The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-07
UNDER new RULE
Change of Administration at
City Hall Today.
Tangle in Process Threatened
to Start Trouble.
SEVEN new APPOINTMENTS
Miss Hale, Treasurer, First
Topeka Woman Official.
Billiard Asks That Abuse Be
Abandoned in Future.
SEVEN new APPOINTMENTS

:: City treasurer Alberta Hale.
City attorney. W. c. Ralston;
:: City clerk, c. B. Burge.
: Assistant clerk Eta Covell
Secretary to the mayor, Blanche !:
: Chief of police. Colonel J. w. F. !:
:: Hughes. /:
+: Police judge, George Huron
: Police matron, Mrs. L. E. Thorpe. ::
{: First sergeant, Josiah Ross. !:
: Civil service commissioner, DIR. c.
/: NJ. Sheldon. !:
: Fire marshal, George o. w1lmarth /:
:
Seven appointments were made and
twelve appointments approved today
by the new board of city commission
ers: Mayor R. l. Cofran, Roy l..
Bone, w. G. Tandy, Frank M. New
land and w. L. Porter. The appoint
ment of Alberta Hale as city treas
urer will be of widespread interest
throughout the state. A woman holds
municipal office for the first time in
the history of the state capital.
Confirmation of the reappointment
of w. c. Ralston and c. B. Burge is of
much importance. Rumors as to the
future incumbents of the offices of
city attorney, treasurer and clerk were
nouncement that Blanche Bates will
retain her position as official secre-
tary to the mayor is pleasing to every
official at city hall. She has been
known as the little mayor for three
years, and made an excellent record.
Eta Coven will be retained as assist
ant city clerk, and James Clark as as
sistant city attorney, both efficient
officials.
hi Otf1CoTS,
their appointment was not approved
until today. George A Huron is to be
the next police judge to succeed N. b.
Arnold. He, like J. w. F. Hughes,
the new chief of police, intends to
make and keep Topeka clean. Mrs.
L. E. Thorpe is to be the next police
matron.
The new police appointment which
TODAY brought forth was the office of
first sergeant, bestowed upon josiah
Ross His appointment was the f1rst
approved by the new board, his name
being presented at the morning meet
ing IT was necessary to have a head
sergeant at once. The expiration OF
the term of J. J. Lannan left vacancy
on the civil service board, to be f1lled
bv DR.. Charles NJ. Sheldon, author and
divine.
Tangle at City Hall.
Two municipal administrations sat in
the commission chamber this morning.
A ridiculous political tangle was
smoothed out by the city attorney
The old commission having sworn IN
the new members, neglected to adjourn:
Two mayors presided over the city OF
Topeka for the first time in the his
tory of the city. The hail was packed
TO the limit with excited politicians,
officeseekers, and spectators. R. l..
Cofran, w. L. Porter and Frank New
land promised to support the constl-
tuition of the United States, the const1-
~ Kansas
FAITHFULLY discharge their duties.
Mayor BilIard-mayor still-stepped to
the background. Ralston, city attor-
ney. approached Mayor Cofran In some
trepidation-
Both administrations are IN ses-
sion." he whispered.
The question, which threatened to
become a puzzler, was solved by Com
missioner StottS. He moved that the
old commission adjourn. This motion
should have followed the swearing in
of the new officials, and Immediately
nreceded ]. B. Billiards. speech, which
he intended to make as private citl-
zen.
billiards. Last Speech.
.sIn retiring 1 want to say very
few words' he observed, having been
mayor for the past three years ana
having done the best / could for the
citv of Topeka 1 now hope that my
successor and the new commissioners
will do even better than we have done
NOW that the strife of the political
ha ttle is over and the smoke has clear
ed away, 1 hope even my political enc
mics will perhaps treat me with some
degree of fairness in consideration OF
nv actions as your mayor. Many
charges were made of nOnenforcement
of laws They were false, unjust, un-
reasonable and they were hurled es-
peciaIIy at me. But I do not care
prohibition has been advocated in
our state for 33 years, and violations
have always taken place. No joints
nor disorderly houses have been per-
mitted to run in the city since l have
been mayor where they could be found
and detected.
Il want to extend my thanks to ev-
ery city employee for the assistance
they have given me- The past three
years have been the most pleasant OF
nv life. / will look back upon them
happily. My intercourse with the peo-
ple has been so satisfactory that I
shall like to remember it. Neverthe-
less, 1 retire feeling glad of being re-
lieved of the responsibilities of public
life
Mayor Cofran spoke only a few
words. and gave a brief review of his
public life
Cofran's Initial Performance.
Way back in 'S4,'' he said, II was
elected to the office of councilman in
the Second ward-the bloody Second
having been elected mayor 1 served
the city until GA period of several
years. Now 1 am back again, after a
20 years absence. To the commission
ers 1 wish to say that we have WORK
to perform. I want your help and as