The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29
PULL UP STRINGS.
Topeka's Purse will Be Well
Guarded.
Commissioners Plan Provides
for Annual Budget.
NEW FRANCHISE RULE.
People Given the Right to Petit
tI0n for Them.
Fiscal Year Is Also Changed by
Provision.
NEW FRANCHISE RULE.

E0mmlS SlOnerS OF 1opehas WneAl
they go into power. won't dispense the
clty's funds airily about, with a dip in
TO the pocket of the city treasury here
and another there The new city
charter act provides that an annual
budget will govern expenditures and
that all OUTLAWS OF moneys must be
strictly in accordance with the
\ amounts set forth in that budget. In
case the expenditures exceed the bud
get and the revenues do not show a
prOportionate increase the commits
sioner may be removed for office for
malfeasance and prosecuted in the
courts.
The present system Of doing out the
ciry's money is directly contrary to
the above. The money is first spent
and the wondering where it comes
from IS the last act. A happy go lucky
system that would bankrupt any cor
poration attempting to do business.
Following the state law which states
that a county commissioner can not
hold any other public office. state or
national or civic the new charter act
states
NO member of the board of COM
nissioners or the mayor shall hold
any office Of profit or trust under the
laws OF any state. or the united
States. or hold any county office: nor
shall the mayor or any commissioner
ever be elected or appointed to any
office created by or the compensation
Of which was increased or fixed BY the
board OF commissioners while he was
4 member thereof. until after the ex-
piration of at least two years after he
has ceased to be member Of said
board"
Franchises must be submitted to a
vote OF the people if objection is made
by a petition signed by 500 voters
against the grant OF a franchise by the
board OF commissioners. The expense
% fa1 ole ion 81 ha
by the corporation or individual seek
ing the grant and the money for the
same must be pledged and put up In
e advance of the holding of the election.
The details Of this feature are Of
fered fin the following section:
NO contract. grant. right, privilege
or franchise. now existing or which
may hereafter be gra nted TO any such
person. firm or corporation shall ex~
tend for any longer period of time
than thirty years from the date of
such grant or extension
NO such grant. right privilege or
franchise shall ever be made to any
person. firm or corporation or asso-
citation. unless it provides for adequate
compensation or consideration there
for to be paid to such city. and in adj
dition TO any other form OF compen-
sation any such grantee shall pay an
nually such fixed charge as may be
prescribed in the franchise
mo such right. privilege or fran
ordinance granting the same shall
have been read in full at three regu-
lar meetings weekly Of the board OF
com uissloners. and Immediately after
its final passage it shall be published
I'm the official city paper once a week
for three consecutive weeks; and such
ordinance shall not take effect and
be fin force until after the expiration
OF SO days from the date of its final
passag II. pending the passage of
any such ordinance or during the
time intervening between its final pas
sage and the expiration of so days be-
fore such ordinance shall take effect,
500 legally qualified voters of such city
shall present petition to the board OF
commissioners asking that such fran
chise ordinance be submitted for
adoption to popular vote. then it shall
be the duty Of the mayor Of such city
to issue "A proclamation calling
special election for such purpose. Tho
proclamation calling such shall spec
ifically state that such election Is call
ed for the adoption of an ordinance
granting such franchise and said or
dinance shall be set out in full in
said procla nation: and said prOcla-
nation shall be published for six con-
Secutive times in the official city paper
and the last publication shall not be
less than 80 days before the day upon
which said special election is held II.
81 said special election the majority of
votes cast shall be for said or
the same thereupOn shall become ef-
fective But. IL the majority Of the
-xDtes cast ait said special election shall
Be against the said ordinance and the
making OF such grant. such ordinance
shall not confer any rights privileges
Of any kind whatsoever upon the ap-
piicants therefor but shall be ipso fac
70 absolutely null and void
IN the provision concerning a bud
get the fiscal year of the city is
changed from April 1st to August 1st.
The city in casting up the probable
running expenses of the city for the
ensuing year makes its determination
always around the middle of summer.
preferably in July or August. For
this reason it is suggested that the
fiscal year should commence in or
Ground about the preparation of this
budget
The manner in which this budget
should be made is described:
sThe board of commissioners shall
have full authority over the financial
affairs OF such city and shall provide
for the levying of taxes and the col
lection of all revenues and other as
sets the auditing and settlement of all
accounts and make appropriations for
the payment of all liabilities and ex-
penses-
''The fiscal year of such city shall
begin on August 1st of each year. In
the month of July of each year or as
soon thereafter as practicable. said
board Of commissioners shall make a
careful estimate Of the probable reve-
mes for the next fiscal year and ap-
portion the same to the several depart
ments OF the city gOvernm ent, fnclud-
tng a reserve fund of $500 to be
rsed only in case Of extra ordinary
rTle-ger cies. such as fire. food and
Acts OF God or sudden disaster which