The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-06-11


iect to Back Taxes-No Serious Corr Pill
cations Liable to Arise-The Wichita
Masonic Bodies Surprise the Committee
by Paying Five Annual 1nstaI,ments at
Once to Avoid Bond for Security.
Yesterday Mr.. D. S. Fuller of Eureka
and Mr. Perry Hoisington of Hutchin-
son arrived in the city and met the 9th
er members Of the committee who have
charge Of the establishment Of the Ma
sonic home in this city.
Their mission here was TO look into
the title of TIE Lawrence property and
If it was satisfactory to complete the
purchase. There were some technicali-
ties but not Of a serious nature and
when they are remedied, which will
probably be today, the committee will
pay over $2l, 600 and take formal charge
Of the house and property. Judge Full
er was made a member of the committee
not only on account Of his high stand
ing and zeal as a Mason but on account
OF his legal ability as well. He viii ex-
anime ali the papers and title and have
everything straight and right before
the purchase Is finally consumated.
II viii be remembered that the Law
renee property was once in the city but
by an act or ordinance Of the city coun-
ell II was placed outside. This, It ap-
pears. Is Illegal. It has been held that
the city can take property IN under Ger
tain regulations of law but that It has
not tha power TO set ii out. This ques-
ton, then, brings up the fact that Mr.
Lawrence mas been in the city ell this
time and his property is subject TO city
taxes from the time il was set out This
makes but a slight difference which can
be easily adjusted. From the time the
property changes from Mr.. Lawrence TO
the Masonic grand lodge It will be ex-
eEnpt from taxation on the grounds Of it
being converted into a benevolent insti-
tuition
When the proposition was submitted
the Masonic bodies of Wichita offered
20 pay 81. 900 OF the price of the property
or 81 900 and 1000 annually until paid.
The committee called on the representa-
tiveS Of the local lodges yesterday and
wanted a guarantee of the performance
Of that promise. The local lodges did
not want TO go 10 the trouble of making
q bond but made a proposition 10 the
committee that if Ii would throw off $500
they would pay all the money down.
The committee accepted and in exactly
five minutes the money was in their
hands The committee said that there
was not combination Of Masonic
bodies in any city in the United States
that could do business, involving that
much money, as promptly as Wichita.
It is a matter that is very creditabie 70
the local lodges.
One difficulty now confronts the COM
mfttee. The Masonic lodges Of the
state have volunteered TO furnish rooms
50 generously that there are not
enough rooms at the home 10 go round
and It IS not improbable that few cot
tages or more rooms will be built soon
after title IS given 70 the grand lodge.
Mssons do not regard Masonic homes /
as charitable institutions in the sense |
OF state institutions. They are private |
and they regard the Mason who is an in
mate as one worthy of their full fellow
ship as II he was a millionaire. Being |
governed by this principle the home |
Will be conducted as If il was a well /
regulated family. The tables viii be |
supplied with all the trimmings of a
family IN conforta BILE circumstances |
and everything else in accordance.