The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-18
w. H. Cowles Characterizes the
Move as ''Impertinent.'
MAYOR USES SARCASM
Thanks Attorney for His "COm.
plimentary" Remarks.
Ordinance Taxing Street Cars
to Be Considered.

city Attorney &. W. RalSLOn, Dy the
passing of a resolution at the regular
meeting of the city commissioners this
morning. is instructed TO bring suit
against Frank M. Stahl. The resolu-
ton is self explanatory:
Whereas, on June 20. 1910. F. NJ.
Stahl, formerly chief of police of the
city of Topeka, was requested by the
mayor and board of commissioners of
said city to pay over to the city of
Topeka the sum Of s1,S49.7O, which he
had collected on certain judgments
against certain parties in the district
court of Shawnee county, Kansas, and
also to assign to said city unsolicited
judgments in the sum of $2,183.0S,
which he had secured against certain
parties in said court. said judgments
being the outcome of certain replevin
suits brought against said F. NJ. Stahl
for the recovery of intoxicating liquors
seized by him under warrant from the
police court of the city Of Topeka dur
ing his term of Office as chief of police
of said city; and,
Whereas, Said F. NJ. Stahl has been
duly notified of the above action on
the part of the mayor and board of
commissioners of said city and has re-
fused to comply with said request;
now. therefore, be it
Resolved, By the mayor and board
of commissioners of the city of To-
peka: That the city attorney be, and
he is duly directed to bring action
in the proper court against said F. NJ.
Stahl for the purpose of recovering
from him the amount which he has
collected on said judgments and of Sc
curing to said city the payment of said
uncollected judgments, less all costs
Mr.. Stahl has been put to in the pros
ecution of these suits"
Charles f. Spencer and w. H. Cowles
spoke in behalf of Mr. Stahl The lat
ter characterized the move on the part
of the city as being "prepOSterouS" and
'impertinent." Later Mayor Billiard
used sarcasm thanking Cowles for
the complimentary remarks.
Judge c. A. Magaw was of the opin-
ion that the question should be decided
in court, and that this would be only
fair to Mr.. Stahl as well as to the city.
To Consider Car Tax.
At the next meeting of the city COM
mission Thursday morning the COM
missioners will consider motion
made by Commissioner Miller to the
effect that the city attorney be in
structed to draw up an ordinance au-
thorizing the city to impose a tax on
all telephone and street railway poles.
also a tax of $25 on each street car in
service in the city.
This morning Superintendent A. NJ
Patten of the street railway company
was given an opportunity to give his
opinion of the suggested ordinance.
Topeka people have been educated
to good service" said Mr.. Patten.
''Seven years ago Topeka probably had
one of the worst systems for a city of
it's size in the country.
New equipment has been installed
the system are heavier than the rails
of the Santa Fe railway running
through the city.
1.-The people have been educated un-
til they now demand metropolitan SER
vice. The company has heavy operat-
ing expenses in maintaining this high
class of service.
eff a stranger comes into the town
and finds poor service it is a poor ad-
vertisement The railway company
should spend every cent possible for
good service. The city railway can
not be expected to make up deficien-
cies in the treasury of the city.
1.-The street car is different from the
huckster's wagon. The owner of the
| latter does nothing to improve the
maintains from two-f1fths to two
thirds of every pavement over which
it runs. 1t pays the third largest taxes
| in Shawnee county-$17,OOO.
1T seems to me it would be out of
place to put on this tax. Let's pull
together and work for improving the
city. Let's not do anything that will
deter the development of the street
railway company"
There was no discussion of the sub
ject on the part of the commission
ers.
Contracts Are Awarded.
c. B. Ramsey was awarded the con-
| tract for sidewalk construction for the
new fiscal year. His bid was 49, cents
square foot for brick walks and
10 2-1O cents a square foot for cement
walks.
City Engineer w. S. F'ulton's esti-
mate on the probable cost of sidewalk
construction for the year was $S.724.
This report was approved.
An ordinance was passed providing
for the curbing and guttering of the
Kenwood addition. This is a PROPOSE
ton which has been up for considera-
ton before the city council and COM
mission for a long period.
Morris street will be opened and
widened from the east line Of Topeka
| avenue to the alley between Topeka
avenue and Harrison street.
Sewer district No. 33 was created
when the commissioners passed an or
dinance authorizing the construction
of sewer in the College Hill district.