The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-03
KANSAS NEWS.
Refunding of Chase COunty's c.
Il. & w. Bonds.
One Side of Controversy of a
Much MOoted Question.
A FIERCE LOCAL WAR.
Many Citizens Think Bonds
We're Illegally Sold.
Commissioners Defended by
Three Good Citizens.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
The columns of the journal have for
some weeks occasionally mentioned the
refunding of Chase county's c. K & w.
R. R. aid bonds In such a manner as to
convey the impression that there WAS a
wrong being perpetrated upon the tax
payers Of Chase county and inferentially
that our board of county commissioners
had made clandestine contract in the
name of the county from improper mo-
tives for the refunding Of said bonds.
Hoping that. in Justice to the. worthy
members of said board ana the good
name Of our county you win right the
you the facts connected with said matter;
The said g.. K 61 w, Ry bonds were Is
sued in 1892 in compliance with the per-
emptory mandate Of the supreme court
Of Kansas to comply with the contract OF
subscription for so shares of stock, made
by county board in November, 1886, and
therefore not .redeernable under the re-
Said bonds are per cent maturing in
1872. and command q premium OF $z56
per thousand in the financial markets.
At the 1900 July meeting of the board of
county commissioners a proposition was
made to the board to TO- refund into PEI, per
in bonds and the matter was publicly
action until the October meeting.at which
the matter was again publicly discussed
before the board and postponed until the
January. 1901. meeting, at which meeting
the matter was publicly canvassed before
Thereupon the Populist organ, the Cour-
and and ReVeilIe and the Republican or
gan, the Chase County Leader, publicly
advocated the refunding of the debt into
4 per cent optional payment bonds and
urged the board to make the refunding
contract so that Chase county WOt1ld not
have to provide a sinking fund, but could
begin paying off and cancelling the bond
ed Indebtedness of the county, and as this
plan was favored by such leading citizens
as John D. Minnfck, president Chase
County National bank and the newspa-
pers above named. special meeting OF
the board was called and the refunding
contract made. and were it not for certain
personal jealousies and the professional
knockers and grafters, the refunding con-
tract would have had the universal ap-
prevail of the taxpayers of the county.
A petition was circulated for special
meeting of the board June %, to an
null the refunding contract, and the board
meeting in special session, a general dis
cussion of the whole matter was held,
but as none of the knockers could show
how the county would suffer any loss
from refunding the bonds or show a
method by which the county could pay of
its Indebtedness unless the C K g. W.
per cents of 1922 were refunded into op-
tional bonds. the board of county commits
sioneFs refused to attempt to rescind
their refunding action. and the best citi-
zens of the county are applauding and
sustaining the action OF the board.
Thanking you for your courtesy, If you
make the desired correction, we are very
truly yours,
MANY CITIZENS OF CHASE COUNTY.
We guarantee the correctness Of the in
closed communication "
w. +. RIGHTMIHE,
w. H. HOLSINGER.
Cof4ouvvood Falls .T1liv L 1901