The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-26
ON AUGUST I2.
New City Hall Election to Be
Held Then.
Necessary to Give Time to Close
Registration Books.
WILL SOON BE OVER.
People viii Set Their Seal on
Obstruction.
City Council Will Complete De-
tails Tonight.
WILL SOON BE OVER.

James A Troutman and T. F. Carver,
of the advisory committee appointed by
the Commercial club with reference to
a method of procedure in the city hall
matter, met with City Attorney Bird
today and formulated an ordinance
calling for a special election to vote
bonds for the city building under the
general statute covering the subject.
This action was in accordance with
resolution passed at a meeting of the
ways and means committee of the
council in joint session with the Com
merciaI club committee last evening
The election will probably be called
for Saturday, August u. 1t was de
sired to call it earlier. but it is neces-
sary to postpone it until that date in
order to give due notice of the closing
of the registration books, which are
closed ten days prior to the election.
The ordinance will be presented to
the city council for its consideration to-
night. It will undoubtedly pass and be
published and become effective tomor-
row. After that five days notice must
be given by the commissioner of cleo
tfOnS before the registration books can
be closed, which will allow the books
to be closed on Wednesday, August 2.
The election can not be held until ten
days after the closing of the poll books,
which would bring it on Saturday,
August r.
It is thought that Saturday will be
the most favorable day for holding the
election, because nearly every one has
occasion to get out that day anyway,
and more people will vote than on any
other day.
1t will be possible for only male voters
to vote at this election because it is a
bond election held under a general sta
tute. At the other election women were
a n a f0Irt t1R 0DSifi inT1 llC
but only a few comparatively availed
themselves of the privilege.
The proposed ordinance places the
amount of bonds to be issued at 100000,
the same as were voted at the election
last spring. It will provide that they
must be sold at not less than par, and
that no commission can be paid for
their sale. A further provision will be
that they can not bear more than 4
per cent interest. Plenty of purchasers
will be found at this rate. It is sug-
gested that the purchasers of the other
bonds. the sale of which was declared
void by reason of Judge Hazen's de
cisiOn, ought to be given an option on
this issue at the same rate at which
they agreed to purchase the others, if
they desire these at that rate-3% per
cent.
Every citizen of Topeka who is in
terested in the welfare of his city
should see to it that his name is on the
registration books by Tuesday of next
week, so that he will be able to vote
is especially incumbent upon the people
of the Sixth ward, who have come into
the city since an election was held, and
who have never yet registered Practi-
cal1y none of the citizens of that ward
have registered since POtwin became a
part of the city, and they should do so
Immediately. The Sixth ward is over
Whelmingly in favor of the citv hall
proposition and every man should see
to it that he is able to vote. AS soon
IS the election is called the poll books
for that ward will be sent out to the
POtWin transfer station for registrations
in order that people who live there will
not have to come down to the city
building to register.
Every other person who did not regis
ter for the spring election or who has
moved to another precinct since that
time. and who wants to see Topeka
made better city to live in, should reg
lister at once. An effort will be made
by the obstructionists to defeat the city
hall proposition, and there should be
such majority in favor of it that it
will be an everlasting rebuke to obstruc-
tion tactics in Topeka. A few of the
ObstructionistS have expressed faith in
their ability to defeat the proposition
and the loyal people Of Topeka should
treat them as Missourians and "shoW,
them on that subject
Even after the bonds are again voted
it is possible that the obstructionists
viii be SO dead to sense of justice that
they will again resort to injunction tao
tics if the least possible chance is given
them.
At the joint meeting of the city coun-
ell and special committee of the Com
mercial club Tuesday evening the SEN
timent was practically unanimous for
the calling of a special election on the
city hall question.
J. B. Billiard and A. NJ. Baird attended
the meeting and said that their only de-
sire is to have the auditorium in the
city park. They said they have no de-
sire to prevent the city securing a city
hall. Mr.. Baird said that the obstruc-
tiOnists had been abused so much that
the people will not again vote bonds
Mr.. Billiard wanted the question of a
site submitted to the people and he said
he would abide by the will of the major
ity.
The meeting decided that there is no
authority for submitting the question of
the site.
Before the city council can pass the
ordinance calling for the special cleo
tion, it is necessary that a petition,
signed by fifty voters, asking that the
election be called. be presented to that
body. Such a petition was prepared by
Judge Horton today and is being cir
culated this afternoon. Fifty names to
a petition of that kind can be secured
in a very few minutes.