The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-23

sttutional revision
When we take into consideration that
Wichita is a level city and that Atchison
IS q billy city, we can readily see that
the law relating 10 public improvements
would be entirely different in the two
places.
II believe that II VIII be impossible TO
secure ar amendment that VIII permit
cities Of the first class TO adopt their
charter. The next best thing viii be 70
formulate q charter act that viii permit
the cities to 90 what they desire, instead
of passing mandatory legislation.
1T IS not the farmer who opposes
needed legislation for the cities, The &C
tion OF the committees on cities OF the
first class killed our bills"
Representative Charles LUling, said in
reply to the last statement Of Mr.. Bird:
THESE bills were fought in the cOumit-
tee As far as the mouse IS concerned,
We fought hard for the bills. The lobby
Of the league begins at the wrong place
They should use proper efforts d get
a man elected speaker Of the house
who wiu appoint the right men on the
committees. The committee on cities of
tho first class was appointed with \ view
Of defeating the bills this league pro-
posed. You want 10 work TO get speaker
that Is not a bcodIer, or who is not ask
ms how much there Is in the thins.
Representative Luling then explained
why the bills introduced BY the league
were rot passed in the house. AIr. Bird
Of Topeka explained why they failed in
the senate committee.
The first bill which authorized the
mayor and council Of all cities TO pre-
vent the spread Of small pox or other
contagious diseases and 10 provide for
paying the expenses of the action, was
defeated in the house committee, 50 MI
I-uiiag stated. because the farmers claim
ed it would empower the city to make
the county pay part Of the cost OF the
pest house.
The bill which authorized cities 70 pro-
vide for cutting the weeds in the streets
and charging the costs up TO the abutt-
ing property, was defeated because John
Seaton. Of Atchison. wanted the costs
20 be charged up to the tenants instead
of the property owners. SO Mr.. Luiing
said.
The bin authorizing the cities to pro-
vide for the removal of snow and ice
from the sidewalks was defeated, very
properly. said NIr. Luling, because it
was claimed that if passed it might en-
able people who slipped on the ice 70
bring suits against the city, though the
city had not had time TO clear away
the snow.
The bin authorizing the taxation Of
franchises was never IN the hands Of the
house committee, said the Wichita mem
Der. because Dave Mulvaue got away
with it. Mr. Bird said it was lost by the
senate committee.
The bin authorizing the addition to
cities of the FIRST and second class of
plated and unplatted land was defeated
by one Of the Populist members from
SedgwiCk county
The bin authorizing cities Of the first
class to tax telephone, telegraph, street
railway. and electric light poles died in
are bin was lost.
Tho bin authorizing cities Of the first
class to establish charges for the furnish
ing Of gas. water, gasoline light, cleo
trio light or power for public or private
use and was defeated in the senate
through the influence Of the Metropolitan
STREET railway of Kansas City.
The bin providing for charging the cost
of snrinkliug the strets TO the abutung
property was killed in committee by q
delegation from Kansas CITY.
After the cause of the fate of these
bills had been explained. the officials Of
the various cities represented were asked
10 address the meeting
Mayor Frazier of Cof7eyville said.
This league ought TO consider the ques-
ton Of revenue Il SENS 10 be neces-
sar- for the cities TO amend the methods
az the valuation Of taxable property.
Because cur assessed valuation is =
per cent of the actual valuation. taxes
are so hish that We are afraid We VIII
discourage enterprise. We should raise
the valuation and lower the rate Of tax
alton. and thus encourage the location
OF enterprises in our cities.
a bin providing for an increased val
nation viii be submitted at the next
session OF the Iegislature)
Mayor Busay. IL Parsons. said: We
need more revenue in Parsons and we
need q law compelling people 70 tap The
sewers
Mayor eaton. Of Winfield. said: Our
greatest need IS more revenue.
Mayor Pollock 81 Arkansas City. said:
There is no question 81 the great i'm
uortance Of the tax question. There IS
20 IeEal way by which q city OF the sec
ond class can raise revenue and keep
out Of debt"
City Attorney. Spencer Of Topeka. said;
.sKy-7en became city attorney. I sup
posed THAI the Office c7uld De success
gully rln en- q sCienulc basis, that the
law was Just SO ard that We must 80
according 10 law j had been ia but a
short time when ( found thar il O man
undertook 10 follow the narrow path with
the city council. he would be side-tracsed
and 1 determined 70 keep up with the
procession. III is practically impossible
for The mayor and council 90 act ia &C
cordance with the strict lax
when / became eity attorney, I Evas
astorishcd vTith regard 20 water works
devastation. Today there : no way by
which 3 city can condemn water
WORKS plant
Tie claes ought IN have the right. at
least under reasonable supervision, d.
make tneir owr charters. While much
can be done ~ the recommendati2Hs
hl-ls more can - accoDap iished ey con-
certcd actca. NE snould dTafr a law
providing for the revision II the city
CHARTER srl d racoE1pl l1tioa q Tie laws.
u cent believe that The average les
isiat1r has anything against lhe cities
~ the lrst ans saccld class Tuless
we hare absolute harmony among the
c.t5es ~ the FIRST and second class. we
VII 81 handicapped
Ci.y attorney Hudson. ~ Fort Scott.
said. ~Taz assessments are never seen
few mcrtrs arc z liss * 81 Scott
r.attsr ~ asteelshrleur Cd sCe hov so~nr
s lzr-elr cn personal property. 1llca
r~o-er.v 81 II seosi is taxed NJ te-
cs1Is Oh fae le-l1r 4f ~ 1r larst
et--se mere ha-s.liss .sre EST assessed
at uc-e rtstr t7 ce te @ ea.
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