AbstractsLaw & Legal Studies

As indicated by the title, this is a study of the development of administration in the field of Public Health and Safety in Kansas City. Mr. Fairlie in his Municipal Administration includes within this field Economic Regulations, Buildings, Police, Fire, and Board of Health departments. It is our purpose to discuss only the last three, for the reason that the scope of Economic Regulations is not well defined, nor of great importance in the city's administration; and in the matter of Building Regulations we shall cover the field only in so far as the regulations have to do with fire protection. This leaves out of consideration a number of laws enacted for the purpose of making buildings safe and substantial, and these will be noted in a general way in connection with the study of the Fire department. For the purpose of convenience and clearness the study is divided into four parts. The first is a general historical survey of the city and its governmental organization under the various charters; and the others are concerned with the development of the Police, Fire, and Board of Health departments respectively. It is to be noted, further, that this is a study of what has been accomplished, rather than a study of what was suggested or might have been realized. The aim of the study, in short, is to trace the organization and development of the various departments as they expand and grow to meet the requirements of the municipality. The main sources are: The laws of the state of Missouri applying to Kansas City; the ordinances passed by the City Council; and the reports of the respective departments and the City Comptroller. These sources are cited and may be found collected and classified in the appendix. Valuable information has been obtained also from the city newspapers, and from the various histories of the city, which are cited in the bibliography.