In
salaries is never popular, and when
| connectedswith an alleged reform move
ment 1t is all the more Objectionable.
Not only does the commission plan
increase the salaries Of the various city
officials, but it creates two new Of
fees, those of superintendent and sec
rotary Of -waterworks. -..- III ...,
But that is not all. This law pro-
vides that when the population of the
city has increased to $4,000 there shall
be a further increase in the salaries of
the city officials aggregating $4,000
more. Then it goes further and pro-
vides that when the city's population
shall have reached 10000 the salary or
the mayor may be increased $4,000 and
that of the four commissioners $500 each
per year, or an aggregate OF $5,2OU
more.
The salaries of the various city off,
Gals at present are as follows:
Mayor, $1,000; councilmen, $500 each each
or $4,000 in the aggregate; city clerk,
$1,000; city attorney, $1,000; city treas
urer, $1,050; city engineer, $1,500; street
commissioner, $1,000; city auditor, $3.50.
The commission plan provides for
Mayor, $4,000; commissioners, $1,000
each or 81, 800 in the aggregate; city
clerk, $500; city attorney, $4,000; city
treasurer, 1920; city engineer, $500;
or oicci ri H.
tor, $500; superintendent of water
works. $1,000; secretary of waterworks,
$1,000.
When the city has population Of
growth. will be in two or three years.
the law provides that the salaries OF
the several officers aside from the may
or and commissioners may be 1ncreas-
ed $1,000 more.
The duties of the commissioners are
approximately the same as those Of the
present city council, and do not in
clude the care of any. other department
of public affairs, such as the public
schools. ne
There Is still further provision I'M
der the commission law that may re-
suit in added salari6sg This provision
is that the commissioners have the
power to appoint a fire marshal CHIEF
of police, city physician. police judge,
superintendent of parks, city assessor.
land such other officers as they may
deem necessary" and fix the salaries
of each In view of the fact that the
fixed salaries of all the officers named
above have been increased under the
commission law it would not be I'M
reasonable to suppose that following
the example set by the legislators, the
commissioners would find it convenient
to increase the salaries of these heads
of departments also. -- 2. .
This is a matter worth looking into,
especially at a time when it is a doubt
full policy to make a change and try
an experiment in city government, the
outcome of which no man can foretell.