The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-07
That is GObbling Up the Peo-
pies Money.
The Taxpayers League Venti-
Iates the Matter.
An Attempt to Secure the Leagues
Endorsement for Collection Of
Blood Money From Law
Violators is crowned
Down.

to pay the expenses of that feature of
the city's government last month, at
the meeting of the Taxpayers league
last night, but the motion to that eff
feet did not receive a second.
When Mr.. Heery made the suggestion
silence fell upon the meeting. Presi-
dent Snattinger asked if anyone would
second the motion. DR.. Hamilton re-
piled:
Il can't make up my mind that this
would be proper action for this league
to take. 1t seems to me that it is get
ting into the field of politics more than
we care to, and besides it is a subject
upon which there is serious division
of opinion. 1t seems to me that we
Jvorld soon be charged with indorsing
the Joints; the action would be miScOn-
strued and it would be but a little while
until we would be regarded as being
in league with the disreputable element
in Topeka
'Oh my, no." replied Mr.. Heery.
Nothing of that kind would be sug-
geSted. 1 believe when a police officer
does his duty he should be commended
without regard to politics. The action
of the police department in collecting
money enough to pay its own expenses
is something which has not been done
in Topeka for years and it is something
which should be done all the time. That
would go long way toward helping
us out of our trouble with high taxes"
Mr.. Snattinger-I am willing to con-
cede a good many things on matters
of this kind, but it is a question in my
to lend our approval to the plan of col
1ecting from violators of the laws blood
money, or money paid for the privilege
of doing business in violation of the
law 1 seriously question the wisdom
of such action on the part of the league.
Mr.. Heery-WelI, if this league is
afraid to do anything We may as
well quit right here. 1t will not pay
US to meet and spend our time doing
nothing but indulging in talk. Talk is
cheap but taxes are high. We must,
- Ii1h a w h
get after some of these things of public
interest and stay with them until some
thing in the way of relief comes to
Mr.. Heery's motion, not having re-
ceived a second. was dropped and the
league did not go on record on the joint
question.
Mr. Heery then presented another
resolution which would have been
turned down had a vote been taken,
but it was postponed indefinitely. The
resolution follows:
ITO the Mayor and Council: The Tax
payers league of Topeka would re-
spectfully mention to your honorable
body that we are paying taxes on a
boom basis, and while it may be neces-
sary to raise a certain amount of money
to conduct the business of the city, yet
we think that in some cases you are
paying extraordinary prices for the
services rendered.
For instance, you are paying $3.50
for eight hours work for laborers when
You are also paying So for man
and team when the price is $225 to Sz.9o
for ten hours.
seWhile we don't like to see wages re
duced, we would like to know that the
business of the city is being conducted
in the same manner that any good bust
ness man would conduct his private at
fairs.
I'VE would suggest that Is cents an
hour for laboring work is 20 per cent
above the market price, and yet the
he, NO
price paid by you at present.
Mr. Heery suggested that the resolu-
ton be adopted, signed by the president
and secretary and presented to the
John Hovenden said: This league is
going too far when it proposes to at
tack the laboring men. We cannot at
ford to do anything of that kind. 1t is
not the labOring men who are robblnS
us but the men who are doing big con-
tract work. They are the fellows who
want to be watched and not the la Dor
ing men,"
J. S. Collins-There are two sides to
this question. Each has features of mer-
it but 1 am not prepared a this time to
go on record with reference to the res
oiution. I would suggest that it be laid
over to some future time. We would
better interest the taxpayers. We should
not antagoniZe the laboring men. The
way to make this league succeed is to
get the taxpayers to help push it along.
1t is not the laboring men who are get
men who are in offices where fees are
collected. This is one of the greatest
evils with which we have to contend.
Something should be done to shut down
on these monsters.
Mr.. Heery came to the support of his
resolution saying: IF we are going to
make demand for economy we should
begin at the bottom. The work on the
streets, for example, is a political snap.
Men work, or pretend to work eight
hours a day. They don't do it. They
go to work about O'Clock and quit any
time around 11:30. They don't give the
city fair return for the wages which
they receive. They get the best pay
and do the least work of any class of
laborers in town. When I figure on a
job of work 1 estimate upon the basis
at which I can secure men and teams
The great difficulty continued Mr..
Heery, lis that men are towards on this
proposition.I met a member of the coun-
Gil few days ago and he wanted me
to hurry this up L asked him why he
didn't take it up with the council him
self. oh, he said, you know how it would
be with me The people who elected
me would get after me at once. I can't
afford to give them an opportunity to
do this That's the way it is re-
marked Mr.. Heery as he sat down. THE
councilmen are afraid of it and it looks
like the league was occupying a SINH
lar position:
more to do than to attack the ages of
the laboring men in this city it had bet
ter quit business altogether exclaimed
Hovenden.
My opinion isl said President Snat-
finger, that we should begin at the
foundation head and not at the bottom.
The legislature is the place where we
should seeks relief I agree with Mr..
Collins that the pernicious fee system
is the grea test evil with which we have
to contend. All governments should be
conducted on business principles. The
great trouble is that when men get into
office they use every means a their
command to get all there is in it with
out regard to the justice of their con-
duct or the interests of the people whom
they are chosen to represent.
"A lot of people fool themselves into