The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-13


the welfare of our beautiful city. and to
do that in paving, as in everything else
which will best further its interests
Strangers visiting Topeka who have an
idea of locating will be attracted by our
magnificent streets. beautiful lawns,
handsome trees and substantial pave
ments, but at the same time they VIII
inquire as to the cost of these public I'M
provements and the rate of taxation
Cases have been known where people
have refused to locate here by reason OF
much this has retarded our growth? 1t
is not best for US to be immoderate III
paving. A reasonable amount laid every
year and continuing for a long period
will give better evidence of continued
prosperity and be for the better good of
the city
The business men along Kansas ave-
nue. whom Mr. Macferran saw and asked
for opinions regarding the sentiment of
the paper, and who unhesitatingly ap-
Jackson Long, F. A. Snow. A. F. Horner,
S. M. Wood, c. S. Elliott, G.. c. Worley,
George V. Hossfeld. F. H. Stokes. H. G.
Ashby, J. w. Farnsworth w A. L.
thompson. George Bauer, william o.
Ewing, c. C. Blakeley, Adam Troup.
Frank Sims. M. F. Rigby. A. c. Elder,
Warren NJ. Crosby. S. Barnum, w. n.
Hall. L. c. Bailey, George NJ. Chase, c.
Payne, w. w. Mills. E. H. Crosby A
DeMuth, Edward Wilder. James B. Hay
den, DR.. G. B. Reed, r. S. Thompson, W.
NJ. Thompson.
Councilman Bergundthal of the First
ward was present, and after the reading
of the paper said he was in sympathy
with the views which it expressed. He
thought it probable that the matter
would be brought up before the city
council.
Secretary Anderson of the club replied
to the recent newspaper interviews
which Henry J. Allen, chairman of the
state board of charities, gave out after
the club had passed resolution calling
the attention of Governor Stanley to
the fact that the board had been pur-
chasing quantities of supplies from dea-
lers outside of the state. Mr. Allen has
not yet answered officially the charge of
the Commercial club of Topeka, al
though as soon as its action was re-
ported in the papers he gave out
statement to the papers in which he de-
MED in substance that the board had
purchased supplies outside the state
with the exception of certain articles
which Kansas dealers could not easily
supply at the same rate as offered by
other business men. The statement of
Secretary Anderson of the Commercial
club is as follows:
I'm May, 1901, this club called atten-
ton to the fact that the state board of
charities was purchasing goods outside
of the state contrary to the resolution
passed by the legislature. The chairman
of the board admitted at the time. that
they had purchased some cheap iron
bedsteads and asked for the name of the
Topeka dealer who gave the club the
information. He was advised that the
information was furnished by a Kansas
City dealer 1t was supposed that the
attention of the board having been call
ed to a resolution passed by a Kansas
legislature in the interest of Kansas
dealers, who paid Kansas taxes, was all
that was necessary to stop the practice
of purchasing goods outside of the state.
"On the 10th day of September, 1902.
the secretary of the club was again ad-
vised in letter from Kansas. City. that
the state board of charities had pur-
chased furniture for the Osawatomie
asylum from a Kansas City retail house.
No Topeka house, and so far as we can
learn no other furniture dealer in the
state, was asked for figures. At the
September meeting of the club, resO-
luton was passed calling the attention
of the governor to the fact that the res
olution of the legislature, regarding the
purchase of supplies, was being violated
by the state board of charities. The
chairman of the board. Mr. H. ]. Allen,
Immediately dropped the arduous du-
ties of the campaign, rushed to the state
capital, interviewed the reporters of all
the daily papers, and incidentally ex-
hibited his ears several inches above his
standing collar. His sole object seemed
dealers gave the Commercial club the
information. He wanted to publish some
one for daring to even intimate that
the state board of charities was not
immaculate. In his interview he said
the meeting of the club was not full
and few real estate men passed the
resolution. Perhaps the meeting was not
as full some others attended in the
past by the chairman Of the state board
of charities, but those present seemed
to be full of business all right and thor
oughly onto their job.
In his excitement he made the state
nent that he cared nothing for the reso-
luton of the legislature, and in the next
breath declared that the board had made
but few purchases outs lde of the state.
and then only at figures that could not
be met by Kansas dealers. The records
show that the board has purchased. out
side of the state, supplies to the amount
of $4,000 and while this a small per
cent of the total expenditures by the
board 1t is just $4,000 too much. The
statement that he bought the furniture
from wholesale house, is not true, and
neither is the statement that he bought
his maple flooring for $40 per thousand
less than the Kansas dealers would fur
nish it. He never asked but one Ieaier
in Topeka for .surcs OF. maple flooring
when there are a .lCzcn dealers in Topeka
and other points in the state that would
gladly meet any outside competition The
business men of Topeka and the state
generally, do not want to sell goods to
the state unless they can meet the prices
of the dealers outside of Kansas. and for
Mr.. Allen to say that they cannot meet
outside competition is a reelection on the
business ability and enterprise of the
dealers of Kansas. Kansas men general
", believe that they are up to date and
the Kansas business man is no exception
to the rule. The next Legislature will be ask
ed to enact the substance of the resolution
passed by both houses in 1899 into law,
and at Mr.. Aliens suggestion. tloy will
be asked to investigate the purchase of
1000 worth of supplies contrary to the
resolution of the legislature. In the mean
time the Commercial club of Topeka will
and if the chairman of the board is
anxious to punish some one for daring to
int ina te that the hoard IS dnira-- thei1: