The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-11
j. A. Ramsey Would Gust j. l..
Pugh From City Office.
Declares His Appointment Was
"Fixed'' Last Year.
CLEAN UP EIGHTH AVENUE
Mayor Will Order Contractors
to Remove Dirt.
Head of Old Joshua May Be
Loaned to State.

l
]. A. Ramsey, would be city sanitary
sergeant, intends to bring charges
against ]. L. Pugh. present incumbent.
The controversy between the city COM
mission and the civil service board
/ probably is destined to end in the dis
| trict court. Mr.. Ramsey said that
morning that he intended to allege I'M
fairness and several graver charges in
the civil service. examination.
| It's not the office 1 want said
Ramsey, it's fair play"
| The civil service examination a year
ago was conducted by c. G. Blakeley,
]. T. Lannan and c. II. Kutz. The
! highest marks were received by S. G.
| Phillips and ]. L. Pugh, who were
graded IS, and ]. A. Ramsey, who re-
| ceived 81 Mr.. Ramsey declares the
outcome of the examination was ar
ranged before the papers were pre-
pared.
j. L. Pugh win not take the exami-
nation tomorrow morning. He con-
siders himself permanently appointed
until he cares to withdraw. IF I had
done anything to Justify my election
he observed, Il would resign at once.
Mr.. Pugh and Mr.. Ramsey have
adopted the same slogan-'It's not the
office want. It's fair play"
1t is said that the entire commission
favor the appointment of Mr.. Ramsey.
! IL dIi dpPlICdAI Tic civil Sci VIC
examination for sanitary sergeant
should receive grade of SO both con-
testants will be overruled.
Go After Theater Contractors.
Today Police Chief Hughes notified
| the contractors on West Eighth ave-
nue. between Kansas avenue and jack
son street that dirt and distractions
must be moved. Immediately. Mayor
Cofran and Street Commissioner Tandy
went to see that the chiefs instructions
were obeyed.
This is only a starter" declared
Mayor Cofran, who is on the warpath
in the interest of clean streets.
The city commission met this morn
ing. With the exception of Tuesday it
has met every day this week. Only
routine business was brought forward.
A representative of the Pulmotor COM
pany demonstrated the further uses of
his life saving machine. The commits
sion adjourned until tomorrow when 1t
is anticipated that several further ap-
pointments will be discussed.
The disposal of the head of old
Joshua, king of: the herd at Cages
park is worrying the city officials.
Joshua died in a@royal battle last fall
His head and hide are kept in the
chamber adjoining the mayors room;
if Joshua could tell what he has heard
in this executive chamber he would
be invaluable tehflewspap ermen.
The commission has been unani-
nous in all votes recorded by the city
clerk. 1t prides itself on being the
big Five But it disagrees concern
ing the disposal of Joshua.
Joshua to State MuSeum-Maybe.
Mayor Cofran is in favor of present.
ing the head to B. B. Smythe, micro
scopist of the State Horticultural So
ciety who wants it for his museum at
the state house The head, which
weighs at least 500 pounds and has
fur several inches thick, is collecting
dirt and dust. "It should be put under
glass mmediately,'' said the mayor.
''The head belongs to the city,
stated Commissioner Porter, accord
ing to my ideas. it should be placed in
the commission chamber. We have
plenty of room for it,
The head is one of the finest in
Tandy. More people would derive
enjoyn ent from it if it were placed in
the state house. However, the mat |
ter is under the jurisdiction of Com
missioner Porter"
Frank M. Newland, commissioner of i
water and electric lights. believes the |
head should be retained in the city !
hall.
Commissioner Bone seems to be in |
favor of lending the head to the /
state house, but retaining the owner
ship of it.
Meanwhile. the shaggy head sits
stolidly on the floor of the executive
chamber, and listens to city secrets.