The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-11
Commissioner Porter Conducts
City Hall Revolution.
Purchasing Agent Ordinance Is
Slapped Again.
COFRAN MAKES 4 CONE BACK
Unearths Old 1907 Provision
Demanding acquisitions.
City Officers Now Governed by
Council System.

Failing to secure the passage OF MS
pet city purchasing agent ordinance
after a six weeks battle before the
city commission, Mayor Cofran dropped
q bomb among the commissioners TO-
day by digging from the musty records
an old ordinance passed In 1So!' CON
ferring upon the mayor OF Topeka, the
right to pass upon the purchase OF an
supplies of every department. Aithousn
this ordinance has been in ERECT TOT
the last six years and has never re-
ceived attention under the present al
ministration, Mayor Cofran saw u
chance to heal the wounds inflicted ny
Commissioner Porter in the latter's re-
fusal to accept the Cofran purchasing
agent plans. and he brought it into &C
ton so quickly this morning that to-
days purchases were referred to she
mayor.
incidentally Commissioner Porter
disturbed the tranquility of the "har-
mony" administration by declaring
that the purchasing agent ordinance
favored by Commissioners Newland.
Tandy and Bone and Mayor Cofran
was against the policy of the commits
sion form of government. He said that
1t was directly in opposition to the at
tempts Of the new form of municipal
control. He caused a SILVER to run
down the backs of the commissioners
by limiting that such actions as pur-
chasing agent smelled Of recall ana
custer suits and other things that Gre
ate illusions to the discomfort OF city
officials.
Porter Blocked the Way.
1t was all doped out at the city hall
that the mayors purchasing agent or
dinance, providing for the appoint
ment of a man to supervise and man.
age all the city's purchases. would be
passed without dissenting vote at
the meeting of the board of commits
sioners this morning. In fact the be-
lief had been rooted so firmly in the
minds of the commissioners favoring
the ordinance that 1t was agreed that
Commissioner Bone should be given
the appointment and his name was all
ready for proposal when the meeting
was called to order.
Then descended Porter with his OBJ
jections. his inquiries. his theories on
the provisions of the commission form
and his declaration that it was the
man at the head of the department
who knew the necessities OF his de-
partment and not the man at the head
of some other division of the city's
work.
Mayor Cofran folded and refolded a
piece of paper in his semi-angry argu-
mcnt with Porter. Commissioners
Bone, Tandy and Newland argued and
pleaded in vain.
Il move we lay the ordinance on
the, tablet" exclaimed Porter.
IT move we refer it to Mr.. Porter!"
augmented Tandy.
Thus, were the six weeks efforts of
Mayor Cofran delayed for another in
definite period.
1t was agreed among the other COM
missioners that Topeka should have
Mr.. Bone handle the city's purchases,
o. K. the acquisitions. and attempt to
reduce the municipal expenses by buy
basis. Mr.. Bone was to receive no ad-
ditional salary for the work.
Mayor COfran met the setback CIV
en- by Commissioner Porter today in
his discovery of an ordinance passed in
April 1907. under the Davis admins
place his o. X. on all monthly requisi-
tions and demands monthly budget
of all department expenditures.
Revision OF an Old Rule.
Under the ordinance placed into
effect at eleven minutes after eleven
by Mayor Coffran this morning, all
heads of city departments are re-
quired to make out a budget of their
purchases a month ahead. This bud
get accompanied by reQuisition is
referred to the mayor.
If the mayor decides that the de-
partment head can handle it, he re-
fers it back with recommendations
concerning the purchase and the nee
essary bids. The mayor also has the
right to place the matter in the hands
of the city clerk, who will make a
call for bids either by advertising or
personal solicitation.
This ordinance passed by the old
city council in 1907 was followed ont
strictly under the Davis administra-
ton. Mayor Green also refused to