The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-18
NO COLOR LINE.
City Council Refuses White
Children's Park.
Must Be Open to All Races III
Accepted.
WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
Probably Be Conducted by the
Club Women.
Will Be an Inspector Of Weights
and Measures.
WILL BE WITHDRAWN.


Washburn avenues which was offered
to the city council last evening by DR..
IVA Harding in behalf of the Ramblers'
club and other club women of the city
and which was to be dedicated for the
use of the white children only was ac-
cepted upon the condition that it be
open to the use of children of both
races. All of the II councilmen present
decided that was better to reject the
park offer with the exclusive privilege
attached than to become entangled in
the barbed wire of a race question AS
q result the park VIII probably be man
aged and supported by the club women
and they will carry out the idea OF
maintaining 1t exclusively for white
children for it is not believed that they
care to make the presentation to the
city with the string attached to 1t by
the councilmen.
DR. Harding stated as much when
asked what disposition would be made
fof the tract of land.
Gentlemen:-Replying to request
from the mayor for legal opinion on
the validity of the dedication to the city
of land for a public park for the use
of white children only by Dr.Eva Hard
ing, I beg to report that 1 90 not think
the mayor and council have authority
to tax all the people for the support
of a public park for part OF the peo-
pie This looks very much like class
legislation and would be productive or
great harm and 1 beg to advise your
honorable body to reject such dedlca-
TONI. G. Dreaming, city attorney
The above opinion was read When tne
deed conveying the land was suolil1-
ted to the council.
Councilman Montgomery maze mo
ton to respectfully decline the glIt;
ct believe this is a gift given IN gooo
faith and think some action snoulq
be taken to take advantage of It,. l
move that it be referred to the ]uolc,
larry committee to see if some legai
remedy cannot be devised, protested
Councilman Howard.
IT wish that one word white mlgnt
be eliminated so that the objecuonaple
class LEGISLATION may not come in SAID
Councilman Stanley.
'.There is another thing that STANDS
in the way of the city accepting TINS,
said Councilman Holiday. 1T is pro-
vided that the city shall never cut down
any of the trees. 1t might become nee
essary to cut some them down, OBJECT
ed Councilman Holiday.
DR. Eva Harding, who was slttlns
passively listening to all OF the LoaS
going got up. She was thoroughly mao;
"You men have set the precedent, SAID
she, s..YoR men set the precedent Wnen
you set aside separate schools Tor the
white children and the black. We didn't
realize that we were doing anything
wrong in giving this park. We gave 1T
for the mothers and children in that
part of the city and as there are put
few colored in that part OF town the
rule to keep them out would nave
to be enforced but seldom. The ballot
has been given to them over our heads,
1t has been withheld from U.s. You Will
have to pardon our ignorance We
didn't know any better. We didn't
think anything amiss-" The sarcasm
was not entirely lost on the council
men.
II move that the council accept the
gift with the word white eliminated"
said Councilman Holiday.
This motion was carried.
DR.. Harding stated that she thought
the club women would retain possession
of the park rather than stand for the
modification proposed. She said that
members of the council when approach
ed previous to the session had prom1s-
ed to accept the park and had not
raised any objection to devoting it for
the use of the white children only.
About Is negroes were present but none
of them addressed the council. There
was no demonstration of any kind.
Applications for the position of in
spector of weights and measures are
now in order. The city council last
evening created a new office paying $500
a year. The office it is believed will be
more than 'self-supporting as il is esti-
mated that it will bring into the city
several hundred dollars each year in
the way of profits besides saving con-
siderable money to the purchasers of
goods at the stores where scales are
not working properly.
The appointment of a man to the posi-
ton will be made just as soon as the
city purchases the standard set of in
struments for the office. 1t is estimat-
ed that these will cost about $500. The
ordinance creating the office is founded
on that of Kansas City, Kansas, and
Kansas City, Missouri.
Twice each year the inspector is re-
quired to make an inspection of all
scales, weights and measures used in
the city. The fees charged for making
the inspection are: 50 for instruments
used in weighing gold, silver or prec-
ious metals; for all scales weighing UP
to 200 pounds. Is cents each; 200 to 600
pounds, 20 cents; SEQ to 1900 pounds so
cents each; 1900 pounds and over. 81:
for yard stick, dry or liquid measure,
cents; for a set of measures, rs cents;
81 for track, hay or wagon scales.
The penalties provided for violations
are severe. For anyone failing or re-