The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-12
Lots of Excitement Commits
sion Meeting Today.
Sheldon Report on Unsafe
Condition City Prison.
new PARK JOB CREATED
III. l.. Pugh Resigns as Sanitary
Sergeant.
Set of Regulations for the
Police Force.

The city hall seethed with excite
ment today. Four distinct develop
nlents took place before noon at the
city building DIR. Charles NJ. Sheldon,
newly appointed member of the civil
service board, disclosed situation al
the city Jail which he declared 'ap-
palling and unsafe" ]. l.. Pugh, city
sanitary sergeant. asserted he had no
fear of the grave charges to be
brought against him by j. A. Ramsey,
and handed his resignation to the
mayor. Park Commissioner William
L. Porter appointed J. Frank Snyder
to fill the new office of commissioner
of public health and sanitation; the
appointment was approved by the
board: l.. r. Lane, named by COM
missioner w. G. Tandy, is to be the
next superintendent of streets the
civil service board presented to the
city commission series of rules and
regulations for the police force OF To-
peka.
The commission met in regular
session at 9 o'clock. The board was
soon Joined by the civil service com
a few words and made the following
astonishing report:
Police Station i'm Deplorable Shape.
The police building is in a deplor-
able condition-it is unsanitary, I'M
wholesome and unsafe. The COM
mission should investigate the matter
at once Proper repairs should be
made. The building is a disgrace to
the city. The basement has no floor.
The roof is ready to fall. Sanitary
conditions are unspeakable. The pris-
oners have no place to sleep; they
use sheet iron beds, without mattress
or sheet. This is an uncivilized con-
ditien."
This is deplorable,' acquiesced
Mayor Cofran. gravely, we shall
make it our duty to investigate and
remedy it as soon as possible
1t is possible that new city jail
will be built The civil service com
missioners agreed that it should be
entirely renovated.
Would Raise Police Salaries.
DIR. Sheldon opined that the police
force could not be bettered unless the
salaries of the patrolmen were raised
The maximum salary in the depart
ment is SIS per month. DIR. Sheldon
would change it to 500. Commits
sioner Tandy reminded the council that
the law forbids the raising of police
mans salary after appointment. Com
missioner Porter suggested that, if
the salaries could not be raised. the
hours might be shortened Mayor
Cofran moved that the report of the
civil service be submitted in writing,
and the matter was dropped.
Resignation of j. il. Pugh.
The resignation of j. L. Pugh is the
climax in the wrangle over the office
of city sanitary sergeant. Out of re-
spect to the city commission Mr.. Pugh
will withdraw from the office that he
has filled for more than a year. He
has made an excellent official. and
held the reins of the city sanitary con-
ditions in capable hands. Mr.. Pugh
handed the following statement to
Mayor Cofran:
after due consideration, and hav
ing no fear of the final outcome nor
the grave charges which Mr.. Ramsey
claims he can substantiate; with due
respect to the civil service board and
the board of city comm issioners; not
wishing to be arbitrary or cause any
break in the harmony that now eX-
lists; 1 hereby tender my resignation
to take effect at the pleasure of the
board, or as soon as my successor is
appointed and qualified.
81 feel that | have faithfully dis
charged the duties of my office as
sanitary sergeant. I received a high
er grade than Mr.. Ramsey in the eX-
animation, as the papers will show. 1
received my appointment without q
dissenting vote from any of the city
commissioners. The only regret L have
to offer is that 1 would like to see the
intent of the civil service law prevail.
j. L. PUGH."
New Police Rules.
DR. sheldon has drawn up set of
rules and regulations for the Topeka
police force. He compiled them I'M
der the direction of the civil service
commission. and presented them to
the mayor today. 1t is probable that
some of the rules will be revised be-
fore any definite action is taken in
approving them. DIR. Sheldon declares
that a policeman properly defined is
more than man with club-he is
Representative of the city, its guar
<r-sa H. Ia1A 4
of police force is life saving force
of courageous, high minded. self re-
specting men whose main business is !
not the punishment of crime so much |
as its prevention. And whose greatest
duties are those performed as the
friends and teachers and helpers of
the people
This definition takes for granted
the character of men who are fitted to
he police officers. In the nature of
the case they should be men of the
highest physical. mental and moral
standing. Men who are clean in body
and in life"
Among the new rules to be submit
ted by the civil service commission to
the city board are the following:
THE use of Intoxicating liquor by
a police officer will be regarded as
cause for his immediate discharge
from the service whether on duty or
not: and also the use of tobacco in
any form. while he is on duty"
cit shall be considered a high duty
and privilege for every member of
this police force to rescue boys and
young men from evil ways.
.Tt shall be the duty of the officers
to acquaint themselves intelligently |
with a knowledge of sex instruction so
that they can give such instruction to |
bows and whenever practicable to
counsel with parents concerning their
children.
ssAll police officers shall abstain
from profanity. vulgar or obscene
language and in general remember
that they are important public SER
wants whose personal example is, in
the nature of the case, a constantly
open book for the public to read and