The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-13
CITY HALL NEWS
Opposition to Voting Bonds for
FlOOdgate.
Commissioner Bone Asked to
Abolish Auditor Office.


bonds for the construction OF 1lood
gates is legal puzzler for Attorney
Ralston. The Shawnee County IaX-
payers league last night passed
resolution declaring it illegal Ihe
controversy arises from an oversight
in chapter "a of the Session Laws or
1913, house bill No. 44S. The title
describes the act as IAN act authoriz-
ing cities of the first class to pulld
flood gates wherever it is necessary
in sewers that empty through dlkes
built by the city or built within the
city by any drainage board or drain
age distrit.' The body of the act
omits the last clause. Since the dixie
in drainage district No. was built by
the district and not the city, the com
mission is in a quandary. The city
has not received a copy of the resolu-
ton and has taken no steps in The
matter. 1t is probable the city attor-
ney will be instructed to present a
legal opinion to the board
Don't Want City Auditor.
The league also passed a resolu-
ton asking Roy L. Bone, commits
sioner of finance, to abolish the office
of city auditor at once. w. H. Was
son is the present incumbent. The
office was created three years ago
when the commission form of gov
eminent was installed in April, 1910.
The salary of the auditor is $3.50 a
year, $3.50 less than that of city
commissioner. Under the council the
| work of the auditor was carried on by
| a claims and accounts committee
| composed of the mayor and three
councilmen. Wichita recently abOl-
| ished the office of auditor. Topeka
will probably follow suit. Mr.. Bone
declined to grant an interview until he
| had received a copy of the original
resolution passed by the Taxpayers
| league. After an investigation of the
4 ma for hn
! writing to the board.
| Concession House for Gage.
| The city commission held a special
| meeting this morning to approve eS-
| innate of City Engineer A. r. Young
! for constructing a galvanized steel
concession house, cost $41O, at Gage
park. The house will be portable, 16
feet wide, 20 feet long, feet to the
caves, with 10-foot gables.
| Several business men and members
of the White Way committee, includ-
| ing w. w. Webb, ]. viii Kelly, w. T.
| kins, Harold Chase, ]. r. Spetter, APP
| peared to request the board to take
| immediate action in advertising fol-
| bids for the electric signs to be erect
| ed at the Santa Fee, Rock Island AND
| Union Pacific depots. Signs will be
| double, will say Topeka" the six let
| terS will be suspended from a cable
/ in steel circles three feet in diameter
| SpeclIlCdulOnS Tor Signs were once DIP
| proved, bids were demanded and nonf
| received. The matter was referred t.
| Commissioner Bone and Attorney Raj
| ston. Mr.. Webb, on behalf of the
| white way committee, asked for def
mite statement as to when the NORTH
| Topeka white way would be built
! Commissioner Newland Responded
| that the commission was waiting thu
! estimate of the city engineer.
! The ordinance creating the small
debtors court was presented for sec
| ond reading. Ordinance vacating al
ley bounded by Roosevelt, Exeter
Stephens and Laurel streets was als'
passed.
Petition was received for sidewall
to be built on both sides of German
avenue from side line of Seward ave
nue. to north line of Crane street. Pc
tition was referred to Commissions
Tandy.
Two Officers were sworn in thi
morning by Mayor Cofran-J. w. Al
len, special policeman, and j. IF
Douglas, patrolman.
The city automobile board compose
| of w. w. Webb, Chester Woodward an
L. M. Penwell, has examined the auto
mobile ordinance, which will be re
drafted by Attorney RalstOn. Severa
minor changes We're made.