The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-07
ACE LIMIT DROPS.
City Council Chops Three Years
From Old Ordinance.
Auto Owners Win Their Fifteen.
Year-OId Fight.
END OF MUCHTROUBLE
New Ordinance Caused Friction
on All Sides.
Other Matters Taken Up by
Aldermen Last Night.
ND OF MUCHTROUBLE

1
was reduced from IS years to Is. This
has been the bone over which the city
| officials and the automobile owners
have fought ever since the ordinance
was passed a month age and it has
been settled to the satisfaction of the
| autoists at last.
| The fight came up last night when
the petition of Samuel E. Lux was
read before the council. 1t seems that
Lux has a boy who is under Is years
of age but he is an experienced driver
of the Lux car: In their arguments ts
special dispensation to Mr.. LUX, the
council finally swerved here and there
until Councilman Stanley succeeded
in grabbing from the fire his coveted
amendment allowing the final age
limit to be Is years. 1t mad been
shifted around and was finally placed
in the form of an amendment to the
ordinance.
The fight over the age limit last
night shifted from so many points OF
view that it was hard to follow it The
first vote was on the special dispensa-
ton. Drew thought that to do such a
thing would be direct violation OF
the ordinance. Stanley quoted some
district Judge and overlooked the city
attorney. Another councilman jump
ed to his feet and asked that the city
attorney be consulted and not dis
interested judge: Mr.. Ralston was
called upon and he gave an elaborate
impromptu speech in which he said
that to grant a special dispensation
would ruin the uniformity of the ordt-
nance and thus spoil its strength An
ordinance is supposed to touch the
poor man as well as the rich and vice
versa-especially so. Mr.. Howard
thought that the age limit would be
changed and the dispensation business
dropped. Either this or give author
ity to the board of examiners. Fraser
thought the original ordinance all
right and was not in favor OF granting
ca
thought that it would be throwing
down the bars and make the council
the laughing stock of the city Ian
nan thought that young Lux was a
good driver and he was in favor OF
giving him few rights. Blakely gave
a well prepared Grafton on the neces-
SO on until the mayor had to call an
amendment out of order and start the
music going down the other street
Finally the report of the streets and
the Stanley amendment had been kill
ed. Someone started to criticise the
action of the committee when Mr..
Stanley jumped to the tor. of his desk
and in a stage whisper which could be
heard across the hall he said:
Let 'er go-we have another one
there in the pile"
kill 'em all-he's got hundred
more up his sleeve" yelled Council
man Drew and the council roared.
Mr.. Drew then wanted to refer the
new Stanley ordinance back to the
streets and walks committee. How
ever, it was placed on it's final passage
in order to save the agonies of another
street naming scene and 1t was voted
upon Those who were in favor of the
15-year- old proposition were Blakely,
Fink Howard, Lannan, Simpson, Stan
lev and Tandy. Those against were
Drew, Fraser, Hughes, Jordan and
Miller.
An ordinance by Councilman G. E.
Jordan giving the contract for the pub
LEGATION Of all the ordinances into book
form to Charles F. Spencer was sent to
the ways and means committee for fur
Their investigation. The council has
been fussing over this book of ordi-
nances for some time and it is hoped
to tuck the little book under their
arms before they leave office.
AS usual-last night was one of the
greatest arguments for the commission
form Of government. All it takes to
make Topeka people believe they want |
a commission is to watch the council
system. The mayor and council, per |
sonally, are great overwhelmingly
the strongest ever collected together in |
the council chamber. They have |
proven this by the fact that the people I
Of the city have faltered at the COM |
mission because the council was In |
such good shape. But to watch the
the wayside and receive a setback blow |
through the committee route was al |
most discouraging. Then there were
other things. For instance the bids on
the Melan bridge and the North side
pumping station were not opened be- |
cause the cOuncilmen had to catch the
last cars home. The pumping station |
has been receiving side track blows for |
almost a wear now. Another argument |
in favor of the commission would have
been q. look at Councilman Hughes last
night. During most of the council |
meeting the general sat back in his
chair asleep and dead to the world. |
However. he could not be blamed
there is nothing for a wide awake |
councilman to do but vote on a COM |
mittee report occasionally.
The small boy and his pleasures are
doomed The council will soon pass an
ordinance prohibiting the sale and dis |
posal of all fireworks which are dam
gerous to handle. This is early for the |
passing Of such an ordinance-the next
celebration does not occur for IL |
months and 20 days-but the council |
men believe in getting started early.
To start now means that the ordinance
will be passed about next summer
The fight to have the city water
mains extended to all parts OF the city
instead of sinking so much money into
the fire department has taken another
step. Last night the board of water
commissioners furnished to the council
a list of the people outside the city
using city water The list only in
cludes about 20 names and most of
them were at Washburn college. This
is one of the favorite plans of Coun-
Gilman Drew.
Chief Wilmarth has sent to the city
council his estimate for the expenses
attached TO the fire department the /
coming year. This comes under the /
plans of the mayor to use the estimat es
OF the heads of the departments in fg-l