The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-12

people OF Topeku, DuL tne
utilities commission has laid down its
platform, wherein it says that the
commission has charge of the gas
proposition and represents the mayors
and municipalities. The mayor can't
get in, however much he likes gas and
more of it.
The better way. it seems to the
writer. to get gas at a lower rate is
to get rid of the present BrIstow-
Kinkel commission, which was renam-
ed recently by a Noble and brave
member of the legislature with a
humorous turn, the Public Useless
Commission" In a word. Mayor
House cannot solve this problem and
Mayor Kiene could not.
Mr.. kiene wants in his plank TO
correct the evil" We are all with Mr..
Kiene on this proposition. St Joseph
pays so cents for gas and can I get
it. The City of Topeka could have
secured gas at 80 cents, except for the
public utilities commission. Mr. Do
herty. who has probably acquired the
defunct Kansas Natural Gas CON-
pany's interests has said he will de-
liver the gas at a reasonable rate and
in good quantity, if litigation stops.
There you have it. We can't swap
mayors and get gas, if we could we
might offer boot
Now comes another plank iii the for
mer sheriff's mayoralty contest:
adjuncts of the city government for which
the mayor is directly responsible. l hap
pen to know that the police force is de
moralized, largely because of the excessive
use OF liquor on the part of members of
the force amounting in many cases TO alb
solute drunkenness, and if | should be
elected mayor l want it understood that
there will be IL complete reorganization of
the police force. with only capable and
sober officers. ] would do this
not only because it would be my duty but
because l believe in it personally
I'll = Iii rrix in
of the opening sentences of this ar
ticle. Mr.. Kiene himself was opposed
to the removal of the present chief
of police, Harvey Parsons, which
would be necessary to "a complete
reorganization" and so advised Mayor
House. The mayor has made some
changes in the police department, haV-
ing discovered derelictiOns there, but
it is understood he decided Mr.. Par
sons would make good, and followed
the advice of Mr.. Kiene in giving Mr.
Parsons chance to make good. 1t
appears from a statement which the
writer stands by toward the beginning
of this dissertation that the condition
Of the police department and the alb
sence of any considerable crime in the
city leads to the conclusion that Chief
Parsons IS making good.
Now comes the following plank, up
on which Mr.. Kiene proposes to run,
wherein he cites the present made
quate Jail, the city prison system and
the municipal farm as follows:
The city prison system should give way
to municipal farm; and the police sta
more. The system of municipal farms has
been the means of rcclaiming thousands
of unfortunates in other cities. Humanity
demands that an effort should be made
here to do the same. NV experience has
taught me that Jail life improves no
one and in many cases adds to the de
moralization of the individual The pres
ent city prison should also be renovated
and remodeied for even the temporary ser
vice for which it should be used
In regard to remodeling the present
city prison, Mayor House and every
one else wants that done, but the peO-
pie for some reason known only to
themselves will not vote the necessary
money to have it done. 1t is but
few months since this question was
up before the electorate. You can't
remodel a city prison unless you get
the money for that purpose and the
citizens of Topeka for some unac-
countable reason, voted. down the APP
preparation which was asked with
which to do this very thing. Mr. Kiene
says he would remodel the Jail. Mr.
House will certainly do it if the pub
lie lets him have the money to do it
with Mayor House and the others
are in favor of the municipal farm;
that has been demonstrated. but we
voted down the money for that pur-
pose Give Mayor House money and
he will provide a municipal farm Just
as good as Mr.. Kiene's would be. The
chances are that we must make the
proposition a cooperative one between
the city and county; use the ground
of the county at the poor farm, and
erect some building there for tenn
porary headquarters and then let the
prisoners improve the farm and build
a concrete, fireproOf housing for the
prisoners, Nv
Kansas City and other municipalities
But, in order to cook your rabbit,
you must first catch the rabbit We
viii have a municipal farm mighty
quick here, whichever man be elected
mayor, if the man holding the office
can get his hands on the money to
provide it.
This nearly ends Mr. Kienes plat
| form which, in the main is a most ex-
cellent one. one that all four candi-
dates might get almost together on.
one paragraph at the close reads:
The people of Topeka are entitled to the
entire time of the executive. and if I am
elected promise to devote myself entire
ly to the service of the city
Perha ps- Mr.. Kiene can afford to
give his entire time as executive of the
city of Topeka; no man has ever done
1t before. Governor Capper gives most
of his time to the office of governor
but he does not give all of it. Mr..
House gives all of the time to the
office which the law requires and
more than the law requires. The SAL
airy of the mayor may seem munifi-
| cent to people who have nothing else
in sight. but it is not sufficient, much
as we hate to admit it, believing in
the Hberality and generosity of To-
! peka's citizens
| The fact is there is no emolument
in the office aside from the honor: it
| is an expense to anyone who runs
| for the office: it costs a large amount
! of the salary to conduct the legitimate
| expenses of the campaign. 1t is not
| charged that Mayor House has neg
| lected any of the duties of his office
or failed to give the necessary time he