The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-10
Views of State Labor Commits
siOner will Not Affect Council.
Automobile Ordinance Can Be
Passed i'm Spite of State.
MOTOR LEAGUE MEETS
Will Hold General Meeting at
Commercial Club Tonight.
Other Items of Interest From
City Building.

1t is the opinion of city Attorney
Ralston that the law cited to the city
council by State Labor Commissioner
| Johnson has nothing to do with the
action of the city council on the age
limit proposition in the automobile
ordinance. Mr.. Ralston says that if
the city desired to make the age limit
| of drivers Is years instead of IS
years it would be done without any
dictations from the labor office what
ever. 1t is not the city of Topeka
which hires the automobile drivers
! it is the owner of a car and if he
violates the state law by allowing a
| boy or girl under fifteen years old to
| drive an automobile he shall be I'M
| der the ban of the law and not the
! city.
| changing of the ordinance. Mayor
Green would have vetoed the ordi-
nance in spite of the condition of
affairs. AS the ordinance stands now
it is probable that the council will
make the age limit 6 years and let
| it remain this way.
The Topeka Motor league and all
| owners of cars meet at the Com
mercial club rooms at $50 tonight
and their next move will be decided
at this time. The motor league has
outlined it's policy in this manner:
1--WE think that the city council
should leave the matter in the hands
of the automobile board of exam
iners' IF this cannot possibly be
done however, we will have to accept
the 16 year old age limit. But we
will not stand for any limit above
this
It is thought that the motor league
will fix up plans tonight and carry
them through to the entire satisfac-
ton of all.
The question of a municipal garbage
plant for Topeka seems to be taking
better hold on the city council This
matter was started some time ago by
Councilman Fraser who advocated the
construction of such plant at once,
SAVING that at this time of the year
the merchants over the city were find
ing it a hard matter to dispose OF
their waste paper, wrappings and reg
ular refuse. The drivers who have been
doing such work in the city claimed
that they could find no more places in
town to dump their loads of material
and it became necessary to go out in
the country and drop it by the way
side when no one was looking
Councilman Miller at the last meet
ing of the city council rose during a
discussion of a garbage contract and
said that he was getting mighty tired
of watching the drivers dump their
stuff in the Second ward and he pray
ed that something should be done at
once. Councilman Jordan also mention
6Q the COMING nCSu u SlACI1 a pant anu
cited incidents where the city was in
actual need.
In the agreement with a dessicating
plant for the burning of dead animals
the city let the contract with the pro-
vision that if at any time Topeka de-
cided to build a plant the contract
could be recalled. This loophole was
judiciously made and was made with
the intention of doing something in
the future.
The main trouble at this time con-
Germs the drivers who find it necessary
to do something with the waste. They
are hauling their stuff to far away
points in the city and thus their charges
are becoming more exorbitant. Kicks
are heard on all sideS-but what can
be done? The only open course is to-
put the building of a plant into the
hands of the city and start business.
Mayor William Green says that the
proposition of a garbage plant would
be a good thing but he hardly thinks
the city can afford it at this time The
mayor is conducting an economical ad-
ministration and such matters are nat
uraIIy thrown aside. Probably the tax
payers of the city would agree with
him that no such plant is needed by
the city at this time-it might seem
practicable to wait few years at
least.
Whatever course is taken the tax
payers will find that the council will
do whatever is best. Their method of
going after the garbage idea shows that
only when the need becomes great will
they act. garbage plant is a modern
idea and an expensive proposition at
this time. If conducted on the plans
suggested by Councilman Fraser
through an interview in the State Jour
nal not long ago, the expense will not
be so great.
Mr.. Fraser's plan is to construct a
municipal garbage disposal plant as
soon as possible while the chance for
revenue is greater. 1t is thought that
the garbage can be burned at the in
Generator at about 10 or II cents a
cubic yard. This is half the price
charged by the average firm or corpor-
alton. It has been proved all over the
country that a municipal plant can be
maintained at least so per cent under
the cost of letting the stuff out by
contract.
The cost of the plant can be re-
duced by the materials which are ia
ken from the garbage after it has been
burned. Oil can be extracted which
serves as a valuable fertilizer, grease !
out of which soap is made and the
clinkers can be sold to contractors and
builders for foundation and building
work It is true that Topeka needs a
place for the placing of garbage. The
drivers are not able to find dumping
ground.
Councilman Fraser sent a resolution
to the council many moons ago asking |
for plans and specifications for such
plant but it has been lost, strayed
or stolen and nothing definite has been
extracted
There is a misunderstanding among |
the boarding and rOoming house own /
ers over the city on the meaning of
the words-"transient guests When
a. house over two stories in height en-
tertains roomers as transient guests the !
place is on the same basis as a hotel
and must comply with the hotel rules
that is, place red lights, fire gongs