The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-16
Increase Of 81, 800 a Month I'm
der Commission System.
City Commissioner Bone Makes
Semi-Annual Report.
DUE TO SALARIES.
Raises Under Old Council Law
Made the Difference.
Commission Form of Govern
ment Success in Topeka.

Commissioner of Finance Roy L.
Rome has lust completed a table, which
he published below, showing the total
operating expense of all city depart
ments for the past six months, which
is the first half of the first year under
the commission form of government.
This statement is issued Isl order that
the taxpayers may see exactly what II
is costing to run the city under the
present form of government and what
it cost to operate during the same
months of 1909 under the old council
system.
The total increase for the six months,
beginning April l. 1910. is $9,40S.18 or
an average of a little over $1,000 a
month more than under the old council
system. 1T is not fair to charge this
as extravaganza and to the discredit
of the commission system, for large
portion of the increased expense is due
to increased salaries in the various de-
partments," said Mr. Bone.
The fire department shows an IN
crease of s., 943.4 Al This is readily ex-
planned by the fact that they are oper-
ating now an extra station on seward
avenue and at the same time, paying
all of the men higher wages than they
received prior to April 1, 1910. The po-
lice department shows an increase Of
81 ,42671, all of which is due to in
creased salaries. The miscellaneous
operating expense of both the fire and
police departments has been less dur
ing the past six months than under tle
same period of 1909.
Increase in City salaries.
The salary of city officials shows an
increase of $3,135.59 as against the
same period in 1909. This is an aver
age of a little over $500 month which
is about equal to the increased salaries
of the commissioners and mayor as
against the council and mayor. The
miscellaneous expense payable out Of
the general revenue fund, which in
cludes such items as printing, repairs
to buildings, insurance on buildings,
payment of civil service commission
ers. also the sanitary department, the
dog officer and assistants, and such
items of expense as cannot be charged
against any particular department.
shows a saving of S2,766.25 over the ola
council for the same items covering the
same period of time.
The electric light department shows
an increase of $1.729, or little less than
5000 per month as against the same per-
iod of time under the three electric
light commissioners. This increase is
due to an increased salary account and
to the further fact that they are now
operating in the neighbOrhood of 100
more lights than under the former
system.
The street department. shows the
greatest increase of any single depart
ment, except the fire department. there
being an increase of s3.713.07 over the
same six months of 1909. This is cas-
lily explained when it is known that
there has been kept at work continu-
ously a paving repair gang that has re-
paired the brick pavement all over the
city during the past summer. The ex-
pense of this work alone was quite a
big item
Grading a Big Expense.
In addition to this. the street depart
ment had a large amount of park grad
ing to do on account of it being left
optional with the paving contractor as
TO whether or not they should do The
grading. This incurred a large ex-
pense which was borne by the stree
department. This department also came
in for its share of increased salary
which helps to make the increase oVel
last year The engineering department
and the asphalt repair department show
but a slight increase over the same per
iod under the council government. Th'
miscellaneous expense payable out o
the general improvement fund, Whici
takes into consideration such items al
extra work on the Grove avenue bridg'
and the Central avenue bridge and al