The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-18
IT WAS TRIED BEFORE.
City Has Several Times Presented
Paving Question to Legislature

A sinister looking cloud has come
mn to disturb the fair vision OF the
state paying to the city $4,000 for
the asphalt pavement about the state
house square The city's officials IN
the past have not been derelct In
their duty as was first supposed when
If was discovered that the amount OF
this improvement had not met Dy
the city. On the other hand, the state
has had its attention called to the IN
debtedness on two different occasions
and each time the matter has died IN
the legislative committees peLore
whom the matter was presented
Neither time did it escape far enough
from the clutches of the COMMITTEES to
wedge its way into the notice OF the
legislature as a whole
g. s. McFaddeu, formers city clerk,
who occupied that Office from 1898 to
1899 but who is now employed at the
United States Pension agency in this
city stated today that the city council
had presented the matter to the leg1s-
lature during his term OF office and
that the representatives from Snaw-
nee county to the legislative bodies
had urged the passage of an appro-
priation covering the amount he
further stated that during the term of
Office of Geo. Tauber as city clerk the
city had endeavored to collect the
amount of the paving; in 1883 at
which time the first representation
was made to the legislature Prior to
the state would pay
The attitude taken by the commit
tee at that time was that the city
should be glad and willing to pay for
the asphalt pavement about the
square, assuming the states expense
in the matter, because the capital city
was in receipt of a great many favors
from the legislature, that the state
house is located here and in addition
several other state institutions each
of which contributed materially to the
welfare of the city and that in conse-
quence Of such gifts from the citizens
of Kansas at large the city of Topeka
should grant a largess in return.
Mayor Bergundthal, when apprised
of this piece of news, stated that he
thought it was an injustice to the city
to make it assume the entire burden
of the Improvement. 1--WE can offer
the state some concession in the mat
ter" he continued. "and won't de-
mand from the state the amount of
10 years, the length of time providing
Tor the payment of the amount in
full, the whole tax being payable in
one-tenth installmentS each year"
Councilman Swendson, who is on
committee appointed from the council
to investigate the claim of the city
against the state. said he considered
that the state is infiicting an Injustice
upon Topeka in making such a. de-
mand and that he is in favor of pre-
sentng the matter to the legislature
at the earliest possible time. Mayor
Bergundthal sided with this stand
strongly. If the city make the de-
mands from the state as outlined
above, and it Is very likely that the
committee appointed will follow this
mode of procedure. the amount de-
manded will amount to S3S,352; the
interest at q compound rate on the
principal for the years elapsing after
the last payment being granted to
the state in the way of a concessioD
The committee appointed consists of
Councilmen Swendson. Howe. Kutz
and City Attorney Spencer. Repre-
sentatives Bird and Stone and Senator
Belts from Shawnee county will he
induced to present the matter in a
favorable light before the legislature
and secure an appropriation.