The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-20
AVOID RED TAPE.
An Auditorium Ordinance Be
ing Framed Today
Which VIII Not Tie Up the
Project
WITH LIMITATIONS
In Such a Manner as to Prevent
Action.
People to Take Hold With a
Will Under Proper Conditions.

The Commercial club committee is max
ing an effort today to frame auditor
ium ordinance with fewer limitations than
that suggested by the council
Mr.. A A GODDARD, who has been look
ing after the matter for the Commercial
club is compelled to be out of the city and
can not give the matter his personal at
tention. Mr.. GODDARD is willing that the
City park shall be designated as the place
of erecting the auditorium but he thinks
like many other people that it will be i'm
possible to raise a large sum of money
in the face of ordinance hedged with
restrictions.
The question now seems to be whether
the council is to assist the Commercial
club or the Commercial club will assist
the council. Mr.. GODDARD says that the or
dinance drawn up indicates that the
council prefers to have every thing its
own way and still desires to avoid any re-
sponsibilirv in the matter.
Mr.. Neiswanger, who is also a member
of the committee is opposed to the loca-
and he is much less liberal than the other
members of the committee. He still thinks
that the council should allow the use of
the coal hole fund for the purpose of
site, but that is out of the question.
The ordinance must be passed in some
form at the next meeting of the council.
There has been too much haggling al
ready: The people want an auditorium
and the council should put it in the pow
er of the people to have it.
1t seems to be almost the universal
quire more money than is absolutely
necessary to put up the right kind of a
building and it seems like fOOliShneSS to
stipulate minimum sum which is more
than Will be necessary to put up the pro-
A member of the Commercial club who
is not member of the auditorium com
mittee, said today: Il believe that there
the city council to defeat this proposition.
They know that the people are in favor
of it and so do not care to oppose it open
ly but will try to put in so many limita-
tions that after the proposition has car
ried it will be impossible for the citizens
to raise the money. The club wants to.
seen an auditorium built in Topeka and 1
in the City park"
Councilman Stephenson was asked con
there is underlying intention on the
part Of the councilmen to defeat the
Il do not believe there is" said he. eat
least know nothing about it, I believe
that every. member of the council is in
IF the Commercial club wants to drop
of young men can be made independent
of the Commercial club which viii raise
torium. and l would be of such an
ganization: An auditorium is greatly
be built.
Il am not in favor of asking the citi-
ZenS to raise more money than necessary.
If it will take $4,000 then we should NOT
ask the people to raise more than that.
what we want is an auditorium
Councilman Roundtree said he was in
favor of reducing the amount to be raised
by the citizens providing that it is found
that the building can be erected for less
He said he is satisfied that a majority
of the members of the council are friendly
to the proposition.
The ordinance should stipulate that the
citizens should raise a sum of money
which, with the $40. 900 in the coal hole
fund, will build a substantial auditorium
That is limitation enough and the coun>
ell can make a provision to approve the
plans when they are agreed upon.
The city council might stipuIate that
the auditorium should not cost less than
$40. 900. That is all that is necessary. The
people of Topeka will undertake the rails,
ing of the additional $4,000 cheerfully.
and The Journal would not be surprised if
$4,000 were raised. Popular enthusiasm
for the big building is at a high pitch.