The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-05
Run the City Departments on
Civil Service Plan.
TAX ON CORPORATIONS
Proposes a Two Per Cent Levy
as License.
First Annual Message Read to
the Council.


earnings of corporations doing business
In Topeka as license charge urges
Mayor Green should be collected by the
city in his annual message delivered
to the council last night.
The city under the state charter act
has the power to levy license on
street railway company, telegraph, tel
ephone companies and corporations in
general The amount that may be tax
ed against them for license is not sta
ted.
This is the only way in which To-
peka can secure special revenue from
corporations for the provisions which
appear in the franchises, which pro
vide that the city may collect 10 per
cent OF the net earnings above 10 per
cent earned by the company on it's in
vestment. AS none Of the corporations
cent on their investment, according to
their own figures. the section in the
state charter act is Joke.
This and the need of civil service
| in all Of the city departments are the
principal features of the mayor's mes
| sage which follows:
10 the Honorable City Council.
Gentlemen:-It is with feeling of
| gratihcation that avail myself of the
| opportunity as we'll as privilege of ad-
| dressing your honorable body through
| the medium of an annual message
| Our favored city has passed through
one OF the most prosperous years of
her history and the prospects for a
continuance OF such conditions in the
| future are very bright. The pride
| when prompts us, as fellow stewards
OF this splendid municipality, to felici-
tate ourselves on the prevailing condi-
| lions, is quite pardonable. Our city's
credlt Is as high as the highest in the
land; the lives and property of our cit
liens are protected; the laws and or
| dfnances are impartially enforced by
| our police department, the superior of
| which does not exist: the numbers of
the needy within the city are few; the
| streets are cleaned In an efficient man
| ner; no city has more adequate fire
protection; our sanitary department
has met with promptness and proved
itself able to cope with every emer-
gency Which has presented itself; at
our doors we have an inexhaustible
supply of pure water supplied by a
| municipal plant through a wide reach
ing main system; while careful and
thorough Investigation has demonstra-
ted that our municipal electric light
plant. one of the first municipal light
ing plants installed in this country
has been an unparalleled success.
4 In speaking thus briefly of these
+ features of our city no. exaggeratior
Of actual facts is necessary.
IT.. Civil Service.
My observation and experience in
city affairs has convinced me that the
best interests Of the city demand that
all departments be divorced as far as
possible from political influence and ]
would therefore most earnestly recon-
mend that such action be taken by the
council as will bring about such a de-
sired result, to the further end that
faithful and competent employees may
not be discharged at the expiration OF
the term Of their appointment without
due and sufficient cause. In accord
ance with the promotion Of merit, as
a reward for office and not political in
fluence, I would make pernicious ac-
tivity in politics a sufficient cause fol-
removal.
We have, it is true, endeavored to
place three Of the city's departments
beyond the reach of political dominance
with the fire department on the equiv
alent Of civil service basis and the
municipal electric light and water
plants in the managing hands of COM
missions. AS regards the latter though
it may be possible that there is nc
state law granting the mayor and
council authority to delegate to a COM
mission the absolute management Of g
public utility owned by the city, yet
am advised that they do have authori-
|, ty to appoint such commission as ar
| advisory board and may act upon and
endorse any and all reasonable recon-.
mendations that such a board may IL
: it's Judgment make to the council, fol
| the proper management and control o.
such utility. With the confidence which
we have in the high integrity and bust
) ness capacity Of the patriotic gentle
) men who have consented at great sacri
flee to their personal business and com
fort to serve as commissioners of oul
: water and electric light departments
l certainly we can make no mistake il
acting favorably on all the recommen
dations which they may see fit to maxi
; pertaining to their respective depart
} ments I would therefore urge TIN
i members of the council to cooperate
: harmoniously with the said commits
sions in all the matters concerning tn
: government of these utilities.
Granting of Franchises.
The city of Topeka has been excep