The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-28
Mayor House Admits He OPP
poses Civil Service.
s'The Old Way-SpOils System
Better" He Tells Garrett.
WANT POLICE Department
Commission Intends to Carry
Out It's Power Here.
Bitter Feeling Over Newly De-
yelOped City Hall Squabble.

Jaw f. House, mayor, openly states
that he is opposed to civil serVlce
for Topeka He also frankly declares
that personally he believes in the Ola
"spoils'' system-that to the victor De
long the spoils of political once n
so declared himself to 7. b Garrett'
a member of Topeka's civil service
commission c,or,o++
81 went to see him concerning an eA
animation of applicants Tor the po &c
tion of clerk of the police court. ne
told me that we had no good way OF
making selections among the app
Giants asked him what methou ne
would use, and he repIeo' .5oyS.so oili,1n1S
Judging human nature Persona Any
7 do not believe in a civil service Sys-
tenn he said. I think the old way
the spoils system-better-
ignored Commission"
"Mavor House has ignored the civil
service commissions recomme ndations
in making appointments. He mas APP
pointed Mrs. Georgia Hall as clerk 10
the police Judge, and since then ne
has aDpointed a stenOgrapher Tor the
civ attorney. understand that he
instructed each of these young women
not to take the civil service eHarnlha-
tions.' -
the civil service commission do not
intend to permit the mayor to set
aside the civil service law without OIL
fering opposition. October clVl1
service examinations will be held, ana
following the examinations RECON-
mendations for appointments VIII pe
made to the mayor and members OIL
the city commission, and If these rec
concentrations are ignored, legal pro-
ceedings. Mr.. Garrett AYERS, are con-
templated.
Police Department, Too.
The civil service commission does
not intend to limit its intentions mere
nf St6nOg
raphers over which the controversy
has arisen. They also propose to
again place the police department I'M
der civil service rules
Following a decision of the supreme
court in the case of O. F. Haney
versus r. L. Cofran as Mayor and
J. w F. Hughes, as chief of police, the
impression has prevailed that the civil
service law did not apply to policemen.
Recently, however, the supreme court
has handed down supplementary
decision, growing out of case APP
pealed from LeavenwOrth7 and upon
this latter decision, the Topeka ivil
service board, according TO Garrett,
will attempt to against apply the civil
service rules to the police department.
Call for Examinations.
The board has called for an exam
ination of applicants for positions as
policemen. The examinations will be
neld October 4, and those successfully
passing the examinations will be rec
OnmenQeQ IOT appointments NhOSI VI
the present members of the police
force, in fact all who are not "hOld-
overs from the Cofran administra-
ton, have not undergone the examina-
lions and with Mayor House having
declared his opposition to civil service,
it is not likely that any of these men
in his department will take the exam
nations, nor that Mayor House will
heed the recommendations made by
the civil service board.
Mayor Has Power.
When the mayor ignores the recon-