The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-09
:" Must Not Load Expenses on
Commissioners" They Say.
MOVE BY THE PUBLIC.
C0uncilmen Must Be Convinced
That They Are Right.
Other Performances at Council
Meeting Last Night.

regard to the ACCESSIBILITY of move of
this kinda move that would give to
every member of the fire department a
salary which he earns.
Coming as it did with 400 of tho
largest taxpayers in Topeka the petit
ton dropped upon the councilmen like
an avalanche from above and 1T was
some time before they could recover
from the shock. While they were yet
shocked they expressed themselves as
being radically in favor of the raise.
Mayor Green acted fayorably toward it
and Chairman Hughes of the ways and
means committee gave the firemen to
understand that he was their cnanl-
pion.
But things can change in few days.
Last night at an informal meeting of
the powers that be" tat which meet
ing. by the way, newspaper reporter
who has been telling the truth was
decided that the present city council
should not take any action on the
petition of the ffremen-
The mayor and council have it figured
out that it is placing burden on the
future commissioners to find them
selves confronted with such an increase
in appropriations.
'I don't think that it is fair that we
should shove all of these expenses into
the faces of the commissioners" ex-
ostracised reporter afterwards.
DO you believe that the firemen are
justified in having their raisea' was
asked.
II most certainly do, and if it wasn't
for this commission form of govern
ment approaching I would see that
they got my support in their petition"
DO you think the commissioners will
honor the petition?"
Certainly they will" quickly an
how they can get around it-and they
cannot fail to see the justice of it. But
what 1 want to impress most upon the
people is that the council is not trying
to shove over expenses on to the COM
mission. When the electric light raise
that we were going at things half
hearted and were not paving very
good way for the commission"
The question among the city council
at this time then seems to hinge on the
sentiment of the people in regard to
their actions in connection with the
following commission. This council
man admits that the petition is just
and deserving, but says that the COM
mission must pass it and not the cour-
ell.
If the council honored this petition
and granted the raise in salaries the
commissioners would have to stand
the increase in budget, it is true But
If the commissioners acted on the
petition as the councilmen said they
would-wouldn't they still have the
expense to handle?
The whole matter seems to border
on public sentiment. If the people
over the city think that the council is
doing all right and is not getting ex-
travagant in it's last days. then the
council would shut its eyes and pass
the firemen petition. Otherwise the
petition will die of old age and the
firemen will continue to live in a mar
velous manner on $65 and $40 per
month.
If the residents living along Morris
avenue from Sixth to Tenth avenue
are able to carry out their plans with
the approval of the council, and the
street commissioner, this street will
fares in the city. The residents are
planning a long series of double park
ings which will extend from their
houses to the street.
These double terraces will be made
uniform by all the residents on the
east side of the street. Those en- the
west side will follow out the same
plan but will single their terrace.
On account of the deep grade of
the new pavement along this street
in order that the drainage line might
fall under that of the people living on
the west side it was necessary to cut
the pavement down low and also
permanently injure number of trees.
The people came to the rescue how
ever and now they have have or
ganized and without an exception they
are all for the new double terrace sys-
tenn. The street will be a beautiful
avenue when finished and it has done
much toward promoting civic pride in
this vicinity.
The counciimen shuddered last
night when one of the old time petit
lions came to light. The people living
along West street between Willow
avenue and Munson avenue and on
Arch street between Tenth street and
Munson avenue have petitioned that
the name of this street be changed to
Westlawn boulevard.
This is the petition that caused SO
much trouble year ago at the time
of the big street naming fight and
was circulated about two weeks ago
by the residents along West street
who are still smarting under the old
battle and who are confident that they
can have the name of the street to
bered that Judge Dana of the dis
trict court held that the city council
could change the name of the street
if the people so desired. The people
are all strongly in favor of the propo-
sition and it is very probable that they
will win out this time.
Oliver Burns. white, was arrested.
convicted, fined $40 and confined to
the city Jail. After working for his
bread three days he made his es-
cape.
Then came Oliver Burns. colored.
He was arrested, and convicted, but
appealed his case. In his anxiety to
get away from the city bastile and the
TALLER in his anxiety to "soak" the
prisoner, jumbled up the records
when out of the mix up came little
Isbill to Oliver Burns, coiored, which
stated that he owed the city 81 in
back fines.
The bill was paid by Oliver who
was glad to get away The money
passed through the police books into
1.-THE city treasury and after lying here