The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-24

office of city counselor was revived
| last evening after a repose OF about
| two years. The suggestion was drst
made about three years ago when tne'
council at that time fell out with r.
G. Dreaming, city attorney. The plan
outlined at the time was to appoint
some one over the head of the city
attorney who should be his superior,
drawing higher pay and having the
| title of city counselor. But Drennlns
| made his peace with the council at
| that time and it was dropped. Lately
Arthur Bollinger, an attorney, has
been comforting with number OF the
members of the council stirring up
the sentiment for city counselor and
last night his efforts budded partly
into fruition when Councilman
Hughes got up and proposed that the
council take some action to entirely
readjust the city attorneys office.
He suggested that the mayor and
council had the power to appoint
city counselor. The plan proposed was
to have the duties that now devolve
on the city attorney in the manner OF
drawing ordinances, revising iran
chises and giving counsel to the city
placed with the city counselor, while
the prosecution of cases in the ponce
and district courts be left with the city
attorney. This would do away with
the Office of police court prosecutor
and that of assistant city attorney.
The assistant city attorney, w. C. Raj
ston, who now does stenographic work
in that office in addition would be
charged solely with stenographic du-
ties under the new plan. Under the
city charter act the mayor ana coun-
Gil have the power to nix the salary
of city counselor. The salary would
probably be considerably higher than
the $500 paid at present to the city
attorney while the salary of the city
attorney would probably be reduced
slightly.
The committee on ways and means
went into executive session in dls-
cussing the proposed changes but nm
ally emerged from the session without
having done anything. A suggestion
was made by Councilman Hughes, VINO
first brought up the city counselor as
cussion, that the stenographic work OF
the council proceedings and of the
mayor be done by the stenographer
in the city attorneys office thereby
saving the city the cost of 80 for each
meeting which is the charge made py
the stenographer engaged to take down
the proceedings of the council. A mo-
ton was made to this effect and car
ried but later reconsidered.
F. G. Dreaming, city attorney, Will
have a chance to defend himself be-
fore the judiciary committee ana the
mayor who are investigating charges
F. Stanley, chairman of the comm1ttee.
ntimated strongly last night that they
believed that the charges as filed could
be substantiated but they didn't want
to railroad Dreaming without giving
him some sort of a hearing.
I'VE did absolutely nothing" said E.
F. Stanley, chairman of the comittee.
1--WE looked into some of these charges
and went over some of the papers Dut
we did not want to do anything. We
couldn't have the mayor with us. He
was with that other committee, and
Dreaming wasn't here. We will meet
again next Wednesday or Thursday,
will announce the time later"
Councilman Stanley refused to say
whether Dreaming would be removed
from Office or if a movement would be
made along that line. He retreated to
his assertion that the members of the
committee had not made up their
minds as yet.