The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-30
Appointiye Offices.
Under
HnnHIn

Chief of olice................. 1900 1900
Police judge. Observation-Disclosures. 1000 1,S00
Supt. of parks. 100 1,S00
Assessor. (This is new office)... 1900
civil service commissioners.
(NeW of1ce). OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $500
Totals ...........s 16, $50 So, 300
Add mayor and council. 4,400
Mayor and Com. ............... 800
Final totals. ...-... soo,ss0 $4,000
Deduct present salaries from
prospective salaries. ......... 20,S6O
Net amount in favor of the
council PLAN 81, 140
You will notice the salaries of the
elective and appointive officers under
the proposed commission plan will be
more than double what it is under the
present plan.
You will also notice that the mayor
and four commissioners are the only
elective officers. We lessen the num-
Der of elective officers and increase the
number of appointive officers. The
commission form of government pro-
poses this while a great majority of
voters in Kansas are in favor of in
creasing the number of officers to be
elected. We believe the president, the
United States senators, poStmaSters
and all other officers should be elective.
But instead of following this plan our
friends propose to curtafl the elective
power of the people in the city of To-
peka and put all these men under ap-
pointment by a commission.
The law says, under the commission
form of government the mayor of a city
the size of Topeka must devote at least
six hours a day to the business of the
city but it does not say how much
time a commissioner shall put in for
the city.
It is also necessary to take into the
account the fact that John Doe is just
as honest and capable as a mayor or
councilman as John Doe would be as
commissioner.
If the people will consider these
points and also the questions of re
calP' of an undesirable commissioner,
the bonding propositions, and many
other points. am of the opinion that
we will have no commission form of
government for Topeka at the present
time. w. H. KEMPER.
Mr.. Kemper's deductions with refer
ence to increase in salaries under the
commission plan of government are
based wholly upon what it is possible
to do under the commission law as COM
Jared with what is actually being done
L nder the mayor and councilmen sys-
tenn.
BY this he wholly ignores what it
is possible to do under the mayor and
These deductions are not based upon
correct premises. The comparison
should be between what it is possible
&c do under the present mayor and coun-
ell system with what could be done
under the commission plan.
It is found when we look at the
statutes that there are number of
officers at this time who do not re-
ceive the highest salary limited by law.
AS to a great number of the offices,
il is provided simply that the council
shall regulate the salaries by ordinance.
So far as we have been able to find,
there is no limit at all placed upon
The salary of a councilman. Mr.. Kemp
er SuppOSeS that in every case the ex-
treme amount allowed by law will be
fixed by ordinance as the salaries of
the commissioners and of the officers
Of the city under q new system.
We have the same right to suppose
that under the conditions possible to
be imagined, that our twelve council
men may raise their own salaries to
be adequate and just compensation.
Suppose a hard working council COM
posed of twelve men should decide that
their services. instead of being worth
5000 per year, were of the value of $1,000
per year for each member. This would
be nice little item of $4,000 per an
rum added to the salary list, and one
which seems not now to be limited by
law. Not only that. but under the pres
emit system there would be no initiative,
people themselves might repeal the sal
airy ordinance, nor would there be the
principle OF recalling to invoke by which
the high salaried councilmen could be
discharged and cheaper ones employed
by the city.
likely to. happen under the present
system. To which we reply. that it
will not be likely to happen under
the commission form of government,
that the extreme of high salaries will
invariably be fixed by ordinance of
is especially true when we remember
that the board of commissioners, is
subject at all times to direct check by
the whole people through the practice
of the initiative. referendum and re-
call
With respect to the curtailing of the
elective power of the people, it seems
to us that so far as the management
of the peoples affairs are concerned,
the elective power is enormously ex-
tended. It is true that four officers
who are now elected will under the
form of government, be-
come appointed, but it will be OBJ
served that the body which appoints
these four officers is. vastly more sub
iect to the control of the. whole peo-
pie than are the mayor and council at
this time. c,--
1t is true also that eight elective |
officers will under the commission |
plan be entirely eliminated from the |
curriculum, to wit: eight councilmen, |
out can this be said to be a detriment to |
The interests of the whole people? 1t |
nav be conceded that it is something
Of a loss in the way of not having |
offices to go round. but is !
This undesirable, except to the man
who desires to hold Officer
While it is true that the law does
dow