The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-12
HOW TO CROW.
Topeka Commercial Club Dis
cusses This Question.
Development of Oil and Gas
Should Be Accomplished.
CLUB U TALK.
Project Again Discussed But
No Conclusion Reached.
Club Fayors Election Of Rail-
road Commissioners.
CLUB HOUSE TALK

AS a part Of the programme Of the
monthly meeting Wednesday night
each member of the Commercial c1uD
was asked to make a two minute talk
upon The Best Thing We Can Do TO
Make the City Grow" II the CONNER
eial club wants to secure the interest
of its members in its programmes it
ought to make this number a part of
every regular meeting. Ideas were pro-
pounded last night which had never
before been discussed in the club but
which nearly concerned the material
welfare OF the town. The suggestions
advanced were varied in the extreme.
The one which provoked the fullest
comment brought up the question of
the insurance laws of this state. In
discussing it DR.. Fl. A. Warner said:
My suggestion would be that every
one of the two hundred and e~ighty-fve
members of this club should go to the
state house tomorrow and do what
they could to secure the repeal of all
the existing insurance laws on the sta
tute book excepting that enc providing
for the office of commissioner of in
surance The effect of our state laws
is to make things hard for the estab-
lishment Of successful insurance bust
ness in Kansas. Outside insurance
companies take out millions of dollars
from the state annually. Things
ought TO be so hat Kansas companies
could do the insurance business and
keep the money here. The effect of re-
taliatory clauses in our avs is to make
things ard for Kansas companies in
other states. There is too much law on
the subject"
Dr. Warner is an insurance man but
he dealt only with a general view OF
the insurance business and his remarks
were endorsed by the other members
of the club. Kansas has a large and
assorted collection Of insurance laws
to which the present legislature is pre-
pairing to contribute one or two new
ones. The way of the insurance COM
pany is devious. not to say difficult.
That so much legislation is unneces-
sary seems to be the opinion of the
membership of the Commercial club
and in the informal discussion which
followed DR.. Warmers remarks the
sentiment was freely given ven that
most of the laws ought to be erased and
the insurance companies permitted to
shift for themselves after the fashion
of other business enterprises.
q. c.. Clemens presented some ideas
for theractivity of the club during its
tuture operations. One of these was to
subsidize the daily new p into
forgetfulnesS of the prohibition Issue
in order that the administrator of 9TH
er affairs might be given more atten-
4 ton. which of course was a joke. His
other was given in a more serious
tone. He that a COM
I mittee from the club be appointed to
secure and examine a copy Of the re-
vised charter act which is now be-
fore the legislature. This is a bill in
cooperating all the existing state laws
governing cities of the first class and
was drawn up by representatives Of
the six first class towns in the state on
the recommendation of the Kansas
Municipal league. The law contains
some new provisions the desire blllty OF
which has probably not been inVeSt1-
gated by any organization such as the
Commercial club. Mr.. Clemens sug-
gestion was taken up and VIII be acted
upon.
z. B. Guild spoke of the possible dis
coveries of gas. coal or oil in the ground
adjacent to Topeka and the ~desirability
! of pushing Investigations in this direc-
ton. He made reference to the oIganl-
zation being effected by North Topeka
men for boring on the north side and
urged tina such Investigations ought te
be encouraged by Topeka business meI
with greater unanimity-
W. S. Bergundthal explained that thu
company now being formed had retain
ed the control of its affairs in the hand
of north side men because there seemed
better prospects for making discoveries
on the north side of the river n tina
II WAS MEE2tEQ 10 &EA4LCl Az ~
the organization in that locality.
That there is an opening for the prof
liable Investment of a "cOnsIdefabi
amount of money in residence BUILDING
in the southwest part of town was mad
the principal subject of a short talk b,
DR.. Norman Plass, president or WASH
burn college. who has recently J0lne'
the club. He said it was next to i'm
possible to secure dwellings there an
9 that nan property ought TO max
good financial returns.
FOR NEW CLUB QUARTERS.
. AS a suitable consideration for IN
! business of the new year the need G
G new club rooms was made a subject q
discussion by the club last night. Fran
/ J. Brown laid before the club in tn
form a written communication. a prope
: sition for the erection OF a club nous
ON the northeast corner OF seventh an
Q Jackson streets. The suggestion is t
Incorporate a building ana loan CON
y uanv for the purpose of the erection {
! the building and the purchase OF IN
property for its location. The estimate
total cost is 500, 600 of which $4,000
for the building.
= 1t would be a club house for the az
c-ommodation of as many organization
as could be interested in II, Anon
those whose cooperation it is believe
= could be secured are the T.. A. a, II
Y. w. C.. A. the Y. NJ. c. A, n It
peka Whist club and the Federation
E Women's clubs. Besides accommods
u lions lOf an Oh ulcSS II NouAu - F
( bic to furnish room for a number {
n business offices. IN that part of tt
e building nearest to the National hot
e could be afforded a considerable amour
of space suitable for hotel sleeplr
chambers. which could be connectt
with the National hotel The manag
v ment of the hotel has ~signihed a vii
E ingness 10 lease all such rooms as wou
g be available.
e Money for the building could be raise
q by the issuing OF company bonds al
" the sale Of shares of the building con
pany's stock. The whole propositii
Il was referred to the building committ'
4 to be reported upon at a later meetil
If of the club.
It That the Commercial club has be-
st making good growth under the suspe
sion of the i%nitiatery fees was shown
the list of almost forty applicants +