The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-26
FOR A WAY OUT.
Steps Taken to Solve the Fair
Problem.
Delegation of Business Men Con-
fer With Commissioners.
LAW WAS BUNGLED.
Prevents What 1t Was Intended
to LegaliZe.
Committee Appointed to Devise
Plan of Procedure.


George Neal were appointed this
morning as committee representing
the business men and the tax payers OF
the county TO confer with J. J.
Schenck, county attorney. and repre-
senting the board OF county commits
sioners. for the purpose of determine
ing if some plan or scheme can not be
devised which will make it possible for
the county commissioners TO raise
money IN some way for the purpose
OF making improvements to the pres
ent fair grounds SO that a county fair
may be held there this fall, which Will
be sort of nucleus for a state fair
Inls was the result of the visit to
the county commissioners this morn
ing OF many Of the prominent busi-
ness men Of the city who are enthu-
slastfc over the holding Of a good fair
this year with the certainty that if
this is done Topeka will be named as
the onlciaI headquarters of state fair
by the next legislature.
An enabling act was passed by the
last legislature which it was thought
would permit the county commission
ers 10 levy two mill tax for the pur-
pose of esta ablishiug new buildings and
permanent improvements on the pres
ent fair grounds. This act it has de-
Veloped and has so been decided by
Mr.. Schenck, the county attorney, per-
mitS the county commissioners to lew
TINS tax only in the event that they sell
the present fair grounds and purchase
new ones With this fact in view the
county commissioners decided that it
would be impossible for them 70 LEVY
two mill tax for buildings on the
present fair grounds, no matter what
the intent of the trainers of the law
might nave been In addition to this
they expressed the opinion that the
money of the county could be used to
a better advantage in the construction
of new roads
Expression was given by the county
commissioners this morning, however
that they were in favor of the fair
proposition but had no authority IN
der existing laws to levy the tax need
ed to improve the present fair grounds
They said that they would gladly do
all that they could in the matter but
felt that they had gone as far as thew
possibly could It was for the pur-
pose of seeing if some plan could not
be suggested that would permit the
commissioners to meet the situation in
some way that the committee was ap-
pointed to work with Mr.. Schenck
There seemed to be an almost un-
animous sentiment among those who
appeared before the county commits
sfoners this morning against the dis
position of the present fair grounds
for new ones because of their admir-
able location. a couple of plans were
suggested to get around the difficulty
that confronts the fair enthusiasts and
the county commissioners
One came from E. H. Crosby to the
effect that it might be possible for the
commissioners to sell the present
grounds and purchase couple of blocks
needed to enlarge them and then buy
back the old grounds which would be
new grounds because of the addition
John E Frost said that while the en-
abIing act prohibited the county COM
missioners from levying a tax for the
erection Of buildings and the making of
improvements on the present grounds
there was nothing in the law which
would prevent the county commissioners
from going ahead and levying the tax
and keeping the money in the treasury
until they could get authority from the
legislature to use il on the present
grounds. He thought that If the county
great weight with the next legislature
in favor of Topeka and Shawnee county
as the proper place to locate the state
fair.
Among those in the delegation which
waited on the county commissioners this
morning were Charles l. Wood. E H
Crosby, r. s Brigham. Fred Cole, A
G.. Goodwin, George Neal, V r Park
hurst, William Henderson. Joseph
Griley. Hiram Root. H A Heath. Ar
thur Capper, Frank P. MacLennan, C
G. BIakely. Judge A B. Quinton- J. c.
Marshall, James D. Sullivan, John E
F'rost.H. A Auerbach. William DrescheI,
Thomas Barnes, ]. W. Robinson, W. /.
E- u, l. X
NJ c. Holman, W. s. Bergundthal. J. L.
Guild of Silver Lake, ]. P Davidson, J.
NJ French Vincent Kaczynsh and Major
Tom Anderson
The taxpayers and the business men
of this city and county, said Mr.. Heath,
who started the proceedings before the
county commissioners this morning, ARE
desirous of having a state fair located
here. The proposition has been looked
into from every standpoint and we are
of the opinion that if Topeka and Shaw
nee county will do something in the way
of starting a fair the state will get be-
hind the proposition within two years
To pave the way for this a little en-
abling act was passed by the last Iegis-
Ia ture providing for a two mill tax levy
for the purpose of improving the state
fair grounds That seemed to be enough
for Shawnee county to do to obtain the
state fair when one is decided on
I'VE were here before you some time
ago and you expressed a desire that be
fore taking action you would like to
know the sentiment of the people on the
fair proposition Afterwards you thought
il unwisa to make the levy at this time.
We have tried to get the sentiment of
the people on the fair project We have
not made a canvass of any particular
locality but we have sounded the coun-
" all over and at least nine out of ev-
cry ten of the taxpayers of the county
are in favor of a fair and Of q two mill
levy TO make it possible" Mr.. Heath
here presented the petitions which have
been signed in favor of the proposition
while there ray be some doubt as
to the legality of making this levy be-
cause of a defect in the statute" Mr..
Heath continued. there IS no doubt
that the trainers of the enabling act
Intended to make it possible TO use
the money secured on the levy to i'm