The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-06
new CITY OFFICES
Question of Appointments at the
City Hall.
Many Applicants for All Ap-
pOintive Positions.
WHAT WILLSTOTTS Do
RumOred That He Will Take
Tandy's Place on Board.
Gossip in Changes That Must
Come This Week.
WHAT WILL STOTTS Do

VI SoAlN dSSSIS COHpOSSQ O1 IHS
commissioners. Tomorrow night the
old commissioners hold their last
meeting and the new successful can
didates will be sworn in office. Sat
urday will be the first day of the new
commission.
Last year the commissioners decid-
ed that each head of the five depart
ments should make his own appoint
ments-with the exception of the
| city clerk and the city attorney. This
was to come under the appointments
by the general board.
1t is expected that the commission
ers this year will line up in the same
way-they will give each official a
chance to decide on his own depart
ment heads.
There is a new rumor in the air to-
day. 1t is said that H. p. Miller will
keep his place as head of the water
works and electric light department
But what to do with Stotts? Commits
sioners Bone and Tandy believe that
the old schedule will be carried out
that Tandy will stay as head of the
streets and public improvements and
that Bone will remain in charge of
the financial end of the city. Also
that Stotts will take charge of the
parks and public buildings vacated by
Holman.
But the new rumor has it that
Stotts will have any place he wants
and possibly he will take the streets
and public improvements from Tandy.
1t is known that Miller and the mayor
are willing to give anything to Stotts
Stotts has expressed a desire for the
Tandy place in the campaign. He
may. get it. This would shift Tandy
to the parks and public buildings.
In this case the city hall appointees
would receive a jolt-a jolt that would
throw many out of office and change
the facial expression of the city hall
personnel.
Two Big Appointments.
The two big appointments by the
commissioners aer those of city clerk
and city attorney. There are many ap-
pIications for each of these offices.
G. B.. Burge, the present city clerk
is a recognized valuable official. He
has been in this office right through
a number of administrations and gov
eminent expert accountants have
found his books and his methods in
high class shape. In fact they have
made special favorable reports on the
condition here.
Mr.. Burge is favored by the COM
misunderstanding Stotts. There
has been some trouble between Com
missioner Bone and City Clerk Burge
and city politicians wouldn't be sur
prised to see a new man recommended
for the place by Bone-but it is not
expected that the recommendation will
be pushed.
w. G. RalSton, has the inside track.
NH. Ralston started as assistant city
attorney many years ago. He has
worked through the office and has
been closely connected with municipal
work for many years. He is a recog-
nized authority on legal matters per-
tanning to cities and to the commission
form of government.
For city clerk W. H: Caldwell is
probably the strongest candidate
against G. B. Burge. For city attorney
Mr.. Ralston has T. d. Humphreys and
Otis Allen to ward off.
In the engineering department no
changes are looked for among the Off
Gals. A. r.. Young, the new city en-
gineer, come sto Topeka with fiatter-
ing recommendations. His work in the
short time he has been here has been
pleasing 60 the officials and to the peo-
pie who have had dealings with him.
Assistant City Engineer Gibson is an
ether man who is out of politics He
comes to the city as an engineer and
without a political following. Cecil
Forter, city draughtsman, is a young
man with a heavy engineering educa-
ton behind him. He has established a
perfect record in the city office and for
the good of the work it is not deemed
advisable to let him go.
If Stotts takes Tandy's place as COM
missioner of streets and public i'm
provements, it is doubtful if J. F. Sny-
der street commissioner, will stand.
Street Commissioner Snyder has been
with the city many years and he is a
man of experience and worth. He has
been recognized always as a man with
a big political following as well. But
with the difference springing up be-
tween the two bodies among the COM
missioners, it is hard to predict Mr..
Snyder's position.
It is rumored around the city hall
that J. d. Pattison, city treasurer, will
leave his present position and petition
for his old job as sanitary sergeant.
Mr.. Pattison, it is said, pays SO much
of his salary for help in the Office that
it has ceased to be a profitable posi-
ton There are many applications for
this place and many of the appli-
cants are favored by the commissioner
in charge.
No Change in Police.
Mayor Billiard is not expected to
make any changes in his departments
the police and fire. Chief Jenkins,
according to the major, has made a
good record as head of the police de-
partment With c.. O. Wilmarth,