100 years ago: Out with the old, in with the new: Commission takes over for city council

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 1, 1914:

  • “Commission government is in force in Lawrence. The old city council adjourned sine die last night and the new commissioners were immediately sworn in and took control of the city’s affairs. A session was held last evening and Thomas Harley took the oath as city attorney and C. M. Fisher as City Marshal. The commission was in session again this morning and took up a number of matters of detail, the most important being the passing of a resolution providing for an audit of the city’s books for the past ten years…. The last meeting of the council was short and unexciting. A large number of bills were allowed and paving assessments approved. Two ordinances were passed, one providing for the paving of Missouri Street between Sixth and Seventh, the other providing that contractors doing street work in Lawrence, be required to give bond. The reports of the marshal and engineer were read and filed. Resignations of Chief Meyers and City Attorney Mitchell were read and accepted. The council then adjourned. The new commission then went into session and made the appointment of police chief and attorney. Rules were adopted and it was decided to hold open sessions every Tuesday morning at 9:00 o’clock.”
  • “The Lawrence police force will be reduced from the present force of eight officers to six, and two of the new ones will be a police matron and a motorcycle policeman. Such was the statement of Mayor Francisco last night in a talk with some of the present officers. The subject of the change of the police force has been a topic for much speculation the last few days. The proposition of reducing the force does not come as a surprise nor the idea of a police matron, but the idea of a motorcycle policeman for Lawrence is en entirely new idea originated by the new Commission. There is no doubt of the need of such an officer and the people will welcome such a change. Possibly one of the chief duties of the motorcycle police will be to stop some of the speeding on the main streets of the town. Such a move is welcomed by all who travel the thoroughfares of the town for there are not a few who do not pay the slightest attention to the city ordinance prohibiting speeding in the city limits. The need of a police matron has long been recognized, but until the present time no steps have been taken in securing such an officer.”
  • “The month of April was deficient in rainfall according to the report of the University. The rainfall was 1.33 inches which is 1.59 inches below the April average. Otherwise the month was nearly normal. There was much cloudiness, but that is to be expected in April. There were only two entirely clear days, and four entirely cloudy days. As usual in April the thermometer ran over a wide range, the minimum being 24 degrees on the 8th, and the highest 85 degrees on the 21st. There were three storms and two earthquakes recorded.”
  • “Wm. T. Sinclair died at 9:10 this morning after an illness dating back about six weeks. Mr. Sinclair has been in such poor health the past month that his death did not come as a surprise. He had not been in his office for seven weeks. Mr. Sinclair has been a prominent citizen here for many years. He was always a good, even tempered man and had the faculty of making warm friends. He had an unusually pleasant manner, was a gentleman in every instinct of his nature and he will be greatly missed.”