The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-19
Have City Commissioners Dis
regarded the Statutes?
Budget Does Not Recognize
Creation of New Office.
AUTOMATICALLY OUT OF JOB
w. L. Porter May Have to Va
cate City Hall Position.
Topeka Plan of Commission
Plan Is Explained.

If the board of city commissioners
consider the commission law concern
ing the annual budget as seriously as
it has been considered heretofore, the
office of commissioner of parks and
public improvements is vacant. Also
the ordinance creating the Office of
commissioner of public health and SAN
itation is null and void. William l.
Porter and Frank Snyder, if the pro-
visions OF the statute book are obserV-
ed are without jobs
In article X OF the blue booklet en-
titled Topeka Plan of City Govern
ment'' provision is made for an annual
budget to be prepared each July max
ing a careful estimate of the probable
revenues for the next fiscal year ana
apportioning the same 20 the several
departments of the city government
Certainly the 1912-1913 budget did not
foresee the creation of new ot1ce
at a salary of $500 per annum. the
article. however. provides for a re
serve fund not to exceed $4,000 to De
used only in case of extraordinary en-
ergencies, such as an act OF Goo y.
other sudden disasters, which could not
have been foreseen before their occur
renee" Was Mr.. Porteris need OF an
assistant an extraordinary emergency
a sudden disaster? Apparently so; olh-
erwise he could not have violated the
commands of the statute DOCK
Must Specify in Detail.
The budget, says article 10, shall
specify in detail the objects thereof
and the items required for the respec-
tive departments, including observe
what if MISUNDERSTANDING a state
ment of each of the salaries OF the OF
ficers- employees, deputies and subor-
dinates in each department.. tOlo the
budget include a statement OF the sai
arv of the office created Tor FRANK
Snyder? 1t did not.
after said budget" continues ar
ticle 10, shall have been duly passed
and adopted said board shall not have
the mower to increase the amounts
fixed therein beyond the estimated rev.
enues.''
+. Then comes the penalty clause. 1t
is given in full:
Penalty Is Severe.
ANY member of said board or
commissioners who shall knowingly
vote for or in any manner aid or pro-
mote the passage or adopting OF any
ordinance. legislation or other act OF
Said board increasing the appropr1a-
tions for the expenses of said city be-
yond the estimates in said budget, un-
les the actual revenues shall nave eN-
ceeded such estimates, shall thereby
be guilty of misfeasance in office, and
such action shall, ipSo facto, Vacate
his office, and any such appropriation
over and above said estimated reve-
nues shall be null and void, and said
commissioner shall be liable on his Of
fetal bond for the money so misappro-
priated."
The ordinance creating the new Of
flee, as was formerly stated, was un-
animously passed by the entire board.
According to the penalty clause each
member of the commission is guilty
of transportation of funds.
The statutes of the civil service law
have most certainly been violated by
the discharges of Police Officers Car |
den and Frazier Otto Anderson, third |
member of the trio laid off by the |
mayor. has resigned. The present |
board of city commissioners has over |
looked the requests of the civil service !
hoard. Will they overlook the provi- /
sions of the Topeka plan of city gov
eminent?
Many Would Sign Petition.
The dissatisfaction of Topeka tax |
payers naturally centers about Park |
Commissioner Porter. who introduced /
the ordinance creating a municipal |
wrangle and a new office at the same !
time Oscar Swayze, county, clerk and /
secretary of the Shawnee County Tax
PAYERS League, has been besieged by
phone calls and letters demanding a
petition for the removal of Porter.
They are ready to sign it. Numerous
Santa Fe shopmen, who voted for Por-
ter at the election. have requested that
tho petition be sent to the shops. The
city commission is facing puzzler,
but does not admit it.