The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-24
FOR COMMISSIONER.
A Successful Mayor Would Make
a Successful Commissioner

Where so many good men are running
for an office the State Journal hesitates
about singing out one man and urging
him for the position. but in connection
with the Office of county commissioner,
we believe this paper is thoroughly war
ranted in saying that the interests of
this county can be best served by the
nomination and election of Mr.. Charles
A. Fellows.
A county commissioner is the servant
OF the people. The salary of the Office
was recently advanced to a sum which
VIII warrant a good business man in
deVoting the part of his time necessary
to look after the important affairs of
the county. To be sure this salary is
only $1,000 per month. but not all of the
commissioners time is required.
Mr. Fellows is a successful business
man; his conduct of the affairs of the
city While he was mayor reflected the
greatest credit upon him. He went in
to the mayors chair when the city was
hampered with debt and when it had
never placed any bonds for less than
five per cent interest, and even then
only by the payment of large commits
SiOns or bonuses which made the per
cent for the first year from 512 to 6 per
cent Mr.. Fellows left the city's affairs
in most excellent shape with plenty of
cash in the treasury.
Just before he retired from office the
-
per cent bonds by paying off $4,000 of
them from the coal hole fund and $13,-
600 from a sinking fund created during
Mr.. Fellows administration, the first of
the kind, and issued new bonds for only
$4,000 to cover the $40, 600. These bonds
were placed at an interest OF only So
per cent and no commission was paid
for the transaction.
When Mr.. Fellows went into Office
the debt of the city was 1887 900, part of
which, $74 900, bore the large interest
of eight per cent. During Mr.. Fellows
four years term of office this debt was
reduced $28, 500 by direct payment Just
before Mr.. Fellows went into office
$4,000 of the city's bonds. bearing five
per cent. interest, were offered on the
New York market for months and could
not be sold at par without paying
commission Just before he went into
office the tax leVies for city purposes
amounted to 500 80 on 81, 900 assessed
valuation; during the last year of his
administration this was reduced to $40,
and in the meantime a sinking fund
had been provided for, which had never
been levied Before.
The judgment for sewers was pro-
vided for and paid during his admins
tration, amounting to over $4,000. The
repairs on the asphalt pavement,
amounting to $40, 600 were paid for dur
ing this mayors term, and the contract
for these repairs was effected by the
special efforts of Mayor Fellows Not
WlthStandlng the reduction on the
leVies of taxes the assessed valuation
on property was not increased, but was
actually less. In 1894. the year before
MI Fellows went into the executive
chair the assessed valuation of city
property was So, 558, 556 90-too high; in
1898 the last year of Mr. Fellows term,
the valuation was reduced to So, SS5. 794.
AT the close of the fiscal year March
81, 1899, few days before Mr.. Fellows
retired as mayor, there was a balance
in the city treasury of $133, 4123S.
Now this is the kind of a. man who
proposes to serve the county Is COM
missioner, and this is the kind of a man
Shawnee needs at this time 1t is true
that no court house is to be built and no
Kansas avenue bridge to be construct
ed, but the general affairs of the county
need the wise and careful attention of a,
firSt-class business man. Mr.. Fellows
would be a valuable addition to the 9TH
er members of the board who remain in
office. The State Journal makes these
remarks without in any manner intend
ing to reflect on the other excellent gen
tlemen who are candidates for this
place. but Mr.. Fellows by a wise and
careful administration of the city's af-
fairs has saved this town thousands of
dollars, and if he is willing to devote
the necessary part of his time to the
county the people should thank him for
the offer and support him at the polls.