The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-11
Mayor House Will Investigate
All City Departments.
Water Department and Treas
urer's Office Come First.
JUST WANTS TO KNOW FACTS
Trouble Brewing With the
State Board of Health.
Disagreement Over Site of Pro-
posed New Wells.

Efficiency of commission govern
ment in Topeka will be determined
under the House administration. Res
olutions introduced by Mayor Jay E.
House this morning to investigate the
water department and treasurer's Of
flee were adopted unanimously by the
city commissioners.
Under the terms of the resolution,
Mayor House is empowered to en-
ploy competent auditors to check up
the books in those two departments,
determine whether up-to-dat accu-
rate bookkeeping has been practiced
and also delve into any phase of the
business in those two departments
that the auditors think necessary. No
audit has been made of those two de-
partments since the commission gov
eminent was adopted in Topeka
Il wish to say that this is not done
as reflection on any one said May
or House. LAS a citizen of Topeka
desire to know if the business of the
city is operated on an efficient basis
and every other citizen has an equal
right to learn how the business of the
city is being operated"
Take Up Other Departments.
This is only first step in a general
plan to ascertain the efficiency of all
departments of the city. Before the
House administration ends, other de-
partments will undergo like examina-
lions. Probably the next two depart
ments VIII be the city light depart
ment and the city crematory.
Many claim that the light depart
ineht is not on paying basis, the
machinery is antiquated and the cost
of operation is far above the results
attained. The mayor will employ
AUDITORS to start on the municipal in
Vestlgat1on in a short time
me state board of health is Quitting
IN and taking chips in the game9
without being invited, according to
Mayor House. These charges against
the state board of health, together
with DR.. T. c. Biddle of the state hos
pltai, were made by the mayor follow
Dr- ;. j. Crumbine from c. A. Haskins.
| engineer for the state board of health,
and given to the city commissioners
for their enlightenment
Clash With State.
The letter, if its provisions were
carried out, would put the city in a
hole, commissioners claim. Haskins
Investigated the city waterworks II
company with Jesse Shaw, superin-
tendent, and discovered that the only
available site on the states ground
to drill new wells, which Doctor Bid
die didn't object to, was too near the
hospitals sewer to keep the water
from becoming contaminated
Other sites could be used by the city
on the states ground but according to
Haskins, Doctor Biddle objects to their
use. The use of these sites for new
wells was urged by Wyncoop Kersted.
Kansas City engineer, as means of re
lieving dangerous water shortage
facing Topeka in the future
I'VE didn't ask for Haskins opin-
| ion," said Mayor House Neither he
nor Doctor Biddle were invited to take
any chips in the game and as I under
stand it, permission for the use of
those sites by the city lies in the hands
| of the board of control If that board
will permit US to sink wells there,
we'll go ahead and do it,