The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-02
CITY HALL CHANGE
Shakeup Will Follow the New
Administration.
New Commissioners Will Clean
City Slate.
WILMARTH To HOLD OVER
COfran Makes His First An
nOuncement Today.
Tim Donovan "DOped" as Next
Chief of Police.

ments to be abandoned by the defeat
ed city commissioners in the Tuesday
election, is the political slate at the
city hall Three commissioners, in
Guiding a mayor, will take charge OF
the departments now handled by Mayor
Billiard and Commissioners Stotts an6
Miller. With the new administration
will come new department employees
and new heads of the divisions.
The first announcement of contem-
plated appointment was made this
morning when r. L. Cofran stated that
Chief Wilmarth, of the fire depart
ment, would retain his position and
the entire fire company lists would re-
main intact.
81 am well satisfied that Topeka has
the best fire department in its his
tory explained Mr.. Cofran. ''I see
no reason for a change in it's man.
agement. I believe it should not be
disturbed. The civil service was placed
in this work when 1 =, was mayor 2C
years ago and since that time the fire
fighting forces have been kept out OF
politics-they shall remain SO as far
as 1 am concerned
Police Department Rumors.
The campaign was based in some de-
gree on the reorganization of the po-
lice department and the action taken
by r. l.. Cofran, newly elected mayor
will be watched with interest by the
1900 voters who placed him in office
and by the city as whole. This
morning Cofran would make an
nouncements. In fact he denied that
he had chosen chief of police in his
own mind.
The city politicians are buzzing to-
r.
following named men as in line for
the police appointment:
r. w. Eaton, Tim Donovan, Frank
Stahl, J. W. F: Hughes, w. S. Fulton,
Joseph Longshore.
The first three named are doped~ to
stand the best chance of receiving OF
accepting the position. Stahl and Ea-
ton have served in this capacity and
have been ardent supporters of Cofran
in the recent campaign. Donovan is
a Democratic leader in Topeka and
has been experienced in criminal and
court work. He is looked upon as the
probable winner. The Hughes Fulton
LongShore rumors are fioating-but
have been given little credence.
1t was rumored around the city hall
this afternoon that the real combina-
ton of police appointments is the
naming of Hughes as chief of police
and E. L. O'Neil as judge of the police
L
mayor against Billiard and Cofran.
Later they came out in support of Cof-
ran. John Euler, another hard worker
for Cofran, is said to have been Of
fered the judgeship of the police court.
Bailey May Succeed Reinisch.
Luther c. Bailey, a Topeka insurance
man, who at one time was a supporter
of Stotts but deserted him on account
of Stotts' refusal to build a cement
curb and gutter along the east boundary
of Gage park, is 'doped" to succeed
E. F. A. Reinisch as superintendent of
parks. Bailey is known to have the
support of others besides Porter on the
new commission.
Although Reinisch is not doomed -
politically speaking, the rumors have
it that Porter has a new man in view.
Topeka will lose in Reinisch, a veteran
landscape architect, a man well known
throughout the west and the real
builder of the Topeka park system.
There is a possibility that pressure
will be brought to bear on Porter to
keep Reinisch as the head of the parks.
Porter has the direct appointment,
also, of the superintendent of the ere
matory, the sanitary sergeant, and
other minor employees in connection
with these two departments. 1t is pre-
dicted that he will begin his admins
ration with a new set of faces all
through his departments.
Hard Fight on O'NeiI.
With the defeat of Commissioner
Miller it is not probable that George
O'Neii, superintendent of the electric
light plant, will remain at the head of
this city institution. Although New
land will make no promises or an
nouncements, it is known that O'NeiI is
slated among those who will follow the
exit of the old administration Fred
Painter, second engineer at the plant,
it is stated, will be appointed superin-
tendent to succeed O'Neil.
Newland may retain Jesse Shaw,
of the waterworks
tendent Both have been Identified
with the department for years they
are acquainted with every inch of
main owned and operated by the city
A strong opposition against Com
Miller was worked up in the
Second ward because he refused to
listen to a request to find man to fill
place. 1t is known that per-
sons went to Newland asking that
Shaw be discharged in case he was
But Newland would make
no promises.
The departments under Commits
sioners Tandy and Bone will be left
by the change in forces at
the city hall. Commissioner Tandy
may decide to appoint a new street
ommissioner-it has been known for
some time that a change may be made
in this office. But the force of City
Engineer Young,Assistant City Engin-
eer Gibson and Office Engineer Fort
er will hold up its organization 1t
is probable. too, that a place may be
made by w. s. Fulton, who has been
manager of Cofran and was
formerly city engineer.
John Wright, city treasurer, un-
doubtedly will resign shortly. His sue
cessor has not been anticipated. For