The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-29
Revived AGAIN.
Mayor Bergundthal FavOrs Oc-
cupatiOn and Vehicle Tax.
Has Inaugurated Movement for
Passage of Ordinance.
CITY HAS THE RIGHT.
Courts Have Decided Such
Taxes Are Legal.
Expected to Reduce the General
City Levy.
CITY HAS THE RIGHT.

Mayor w. S. Bergundthal has in
augurated a movement in favor of es-
tablishing an occupation tax and
vehicle tax This was proposed a year
ago when Mayor Bergundthal was
councilman but was not taken up seri-
ously by the council. Mayor Bergund-
thai cannot levy the tax himself, but he
announced today that he would use his
influence with the council for the pass
age Of an ordinance authorizing it. The
need of money to carry on the heavy
running expenses of the city at the
present time has set him to an invest1-
cation of the resources of the city with
the result that he says he is confirmed
in his belief of the ACCESSIBILITY of the
tax
We can form an idea of the probable
cost of running the city next year."
Mayor Bergundthal said this morning,
and the next thing to do is to raise
the money. l believe that the situation
warrants the levying Of a license tax
and 1 shall endeavor to have one Great
ed. Topeka has been running behind for
years, even under the most favorable
conditions, and the situation has simply
become worse since the flood. Our in
debtedness is pfling up at an enormous
rate now and will continue to increase
more rapidly than it has done In former
years unless we exercise unusual means
to prevent it.
There is no question about the legal
tty Of an occupation tax, because the
matter has been tested in Kansas
courts and the right of cities to assess
such tax confirmed. 1 realize the
feeling of opposition to such a meas
ure which has always existed in To-
peka, but 1 do not think that that OPP
position should be given way to now
when the city is every day becoming
more deeply involved in debt. Also l
am in favor of levying a special tax
Of ,frI.
These people enjoy the freedom of the
streets and the miles of pavement
which the city has laid and paid for.
In many instances the people who use
paving tax in return for the benefit
they have enjoyed. That however is
not the argument. The tax is legal and
Justlfiable under the circumstances.
Kansas City maintains an occupa-
ton tax at all times and finds it one of
the profitable sources of income to the
city treasury. 1 believe that by levying
a tax in Topeka upon occupations of all
sorts and upon vehicles it would be pos
slDle TO reduce the general city tax
levy. But in any event we ought to take
recourse to this means of extricating the
city from its present condition of in
debtedness. I shall endeavor to have the
matter taken up by the ways and means
committee of the council at its meeting
when it takes up the general subject Of
tax levy for the coming year"
without some departure from the ordi-
nary lines of taxation the city appears to
have reached the end of its capabilities for
raising money to meet the running ex-
penses. For several years the six mill levy
for each of the general improvement fund
and the general revenue fund has been in
force and can not be increased under the
law License taxes upon a great many oc-
equations and privileges granted by the
city are now In force and bring in several
thousand dollars year. Under this class
are placed huckster circus peddier in
gurance agency and auctioneering licenses,
and numerous others Most of the various
city departments have some small sources
of income which are carefully watched and
made the most of, but the total sum of
income has proven insufficient to keep the
city free from debt under the increased
burden Of clearing up the wreckage Of
this years flood.