The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-13
Mounted and Motorcycle On
GERS in New PIan.
CITY HALL ELEVATOR, TOO
Improved Conditions at Prison
To Be Recommended.
Prisoners May Be Put to Work
ON the Roads.

An added appropriation Of I'll. 900 for
the police department will be recon-
mended by Mayor Cofran In the 1915
budget. Mounted police. motorcycle po-
lice and improved sanitary condtuons
at the, city prison will be provided for.
Police women are to remain on the
force. The mayor Wishes to increase
the police fund from $4,000 to $50. 600.
A second provision. which will GER
tainly be seconded by two Of the com
missioners is an elevator for the city
building-long- delayed. The mayor
stated positively today that there would
be an elevator unless his motion were
overruled. The scores OF weary pedes-
TRANS who daily climb to the office OF
the mayor, finance commissioner, park
commissioners, city treasurer. sanitary
sergeant. city clerk and commission
chamber will receive the announcement
with glee. There II 2 shaft in the city
hail. It has beeu waiting years Tor
weights, pulleys and car.
The city budgets are due July Is. The
mayor and each Of the commissioners
recommend improvements in their own
departments. II the improvements are
deemed necessary by the majority Of
the board, they are adopted. provided
for, and the tax levy made.
Polico Force Inadequate
It v generally admitted that Topeka's
police force is Inadequate. The mayor
admits It. The people know 1t. The
"croolks'' glory in it. There isn't a
mounted policeman in the city. The one
motorcycle policeman WAS removed Tor
lack of funds. Conditions at the jail
are not what they should be.
Some complaint has been made Of the
fact that the city maintains two police
women, eliminating two big and buriy
patrolmen from the force.
Asked II his budget would provide
for the continued service OF police
women No. l and 2, the mayor re-
piled. Most certainly. The policewo-
mems reports are on file in this Office.
In my opinion, the policewomep have
done as much good IS all the rest of
the force put together"
The officers in skirts have served
just a year. They were recomlnend-
ed by the women's advisory board.
examined by DR.. Charles M. Sheldon
as chairman OF the civil service COM
mission, and installed by tho mayor.
ton, they were officially sworn in and
received stars and revolyers.
Work ON Roads.
In his plans for the rejuvenation Of
the police department, Mayor Cofran
is fondling a scheme whereby prison.
ers at the city and county jail may BE-
placed at work on city and county
roads. The prisoners at the county
Jail lounge in their cells. smoke,
dance, play cards, strum banjos. and
eat heavily at the expense of Shaw
nee. The inmates of the city prison
pound rock. and, during the last
month, have worked 1T the city as
phalt plant.
Last year" said Mayor Cofran to-
day, expenses were heavy in the fire
department. The North Topeka sta
ton cost more than $4,000. We
bought a new truck. This year we
should look toward our police de-
partment. As for the new elevator
I shall recommend it, by all means.
All city offices should be on the
ground floor. Since that Is impossi-
bic an elevator should be installed >,