The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-14
READY TO PASS IT
City Commissioners Will Have
Civil Service Ordinance.
Passage and Appointments Will
Be Made Tomorrow Morning.
OFFICERS AFFECTED.
Duties of Commission and Where
They Are Applied.
Other Items of Interest From
City Hall.

The board of city commissioners will
pass an ordinance tomorrow morning
establishing in Topeka a civil service
commission. The members of this COM
mission will also be appointed at this
time. The ordinance requiring the civil
service commission was drawn up by
Commissioner Tandy today and will be
acted upon tomorrow.
The report has been given out that
one of the best things for this city will
be the placing of the fire department
under the civil service commission.
This has been used as an interview
from one of the city officials
The Topeka fire department has been
under civil service rules ever since 1t
was organized many years ago by Chief
Wilmarth. Through his system he has
secured for his department some Of the
best men in the country and the de-
partment has been branded as one of
the cleanest and best trained in the
country.
In regard to the civil service COM
mission, an open inquiry has been Civ
en- out as to its purpose and the du-
ties of the members Of the commission
as we'll as to the city officials under
which the rules apply. The following
quotations from the commission law
will tell:
said commission shall on the first
MONDAY OF AQrll ana OClODSr OF 6GCn
year, or oftener If it shall be deemed
necessary, hold examinations for the
purpose of determining the Qualifica-
tions of applicants for positions. Said
commission shall certify to the city
commission double the number of per-
sosn necessary to fill vacancies who,
have the highest standing for the po-
sttion they seek to fill as result or
such examination, and all vacancies
which occur that come under the civil
regular examination, shall be filled
from said list: provided. however, that
should the list for any cause be re-
duced to less than three for any di-
vision, then the CITY commissioners or
the head of the proper department may
temporarily fill the vacancy, but not
to exceed so days.
''All persons subject to such civil
service examination shall be subject to
removal from Office or employment by
the city commission for misconduct or
failure to perform their duties under
such rules and regulations as it may
adopt, and the chief of police. chief
of the fire department or any super
intendent or foreman in charge of
work may perem ptOrtly SuS-
pend or discharge any subordinate
then under his direction for neglect of
duty or diSobedience of his orders, but
such suspension or discharge and the
reason therefor to the superintendent
of his department, who shall there
upon affirm or revoke such discharge
or suspension, according to the facts.
Such employe Cor officer dlschargtng or
suspending him) may, within five days
of sucn ruling, appeal therefrom to the
commission, which shall fully hear
and determine the matter.
1.-THE provisions of this section shall
apply to all appointive officers and
employees of said city. except city at
torney, the members of the fire de-
n--k, 4, he. ~ IT,
adopted the civil service plan. city
clerk, city treasurer, city auditor, city
engineer, superintendent of streets,
superintendent of waterworks. chief of
police. city physician, judge of police
court, superintendent of public parks,
city assessor. commissioners of any
kind Oaborers whose occupation re-
quires no special skill or fitness), cleo
ton officials. and mayors secretary
and assistant attorney, where such of
employees in any such city shall be
elected or appointed with reference to
their qualifications and fitness and for
the good of the public service and
without reference to their political
faith or party affiliations
The matter of the refusal of the Con-
sumers' Light, Heat & Power company
to install cut outs in front of the bust
ness buildings in Topeka according to
the city ordinances, came up before the
city commissioners this morning.
The matter has been referred to
Mayor Billiard in consultation with
Chief G. O. Wilmarth.
CHIEF Wilmarth attempted to enforce
the city ordinance requiring the gas
company to install these gas cut offs
but the company refused to obey the
ordinance in any particular. After
sending them number of communica-
tons the fire marshal saw Manager
Treleaven of the Consumers Light,
Heat & Power company and the latter
asked that the matter be taken to
court as far as the gas company was
concerned, so that a trial case might
be made of the ordinance. The gas