The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-22

City Engineer Rogers will be able to
take care of the patching of the To-
peka pavements after all and he will
have the power to have the paving
replaced in as good condition as when
it was removed. The city attorney is
remOdeling the ordinance to this eff
feet at the present time. 1t means
that Mr.. Rogers will be able to carry
out his plans and remedy an evil that
has been going on in this city for
many years. 1t has been customary
for the excavating to be made and
repaired in a sleight of hand manner,
thus spelling the pavement, giving it
a rolling appearance, and in some
places leaving holes. The city en-
gineer attempted to stop this practice
by issuing a number of stringent rules
concerning the patch work and he
made these rules up in such a manner
that the paving would be. in better
condition than formerly after being
patched. This was done by the eff
cient engineer in order to discourage
the habit of property owners in wait
ing for the paving before they improve
their property. However, the mayor
and city attorney called Mr.. Rogers,
saying that he had no right to make
such rules-and the citizens over the
city were aroused at once, declaring
in emphatic terms that the paving
should be protected, and the plan of
Mr.. Rogers was the only feasible man
ner of making this protection. How
ever, orders have been given for the
patching of the ordinance and Mr..
Rogers viii be able to infiict his pen
alties after all. 1t is a great thing for
the paving and the people over the
city are going to stand for it.
The fire marshal and the city en-
gineer are. trying to decide on the
place to connect the new fire escapes
on the city hall. 1t seems that one of
the main escapes is scheduled for the
windows of the hay room of the fire
department. This is about the only
could possibly start. When the build
ing was erected the necessary irons
We're placed down this side of the
building. 1t is absolutely necessary
that the escapes be installed at once
and in a new place than originally in
tended.
A little colored boy came to the Of
flee of the city clerk this morning
Leading a big dog with rope around
Its neck. He demanded from the
clerk the reward of fifty cents offered
Tor stray dogs without license This
is another chapter to the long sad tale
OF homeless dogs. The boy was not
IN very good humor when he told his
story to the clerk. He said that he
had three captured this morning but
TWO OF them got away from him. He
was sent to the pound where the dog
killer was notified and took charge.
Under the present system used by
the city in making laws which con-
form with the statutes there is hitch
which should in time make a strong
auxiliary to the commission form of
government. In fact this hitch is one
or the strong points in favor of the
commission form. This weakness is
the socalled committee work in the
councll-the delay caused by the same
and the unsatisfactory results of the
whole. scheme. When a proposition
comes up before the council it is
Stra1ghtWay referred to a committee
OF some kind or other and here it lays
until the committee finds time to act
These committees are composed of
men who have other paths in life to
follow, and it is only after a great
sacrifice from their business that they
can attend the meetings. Sometimes
they get enough men together to meet
and sometimes they don't. When
they do get together they scramble
through the business-for many reas-
ons-some one has to attend lodge,
another has to go home and still an
other has business engagement. This
Is the way man finds time to give
his time to city affairs when he is in
an honorary Office with "ornery'
salary. Last fiscal year C. E. Jordan
from the First ward was chairman of
the streets and walks committee of
the council. Every few days these
tories and a meeting was held between
times AS a result Mr.. Jordan found
1t necessary to desert his business
and he says that the reaction is com
ing on at this time.
A council committee is a farce. It
is place where some matter is shift
ed for want of time in the council
chamber and is shifted back again