The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-15


ter careful consideration and has taken
it up with the engineering department.
who have figured on it carefully and
made their report. Mayor Green said
this afternoon that the idea was good
but it had not received the finishing
touches of an engineers hand-who is
the only technical human being after
all.
The patent medicine ordinance per
resolution by Councilman Howard has
been drawn up by the city attorney
and is now in the hands of the city
clerk for presentation to the council at
their next meeting. This ordinance
makes it unlawful for any person. firm
or corporation to distribute samples of
any drugs, or medicine and leave them
in the streets, alleys, avenues or on
the public grounds or front porches and
premises of any residence in this city.
Not long ago a little child in this city
was almost killed by eating some of
the pills distributed by patent medi-
cine firms. This new ordinance Will
relieve the bothersome peddlers of this
truck and also make it possible for the
tired housewife to retain her afternoon
beauty sleep without ring of the door
| bell and a sample of quinine pills. The
ordinance is created primarily for the
| protection of human lives but in doing
this it is going to save many a mans
temper and keep the city in better
condition, morally, mentally and .physi-
cally.
A fire of purely incendiary origin
resulting in a loss of $500 and al
most two human lives burned the roof
| from story and a half frame dwell
ing at 11O9 Pine street shortly after
1 o'clock this morning. The house
was owned by William Hennessey and
| occupied by A. Garrett.
The fire was first discovered by Mr.
4 xrI,4 4
| couple sleeping in the garnet of the
| house just under the rear peak of the
| roof. They were awakened by the
| roar of the flames and they barely es-
| capped from the room before the burn
| ing embers and smoke swept through
and ruined their bed and furniture.
| Companies from No, 4, No. 8 and
| the truck from No. responded and
| succeeded after plucky work in get
| ting the fire under control-thus saw
| ing the house, furniture and every
| thing but the rear of the roof.
The fire was clearly case of
| malicious incendiary. Mr.. Garrett
stated to a State Journal reporter that
he knew of no enemies, but a few
nights before the house was broken
into and money and jewelry were
| taken from him. The fire could not
| have started in any way except
| through malice. There was no fire IN
the house and no railroad or neigh
i
sparks. The manner in which the fire
| burned a hole through the roof
| caused Chief Wilmarth to decide
| quickly that an oily substance of some
| kind had been thrown to the room.
In a scorching letter to the State
| Journal concerning city affairs an I'M
| known writer says that this city is a
mass of politics and everything is
| rotten. The letter sounds like the last
| wall of a disappointed Office seeker.
In touching up the police department
| the irate writer says:
1.-THE officers don't arrest joint
| keepers in this town because of
politics among the city officials; the
| churches don't preach against them
| because some of them belong to the
church: the newspapers don't say
anything about it because they are
| subscribers
In concluding the writer names the
| following places as being regular
| saloons in all but name. He says that
the city officials know of them but