The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-16
DON'T BE
OBSTINATE.
Nobody Should Get in the Way
of the Auditorium.
City Council Should Not Make
Troublesome Provisions
THAT WOULD DEFEAT
The Accomplishment of the
Wishes of the People.
No Man Can Afford to Stand in
the Way of
THIS IMPROVEMENT.
If Tc tho VVsI6ock Oo.k Of E0oI
No Man Can Afford to Stand in
the Way of
HIS IMPROVEMENT.
1t Is the Widest Sort of Fool
iShneSS
To Force the People to Raise
$4,000 By Subscription.
Don't Make the Ordinance So
Rigidly Specific.

The auditorium ordinance was not
passed last night because the bill has
not yet been published and it is there
fore not law. There is a slight differ
ence between the Commercial club and
the city council about what the ordi-
nance should contain.
Mr.. A. A. GODDARD, representing the
Commercial club made formal re-
quest last night that the ordinance be
simplified so as to not make the task
of raising the necessary funds more
difficult
1t was never supposed by any one
that an auditorium in Topeka large
enough and complete in every respect
would cost more than $4,000. 1t was
figured that a site would cost $lO,OOO
and that it would be necessary to eX-
pend for the site and to complete the
building, $4,000. 1t was upon that
basis that the ordinance was original
ly drawn by the city attorney. Then
the council decided that it would be
better to build the auditorium in the
City park The committee from the
Commercial club agreed to this but the
council still insists that the citizens
shall raise $50, ,O0O Nearly every re-
putable architect in the city says that
a good substantial building with a ca
pacity of seating 5000 people can be
built for 500, 600 less. What then is
the use of hedging the ordinance
around with limitations that will tend
to at least delay the project If not de-
feat it altogether.
Councilman Skinner said a week ago
in open council that he did not feel like
asking the people TO raise more than is
absolutely necessary which with the
$4,000 to be given by the city will
complete the building; still the council
insists that at least $4,000 be raised.
One would think to listen to some
members of the council that the city
is about to appropriate $4,000 to a pri-
Vate enterprise instead of in the erec
ton of a building for the benefit of the
nif " De-
erty of the city when completed Be
sides the people are to decide this mat
ter. 1t is their money and they are go
ing to vote on it.
Mr.. GODDARD said last night that the
Commercial club is perfectly willing to
have the coal hole fund used to com
plete the building. The club does not
wish to have the money wasted" said
he. I'VE have the interests of the city
at heart but you must realize, gentle
men that it will be no easy task to
raise the money by subscriptions or by
fairs as has been suggested. 1t does
not seem to me that the council should
make it more difficult to raise the mon
ey by the passage of an ordinance like
this
The object of the ordinance is to place
the proposition before the people. 1t
will serve no other purpose The peo-
pie will be given an opportunity to say
whether the money shall be used in the
auditorium or not. The so1icitude of
Councilman Nettels and some of the
other councilmen for an ordinance
hedged with limitations is not because
they are afraid the ordinance PROPOSE
ton will not carry. Their actions indi-
cate that they fear it will. and they
wish to make it impossible for an aud
itorium to be built after the people
have decided that the coal hole fund
shall be used.
Mr.. GODDARD said last night when the
auditorium question was called up: L
come here and expect to say to you on
behalf of the Commercial club that we
assistance q and
itorium for the city of Topeka. You are
working for the interests of the city
and that is what we are trying to do
We are willing to help raise the neces-
sary money to build an auditorium
though we know that will be quite a
task.
1T has been suggested to me that it
will be easier to raise this money if a
committee of citizens of such men
G. G. Gage, A. w. Knowles, P 1. Bone
brake, John r. Mulvane, Edward Wild
er be appointed to have charge of the
details of the work. It would be a
great tax upon the council to look after
committee would relieve you If fairs
are held they will be greatly helped by
the fact that this committee is back of
them and no matter what course is
adopted to raise the necessary money
it will be more sure of success with
such a committee as 1 have suggested
behind it.
These men are perfectly capable of
determining what is best for the city
and they have a certain amount of time
which will be required. The CONNER
cial club does not wish to dictate and
we have no desire to take anything out
of the hands of the council and 1 simp-
ly throw this out in the way of a sug-
geStiOn.
Mayor Fellows-I supposed that the
city was to help the Commercial club
Mr. GOdard-ThiS ordinance does not
contemplate anything of the kind You
have provided for plans to be furnished
by the council and the ordinance names
all the details of the building
Mayor FeIlows-That was deemed
necessary by the city attorney to sub
nit the proposition
Mr.. Godard-It is surely not necessa-
ry to specify how thick the walls shall
be and everything of the kind
Councilman Elliott-DO you want this
coal hole money turned over to the
committee you suggested?
Mr. C1ndard-Nn We are rar.factI1-