USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > The Daily news' history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. From the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1898. Preceded by a short history of Missouri. Supplemented by biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 10
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"On motion, the council proceeded to choose from their num- ber a president pro tem, whereupon William M. Carter was declared duly elected.
"On motion, the council adjourned until 2 o'clock p. m."
The mayor, councilmen and marshal were the only officers elected at first. The mayor and council appointed the following other officers at the ensuing meetings: Milton H. Wash, city regis- ter ; Alexander W. Terrell, city attorney; John Curd, treasurer ; Isa- dore Poulin, assessor ; Charles Schreiber, city engineer; Johnson Copeland, street commissioner ; Dr. J. H. Crane, health officer ; V. Tullar, market master ; R. L. McGhee, wharf master.
There were no municipal buildings of any kind in those days, and the council paid one-half of Lawyer Terrell's office rent for quarters for the mayor and a meeting place for the council. F. M. Wright, who was the first marshal, had to look out for himself, as did also several of his successors.
The mayor had jurisdiction as a justice and the marshal was the sole guardian of the peace at first. Offenders were brought before the mayor and tried. A room in the old county jail, that stood on the court house hill, was used as a workhouse, and the street commissioner had charge of the city prisoners, who were generally employed on the streets.
In 1852-53 a market house was built on the site of the present city hall. In August of 1855 the workhouse was established in a two-story stone building that gave way, in 1884, to the present structure. The market house was supplanted by the present city hall in 1873.
In January of 1858 the office of city recorder was established and the mayor relieved of the judicial power. A police department was also created at the same time and the marshal was given six policemen. As the marshal was also the tax collector, the police duty fell largely to his deputy and assistants, who were styled the "city guard." This order continued until 1866, when a collector was provided by an amendment to the charter. In 1885 the offices
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of collector and treasurer were combined. The recorder was ex- officio justice of the peace until 1889, and the name of the office was changed to "police judge" in 1893. The marshal's office con- tinued until St. Joseph became a city of the second class.
The city had three wards until 1864. The First Ward was all of the corporate territory south of Edmond street, the Second Ward was bounded by Edmond and Jule streets, and the Third Ward was north of Jule street. When, by an increase of population and an extension of the boundaries, five wards became necessary, the ter- ritory was divided as follows: First Ward, north of a line extend- ing through Pouline, Corby and Colhoun streets; Second Ward, between Faraon street and the southern boundary of the First Ward; Third Ward, between Faraon and Edmond streets; Fourth Ward, between Edmond and Olive streets; Fifth Ward, south of Olive. When the limits were again extended in 1889 the territory was divided into eight wards.
The municipal history of St. Joseph is unique in more ways than one, and offers a rare field, especially for the student of pioneer city financiering.
The provisions of the charter were good-too good to suit the people, because it restrained the council from creating an indebted- ness exceeding $1,000. In 1853 and 1855 other descents were made upon the legislature, and amendments secured authorizing the city to "subscribe for the capital stock of railroads, and for erecting wharves and protecting the banks of the Missouri" against the en- croachments of that changeful stream. This was well enough for a year or two, and thousands of dollars were voted by the people for the above purposes. But as the Western country settled up, new schemes for investing city funds were devised, and a fourth call on the legislature in 1857 secured the passage of another bill, authoriz- ing the mayor and councilmen "to subscribe for the capital stock of any railroad terminating at or near said city, or for the stock of any other improvement tending to promote the general interest and prosperity of the city."
The people apparently voted yes on almost every proposition submitted to them, for the records of the defeat of measures of this kind are few and far between. The people evidently reasoned that the only great city in the West must give a certificate to that effect in the shape of an indebtedness of a million or so. They also proba- bly argued that future generations would pay these debts so con- tracted.
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With laws such as the above, and in the swift times in which they prevailed, it is no wonder that the question of voting a few thousands of bonds was regarded so lightly. Bonds were voted for almost any purpose, and the interest was almost invariably fixed at from 8 to 10 per cent. Some of these bonds went for railroads which were never built; others for a road which was built and afterwards abandoned ; others still for the bridge, for river improvements, for building ma- cadamized roads, and other schemes supposed to benefit the city- all given with a free hand for the asking.
Of course there were halts called now and then by thinking men -- but usually they were of short duration-and the jolly giving of gold went merrily on, until the state constitution of 1870 put a limit to city indebtedness, prohibiting its exceeding 5 per cent of the city's assessed valuation.
In those days the council proceedings, instead of being dull and prosy accounts of resolutions ordering sidewalks repaired or ordi- nances ordering district sewers, as in these days, were in the nature of a meeting of railroad builders, resolutions directing superintendent this or manager that to buy flat cars, hire engines, or buy railroad ties, being of frequent occurrence.
Further amendments to the charter later on prohibited the ex- penditure of money beyond the receipts of the city. It was thought for a time that this provision would at least prevent the incurring of further indebtedness, but this was a false hope, and soon a scheme was devised that circumvented the law. The council simply estimated the receipts at the beginning of the year, and went on appropriating from this estimate, totally regardless of whether it was collected or not. As a consequence, city warrants were soon below par, although bearing interest at 6 per cent.
Something else must be done, and in 1878 Mayor Joseph A. Piner brought relief with a city scrip. One and two dollar war- rants, resembling government bills, non-interest bearing, were issued to the extent of $100,000 for home circulation, which contained upon their face the city's promise of redemption. The "ones and twos," as they were called, served a good purpose. Though there was some question as to the legality of the city's action in the premises, the people took them and they passed at par, and were finally re- deemed. The redemption, however, was not brought about until the business men of the city, harassed beyond forbearance by the neces- sity of continuous handling of this city "money," its delapidated con- dition, and the urgency for exchanging it for money for use in all outside business transactions, insisted that the council should provide
CITY OF SAINT JOSEPH
ONT
THE FIRST ONE DOLLAR BILL, CITY SCRIP. (Now in possession of Mr. Chris. Hubacher. )
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ways for retiring the scrip. In 1885-6, the first year of the city under its present charter, $35,000 worth of scrip was redeemed by the city and destroyed, the following year $25,000 was called in and burned, and in two years more it was practically all in, A city "bill" or scrip is now regarded as a curiosity. The first city bills paid out in each denomination were secured by William B. McNutt, then chief of the fire department.
Use of this "money" being confined to the city, little else was seen in ordinary transactions. This constant circulation soon re- duced it to a delapidated condition, necessitating the renewal of a large portion of it, under Mayor Posegate, in 1882. An attempt to replace it again in 1885 was frustrated by Gen. James Craig, then comptroller, who refused to certify to the ordinance carrying an ap- propriation of $800 for that purpose, on the ground that the entire transaction was illegal. The appearance of government officials on the ground to investigate the matter about this time, together with the demand of the merchants, settled the fate of city scrip. In the matter of interest the scrip saved the taxpayers between $65,000 and $75,000.
But times grew harder and harder with the city. People began to refuse to pay taxes, and in the latter part of the 70's and early 80's the council tried to evade part of the city's debt, declaring it invalid, but better judgment finally prevailed, the means were found to pay the interest falling due, and steps were taken in 1882 to refund all that was left of the high interest bearing bonds. This only partly suc- ceeded at the time, but it was the entering wedge to the settlement of the debt.
In 1884 the indebtedness of the city was, in round numbers, about $2,250,000, of which $210,000 was a floating debt in the shape of warrants, one-half of which were interest bearing, the other half being sham money ; $40,000 in judgments, interest and claims against the city. Then there was a bonded debt of about $2,000,000. The city had issued bonds for the following purposes: River and im- provement, $200,000; gas plant, $25,000; macadam road from El- wood to Wathena, $25,000; St. Joseph & Denver Railroad, $500,000; bridge, $500,000; Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad, $210,000; Missouri Valley Railroad, $150,000; St. Joseph & Topeka Railroad, $50,000. The other figures necessary to round out the two millions are furnished by bonds issued to provide money to grade streets and cover deficiencies in the treasury. At the same time there was due the city in back taxes about $150,000.
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It was at this time that the howl, loud and long, went up for a change of some sort. Taxation was doubly onerous, the city's credit was nil, interest-bearing warrants were at a discount of from Io to 20 per cent, and the "ones and twos" were in such a wretchedly dilapidated and worn condition that merchants were refusing to re- receive them.
The agitation thus commenced resulted in deserting the patched- up old charter and starting anew in April, 1885, as a city organized under the laws of the state governing cities of the second class.
When the legislature met in January of 1885 a committee went to Jefferson City with such amendments to the existing state laws governing cities of the second class as would permit the adjustment of St. Joseph's affairs so that the city could be brought under the provisions of the desired charter. The amendments were not ma- terial so far as the organic law was concerned, and the delegation from Buchanan County in the house and senate had no difficulty in securing their adoption. At the April election of 1885, the people voted upon the proposition and it was carried, the vote standing 2,925 for the adoption of the charter and 192 against it.
On Monday, April 21, 1885, the transition took place, and St. Joseph became a city of the second class, under H. R. W. Hartwig as mayor. Mr. Hartwig had been elected in the previous year.
The disposition of the "ones and twos" gave great concern, for they were a problem of proportions. The best business men of the city met with the council and a solution of the problem was found in accepting the "ones and twos" in payment for back taxes. This was done, and as the scrip came in it was cancelled and burned.
Under the new charter no debts can be made, no contract can be entered into for a period longer than one year, no public work can be ordered, and no purchase made for which the money is not in the treasury.
The component parts of the city's machinery are the mayor and council, the comptroller, auditor, collector and treasurer, city clerk, engineer, assessor, building inspector, license inspector, health offi- cer, keeper of the workhouse, superintendent of streets, the park commissioners, market master, chimney sweep, boiler inspector, su- perintendent of electric light, a library board, weighmaster, fire de- partment, police department, police judge, city attorney and city counselor.
The assessor lays the foundation for the municipal work. In January of each year he begins to make his assessment. The real estate values are taken from the county assessment, to which they
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must conform. Personal property, merchandise, banks, etc., are within his jurisdiction. When the tax books are completed the mayor, assessor, comptroller, clerk, auditor and chairman of the council finance committee sit as a board of equalization. Some as- sessments are raised and others lowered by this board, according to circumstances.
The tax books are ready by the third Monday in April, the be- ginning of the fiscal year. On that day the council meets and the city clerk announces the total valuation of property. Under the charter not more than one per cent on each one hundred dollars' val- uation can be assessed for general administration purposes, and as much as is necessary may be assessed for the purpose of paying in- terest on outstanding bonds, and the creation of a sinking fund for the payment of these bonds, which were inherited from the old sys- tem. Under the charter of to-day no new bonded indebtedness can be created until the present bonded indebtedness of the city has been reduced to within five per cent of the assessed valuation of property.
Upon the first assessment under the new charter the tax levy was two dollars, one dollar for administration purposes and one dollar for the interest and sinking fund. The levy has since been reduced to $1.55 on the one hundred dollars.
Aside from the one dollar tax, there are other sources of revenue to the city-licenses upon various occupations and the police court. Of the saloon license, however, the city retains but 47 per cent, the county receiving 53 per cent.
The comptroller makes an estimate of receipts from all sources at the beginning of each fiscal year and this is apportioned in ad- vance by the finance committee of the council. For instance, at the beginning of the present fiscal year (1898-9) the funds were apportioned as follows : For city officers' salaries, $28,500; salaries of aldermen, $4,800; police department salaries, $51,700; fire de- partment salaries, $46,000; health department, $4,400; workhouse, $10,200; engineer's assistants, $4,500; police department expense, $4,500 ; fire department expense, $6,000; city hall expense, $3,000; street cleaning, $9,000; streets, sewers and bridges, $23,000; street lighting and improvements, $27,000; water service, $53,000; city printing, $1,500; park department, $8,000; repair of asphaltum streets, $8,000; charity, $1,500; judgments, $8,000; public library, $7,200; contingent, incidental and sinking fund, $30,300; total, $295,280.
City taxes are not properly due until August, but the tax books are ready on May I, and on all taxes paid during that month a rebate
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of 6 per cent is allowed; on all paid in June, a rebate of 4 per cent ; in July, 2 per cent. After August a penalty of 2 per cent per month is charged. Under this wise law an average of 65 per cent of the entire taxes levied for the given year is paid in May, this year the collections being 66 per cent of the entire levy. Practically speaking, all the taxes levied by the city are collected. Delinquent property is sold to the highest bidder in November, and is redeemable within four years.
As the money is received it is credited by the comptroller to the various funds as prescribed by the apportionment ordinance. Each department is required to live within its means. Bills are audited, and, if allowed, the money for their payment is appropriated by ordi- nance, as are also salaries. The auditor draws a warrant upon the. treasurer, which must be countersigned by the comptroller, who has previously certified that the money is in the treasury to the credit of the fund upon which the warrant is drawn. The police depart- ment, however, which is under the metropolitan system, draws one- twelfth of its apportionment each month and the funds are expended at the discretion of the commissioners.
The mayor, aldermen, collector, auditor, city attorney and police judge are elected, and hold office for two years. The engineer, coun- selor, comptroller, clerk, superintendent of street lighting, health officer, hospital steward, keeper of the workhouse, superintendent of streets, assessor, market-master, weighmaster, license inspector, and the various deputies, are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council for two-year term. The chief of the fire department is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council; firemen are appointed by the mayor upon the recommendation of the chief and the fire department committee of the council, and are removed for cause only. Three police commissioners are appointed by the governor for three years each, one term expiring each year. They appoint the chief and all other attaches to the police depart- ment. The public library and the city parks are managed by boards appointed by the mayor, and these boards appoint the various em- ployes of their departments. The building inspector is appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the council, and holds his office during good behavior.
When the transition took place an agreement was made with those officials who had been elected for two years that they would, upon resignation, be appointed to serve out the unexpired por- tions of their terms. Under this agreement Harry Carter, who had been elected collector in 1894, was made treasurer for one year ; Wil-
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liam B. Tullar, who had been elected city marshal, was made chief of police for one year, and Francis M. Tufts, who had been elected as register, was made auditor for one year. All fees were abolished.
The following new officers were appointed: General James Craig, comptroller ; Purd B. Wright, clerk; James Limbird, coun- selor; M. M. Kane, chief of fire department; Patrick McIntyre, street commissioner ; M. J. McCabe, engineer; Dr. J. A. French, health officer; Ishmael Davis, assessor; Anton Dalhoff, keeper of the workhouse. Policemen, firemen and market-master were also appointed. Officials other than these who are now in the govern- ment have been added since then.
The charter has been amended several times since its adoption, and each time its scope of usefulness has been widened. That its adoption was wise is best known by those who experienced the work- ings and trembled for the city from the dangers of the old system. Since 1885 the city has paid its way out of the revenues, has com- pletely wiped out the floating debt and city scrip, and has materially reduced the bonded burden. As evidences of improvement we have the parks, the sewers, the streets, the electric lighting plant, the central police station, the free public library, and excellent fire and police departments.
CHAPTER X.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ST. JOSEPH, ITS HISTORY AND THE VARIOUS CHIEFS FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE PRESENT TIME .- THE POLICE JUDGE AND CITY ATTORNEY, AND THE MEN WHO HAVE HELD THESE PLACES .- HISTORY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM THE DAYS OF THE BUCKET BRIGADE TO THE PRESENT TIME .- THE VARIOUS CHIEFS.
Up to 1851 the peace of St. Joseph was preserved by a constable, who, when the times were lively, as during the California period, had a force of deputies and was assisted by the sheriff. The con- stable was also the collector of town taxes and was withal an im- portant functionary.
When St. Joseph was incorporated as a city, a marshal was pro- vided, who, like the constable, was the tax collector; but it was not until 1858 that the police department was created, at which time the marshal was given a deputy and six men. These were pompously styled the city guard and the deputy marshal was the captain thereof. The marshal received fees only, but had a lucrative place. In 1866 the collector's office was established and the marshal gave his entire. attention to police work. The fee system continued until the city adopted the new charter, in 1885, when the title of the office was changed to that of chief of police and a salary of $1,500 per annum provided.
In 1887 the metropolitan system was adopted. Under this the governor appoints three commissioners, whose duty it is to manage the police department. The commissioners elect one of their num- ber as treasurer. At the beginning of each fiscal year they certify to the council the amount necessary for the department during the year, which the council is required to provide. This amount is paid in monthly installments to the treasurer of the board and ex- pended for salaries and other necessaries.
Howell Thomas, the first constable, was appointed in 1845. Henry S. Smith, Edward Searcy and V. Tullar succeeded each other until 1851.
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
Francis M. Wright was the first marshal, serving 1851-52. Then came the following: Allen McNew, 1852-54; George Merlatt, 1854-57; Shad R. Wages, 1857-60; Allen McNew, 1860-62; R. J. S. Wise, 1862-64; E. H. Saville, 1864-66; Enos Craig, 1866-68; Allen McNew,.1868-70; Louis Stroud, 1870-72; Thos. H. Ritchie, 1872- 74; John Broder, 1874-76; B. F. Buzard, 1876-78; Phil Rogers, I878-80; Enos Craig, 1880-82; Thomas H. Ritchie, 1882-84; Will- iam B. Tullar, 1884-85.
The first chief of police was William B. Tullar, who had been elected marshal for two years, but who resigned when the new charter went into effect and was made chief of police for one year. He was succeeded by John Broder in 1886, who was retained by the board of commissioners when the metropolitan system went into effect, and who has filled the place continuously to this date.
Under the present system a captain of police and two sergeants are provided for. Solomon Broyles was captain from June 1, 1887, to March 3, 1888, when he died. He was succeeded by John Bloom- er, promoted from sergeant, and who has been constantly on duty to this date. The first two sergeants were John Bloomer and William J. Lovell. When Sergeant Bloomer was made captain, J. Fred Henry, who held the honorary title of corporal, was advanced. Ser- geant Lovell was succeeded May 7, 1892, by Corporal Edward L. Cutler, who served until June 1, 1893. Corporal John J. Neenan.was advanced and served until his death, August 29, 1896. Patrolman Wm. H. Frans was then made sergeant, and both he and Sergeant Henry are still on duty.
The metropolitan force was organized June 1, 1887, with the chief, captain, two sergeants, two turnkeys, two drivers and thirty- two patrolmen. At present (1898) there are forty-two patrolmen, four detectives, one humane officer, three signal service operators, two drivers, one matron and one engineer.
The chief, captain and sergeants are appointed for one year. Patrolmen are appointed for six months as specials, on probation, at $60 per month. If confirmed they are appointed for three years from the date of the first appointment. The humane officer is selected by the Humane Society and commissioned and paid as a regular patrolman by this department, he being under the direction of the chief. Regular patrolmen receive $70 per month salary.
A telephone signal service, the first to exist, was introduced in 1891. There-are thirty-seven stations, and patrolmen are scheduled to signal every hour during the day and night. There is an inde- pendent telephone exchange, with a switch-board and three opera-
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tors at Central police station. The system is leased from the Mis- souri and Kansas Telephone Company.
On April 28, 1887, Governor Marmaduke appointed Bernard Patton, John Donovan, Jr., and Thos. P. Maupin commissioners, the first for three years, the second for two and the last for one year. The regular terms of commissioners after the first appointment are for three years, a vacancy occurring annually. Mr. Patton was president for three years. He was succeeded as commissioner by Geo. H. Hall, Jr. Mr. Donovan was re-appointed at the expiration of two years, and Mr. Maupin was re-appointed at the expiration of his year. Mr. Donovan was treasurer for the first three years and was succeeded by Mr. Hall in 1890, when Mr. Maupin was elected president. This organization continued until August II, 1892. Mr. Maupin's term had expired in April, 1891, Mr. Donovan's, April 1892, and Mr. Hall had become ineligible because he was a candidate for office. At that time Governor Francis appointed an entire new board, consisting of Thos. F. Ryan to succeed Mr. Donovan, Samuel M. Nave to succeed Mr. Maupin and Harris Ettenson to succeed Mr. Hall. Mr. Nave served as president until the expiration of his term. Mr. Ryan was elected treasurer and served continuously in that capacity for six years. Mr. Ettenson was succeeded in 1893 by T. F. Van Natta, and Mr. Nave was succeeded in 1894 by John H. Trice. Mr. Van Natta was elected to succeed Mr. Nave as president. Both Mr. Ryan and Mr. Van Natta were re-appointed. Mr. Trice was re-appointed April 29, 1897, and Mr. Ryan was suc- ceeded September 6, 1898, by Walter H. Robinson. The board is now organized as follows: Thos. F. Van Natta, president; John H. Trice, vice-president ; Walter H. Robinson, treasurer. Chris L. Rutt, who was appointed secretary at the first organization of the board, has held the place continuously to date.
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