The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-09
After Half Century of Life Old
Body Passes Away.
New Commission Form of Gov.
ernment Now Rules.
BILLIARD NEW MAYOR.
William Green Drops Mantle on
North Topeka Man.
Men Who Govern Tell What Is
Needed for Success.

Tt is now proper to say mayor Bill
lard'' and Commissioners Miller,
Bone, Tandy and Holman"
At fifteen minutes after IL o'clock
last night the new officers of the COM
mission form of government took the
oath of Office as given to them by City
Clerk Burge and Mayor Green and
with those words and motion from
Councilman Hughes to adjourn, the
Topeka city council, after a half CEN
tury of existence, lived no more-ex-
cept in history.
With the dying words of the city
council the new city commission came
into session and entertained motion
to adjourn, the first motion under the
new government. This motion was put
by Commissioner Holman.
But before the mayor and council
died last night, they were given
chance to make their wills, their last
dying expressions and to choose the
flowers to go OH their graves. And as
a remembrance, Mayor William Green
was given the big chair that he has
occupied in the council chamber for
was allowed to take home with him
the marked, cut and worn out ord1-
nance books.
After the city council had picked up
the loose ends of their business last
evening, and turned them over to the
new commission and Councilmen Stan
ley, Blakely and Simpson had made
the last canvass of the votes of the last
election. the long reporters table IN
commissioners table and four chairs
were lined up behind it. Mayor Green
sat in his usual place on the rostrum
of the commissioners. The four COM
missioners stood up with their right
hands extended and took the oath.
Then Mr.. Billiard stooe up before the
mayor and was given his oath.
After William Green had dropped
his title of mayor and had given to
Mr. Billiard the oath of Office he ex-
tended his right hand and in good
old fashioned way he wrung his arm
and said:
Mayor Billiard. congratulate you"
The council. chamber was crowded
with visitors and at this action the
crowd clappe6 and applauded for sew
eral minutes. With few words of
thanks and a bow to the people Mayor
Billiard took the proffered gavel and
sat down.
Given Mayors Chair.
Upon motion of General Hughes and
seconded by. Councilman Howard, the
mayors chair was presented to Mayor
Green. Mr.. Green said:
This is a surprise to me, gentlemen.
I thank you and 1 shall remember with
pleasure the many sessions Of this coun-
Gil in which I have served as a MEM
ber and with whom 1 have been asso-
ciated as mayor. I will always cherish
this memory. I thank you again for
this beautiful gift"
Councilman Jordan then suggested
that each councilman be allowed to take
home his ordinance book and the mo- |
ton was placed by the mayor and |
passed. Following the granting of this |
request Mr.. Jordan said in part:
II have served four years as a cOun- |
Gilman and it has been a source of |
great pleasure to me to do the work |
of this council I have worked for the |
city as a whole during my terms here. |
7 have no apologies to make on the |
attitude 1 have taken while here. I |
have done what / thought right"
Councilman Jordan has been one of |
the most successful and energetic coun- |
has done wonders for the city since his |
Office work for Topeka among which |
was the unearthing of the sewer scan /
dal few years ago. Councilman Jor- |
dan was instrumental in digging this |
matter out of the city engineers Of |
fee.
Stanley Says "Farewen.''
Councilman Stanley also made his |
farewell speech. He said he had serv- |
ed three years in the council and had |
no apologies to make. 'I have always |
stood for the people Of Topeka and |
their rights he said 81 have enjoy |
ed the work here and I hope the new |
commission is as successful as the old |
although I am free in saying /
that they will have to go some to equal
our record.
Councilman Blakely said:
Il have many regrets for my service
to the city-aS councilrnen we have
not had the time to put into the city |
work that we should and will confess
That there have been propositions go |
through this council that 1 knew moth
ng about. This is why I believe the