The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-19
MUNICIPAL ACTIVITY


survey of the multitudinous matters
| that demand the vigilant attention of
| a conscientious official. He seemed to
| be content and wholly at peace with
| his people and himself until he got
within a block or less of the town hall.
There he came across one of his tax
payers who was carelessly tossing his
good money out through the nozzle of
a hose, laying the dust in the street
and wetting down the sidewalk in
/ front of his place of business in an
endeavor to make things little more
comfortable for himself and his pat
rons Incidentally, he was helping to
swell the receipts of the city's water
department.
Whats thisl What are you doing
here" demanded the mayor.
well, 1 don't know it is any of
your business" promptly replied the
taxpayer who happened to be a man
extremely Jealous of the few rights of
citizenship that are accorded to those
who dwell in freedoms lovely land.
"So?' queried his honor, as ne
screwed his head around in surprise
and squinted a few squints of wrath.
Perhaps you don't know that there is
a city ordinance providing punishment
for any one who squirts water on
person walking along the Streets
II didn't spill any on you, did -"
| asked the taxpayer, who was himself
becoming a trifle righteously indlg
nant.
NO" confessed the mayor. "but you
might wet some one and that is against
the law"
There was more parleying and a
further exchange of compliments
when the taxpayer finally invited the
mayor to step in on his property
where he would be pleased to treat
him as a trespasser and give him a
soaking that would be sure to cool.
him Off Needless to say. the mayor
disdained to accept the invitation, and
wandered on his way.
DO you know who you were talk
ing tor asked an innocent bystander
of the taxpayer as the mayor sailed
out of sight.
mo, nor do I care" was the an
swer.
''Well, that was the mayor of this
here town. volunteered the innocent
bystander, land you'll hear from this
before long" Nor was the taxpayer
long in hearing. Within an hour or
so, maybe it was a little longer, the
mayors right bower, better known as
the chief of police, hove to in the
offing, with his star of office blazing
almost as brilliantly as his rudy COM
plexion.
"Howdy," exclaimed the chief to the
taxpayer in a friendly tone he got
within speaking distance. This is a
warm day"
Right you are" replied the tax
payer. Have a seat" And the big
shade of a tree, rolled a cigarette. took
a few puffs, looked wise, and then re-
marked:
''Say, friend, do you know you are
violating a city ordinance" Right
here it might be we'll to explain that
the taxpayer happened to be the pro-
prietor of an oasis where farmers driv-
ing to town leave their horses for rest
and recuperation. Ingress to the feed
yard" is had by a driveway over the
sidewalk
Il didn't know I was violating an
ordinance" answered the taxpayer, IS
his mind naturally reverted to his
street sprinkling and the objections
thereto of a recent visitor.
well. you are insisted the chief
please notice the driveway to your
yard. The bricks in the sidewalk are
laid lengthwise like the bricks in or
binary sidewalk pavement. Now a
city ordinance prohibits any one from
driving over a brick sidewalk except
at point where the bricks are set
endwise."
Those bricks" responded the tax
payer, have been in that position and
been driven across for eighteen years,
without my attention before being
in unlawful repose. Mayors and even
chiefs of police of other days have
driven over them without a word of
protest. But 1 suppose I am now the
object of the city's solicitous regard
for the enforcement of all its many
and divers rules and regulations be-
cause of my recent experience with the
mayor"
THAT may have something to do
with it,, said the chief. But that is
neither here nor there. An ordinance
is being violated here and it is my
duty as chief of police to see that it
and all other ordinances are enforced.
And if those bricks are not properly
relaid Immediately, L propose to stay
right here and arrest the first person
who Attempts to drive over them as
they are now"
Just about this time patron of the
feed yard started TO turn his team in.
Up jumped the chief to make an ar
rest. But the taxpayer had his Gus
toners, who might not be wise to city
ordinances, to protect, and not being
slow thinksr, he grabbed a pickaxe
and ripped up a few of the offending
bricks. saying to the chief: 'Inasmuch
as l am attempting to make the neces-
sary changes in the posture of these
bricks as soon as possible, 1 suppose