The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-28
MANY BILLS FOR CITIES
Numerous Measures introduced
to Improve Kansas Towns.

Cities Of the first class in Kansas viii
come in for a lions share of this ses-
sion's legislation, even if no more bills
are introduced than have been already
Most of the bills on this subject are
really Of meritOriOus character ana
will rr0bably receive serious cOnslderd-
tion I'm the two houses. BY all odds
the most important one of them IS the
revised city charter act for first class
cities This is well known subject IN
towns for whose government the pro-
posed charter is intended
Kansas City is aspiring to a largs
quantity Of new law specifying cities of
the first class having population OF
$4,000 or more. 1t is only neat ana
Eerviceahle way of getting around the
charge OF special legislation Three or
four bills of this kind have been nauQ-
ed i'm at both houses. Senator WulIe-
buhler Of LeavenwOrth has a bill pro-
vding for the creation of boards Of
public works in cities of the first ana
second classes which are in possession
of public utilities of any sort while
Porter of Crawford has a bill empower
ing cities to assess tax to create pub
bic library funds.
The revised charter act is probably
the best thing in the way of law that
has been proposed at this session. IL
consists of a compilation Of all the eX-
listing statutes bearing on the govern
ment of first class cities. Its principal
DbJrl- l0 10 secure ia a convenient form
CODY of all the existing law on that
subject, with the idea of making IL
available to the people affected by il.
The form of the bill is patterned after
the charter of the city Of Sacramento.
Cal Representative Bale Waggener Of
Atchison introduced il last week
W utekuhlers bill IS for the regula-
pon o- cities Of the first and second
class owning WaterwOrks gas or cleo
trio light and power plants street ra1l-
ways and telephone system 1t DrO-
Nides for the election of a board of pub
ne works to consist Of twelve members.
nol more than six of whom shall be from
IHe same political party It's members
shall have three-year terms. arranged So
that four members may be chosen each
year ln ITS general principles of man
agenent this board Of public works is
20 be conducted similarly to boards of
education. with the city treasurer in
charge of its funds and with absolute
power over the appointment of en-
qlQyes- The bill is patterned after ex-
listing Missouri laws.
Forters bill. relative to public lfhraria=
IS short Tt simply empowers cities Of the
statt a. assess a library fund tax of not
Sstttln- library buildings and equipping
senator cubbison of Kansas city has
looked AFTER his constituency in GOOD
shape He has three bills relative to Ire
municipal affairs of cities of the first class
having a population of 50. 100 or over Kan
and is the only town i'm the state f0 con-
under the head provided i'm the bill There
g NOT. however, anything contemplated ii
ms bills which other cities of the firs.
class are likely to want badly one 0i
THESE relates to bonded Indebtedness anC
hNes the limit al 5 per cent of an the tax.
able property for bonds for other thar
sPeclA improvement purposes. A limit 81
% per cent is liked for the total bonded in.
dehtedness. This is a new feature In tn,
law At present the limit Of 10 per cent j.
set on the legal bonded indebtedness e,
elusive of bonds for special Improvement
A bin providing for the election Of 2
board of three park commissioners witt
power TO issue bonds and to condemn larl.
inside and outside of city limits is one o.
tupnisons other ones-It gives park board.
more power than now exercised by then
and looks toward the greater beautify-inr
of the larger cities OF the state Mr. Cub
bison mas another relative to the proceed
urc Tor paving and repaving streets il
cllies of over $1,000. Under it the improve
ment shall be taxed directly to the Owne.
OF the property