The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-17
NO TIME
FOR DELAY.
The Auditorium Bill Should Be
Pushed Through
The Legislature at Once by Our
Representatives.
HAS BEEN NEGLECTED.
Have Been introduced
Last Monday.
Promoters Of the Project Stir
red Up About 1t.

Representative NIcKeever will please
rise and explain what has become of
the Topeka auditorium bill. 1t was
supposed that the bill was introduced
in both the house and senate last Mon
day, but it has been quietly slumber-
ing in Mr.. McKeever's pocket since
that time, and he has entirely forgotten
that he has seen the bill.
A w. Dana of the Commercial club
committee and City Attorney Bird
drew the bill directly after the council
had passed the resolution indorsing the
proposition and inStructing the city at
torney to draw the bill. Last Monday
Mr.. Bird handed Representative Nc
keeVer two copies OF the bill, one to
be introduced in the house by himself
and the other to be handed to Senator
Sterne for Introduction in the senate.
The committee and all those interest
ed in the proposition supposed that the
bills were introduced on Monday, but
they have never seen the light of day
and Representative Mckeever has for
gotten all about them, for he told a
Journal reporter today that he had not
seen the bill. Senator Sterne also in
formed the reporter that the bill had
not been given to him, but that he is
ready at any time to introduce it and
urge its passage in the senate
The reporter saw Representative Nc
Keever just after the fight in the house
| this morning between the Populist and
| Republican representatives, and he was
| excited and he spoke while in an agi-
! tated frame OF mind.
Il know nothing about the BILL said
| he. Il have not introduced it, 1t will
| be too late now, for this is only the
! beginning of the fight, and 1 do not
believe the Populists will permit us to
! railroad anything through The bill
| has not been given to me-"
1t was rumored at the time the meas
ure passed the council that the bill
| would be sidetracked for political reas-
! ons and because it was intended that
| the money should be used in employing
| men to work on the streets, and a Jour
| nal reporter questioned Mayor Fellows
| about the matter after he found that
| the bill had died before it had even
| been introduced. He appeared sur
| prised when told the fate of the meas
| ure.
Il supposed it had been introduced -
| said he. II understood that Mr.. Bird
| had drawn the bill and that it was
introduced early in the week. I am in
| favor of the measure and have been
| form the start l called the coun-
| ell together at the request of the COM
| mittee of the Commercial club as soon
| as they asked it and I have done all
| could to help the thing along. L do not
| understand this delay. 1t is beyond my
| comprehension. 1 shall see the repre-
sentatives at once and see that some
| thing is done.
| THE report that I or any one else, so
| far as / know has tried to have the
/
| streets, is a base falsehood told for pol
itical purposes. We have all the money
| we need to use on the streets and have
| never thought of such thlng- want
| the money used for an auditorium and
| 1 think the people of Topeka are in IA
vor of it being used that way
| Il do not know what is wrong but
| shall go to the legislature at once and
look up the matter"
one thing that has stood in the way
of the bill being pushed as it should be
| &c he H w N0iSWan2&r OF
| the Commercial club committee who is
| greatly interested in the measure has
| been sick for a week and unable TO give
| the matter his attention.
Samuel T. Howe was seen at his office
| by a reporter who told him the state
| in which the auditorium measure had
| been found. Il have not been able to
| give the matter my personal attention
| but supposed the bill had been prepared
| for introduction. l do not understand
| the cause of the delay. 1t looks rather
| strange that any one should object to
| allowing the people TO vote on this pro
| position. Neither do I believe that it is
| too late to have the bill passed
s.This is q matter in which the whole
state is interested to a greater or less
degree and l do not beliVe that the
members of the legislature would stand
in the way of the passage of this bill.
| 1t is the most reasonable thing in the
| world for it simply gives the people a
| right to vote on the question of Wheth-
| er this money shall be used for an audi
forum or not. No money is appropri-
| aed by the measure and What objection
can any one urge to il? l shall give
the matter my personal attention"
Mr. Neiswanger was seen He is not
| able to leave his home but supposed
that the auditorium bill was on its way
through the legislature. He said he
could not explain the delay but would
| probably be out tomorrow when he will
give the measure his personal attention
and see that something is, done.
The bill itself drawn by Mr. Dana
and the city attorney is general in its
| nature and authorizes all cities with pop
ulatfonS of more than 80 coo to apprOpriat f
| $4,000 for an auditorium. provided the
| measure is submitted to the people at q
regular election. 1t is general in its ma
ture because the men VINO drafted the bill
| wanted 10 put it in such form that there
| could be valid objection to it on con-
| stitutional grounds
| The auditorium in Topeka is not mere
| ly a matter of local Importance It IS
! really of value to the whole state All Pc
| litical parties hold their conventions here
and they all desire a bigger and better
hall.
If Topeka wishes to build such a hal
| for the accommodation of PopuliStS, he
| publicanS or Democrats at her own eX
! pense without it costing the state a cent
lature will doubtless be found willing t.
| give her permission to do SO.
| The people of Topeka will appreciate
activity on the part of Shawnee coun
| tvs representatives in this matter, mucf
more than anything else they may do
| Topeka is really mores interested in the
auditorium than it is in a lot of othel
measures to which our representative:
are giving much OF their time
The defeat of the auditorium will b'
enough to defeat any man who is respon
sible for 1t.