The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02
RAISE CITY LEVY.
Councilman Howe Would Have
Change Made.
Thinks General improvement
Fund Is Too Low.
MAYOR DAVIS OPPOSES
Likely That Proposition Will BE
Sidetracked.
Park missiOners Decide to
Let Law Alone.

To raise the general improvement
fund levy from to mills under spec
ial act of the present legislature is the
wish expressed by Councilman S. T.
Howe before a special meeting of the
legislative committee of the council held
this noon.
The present assessed valuation of the
city for taxation purposes is $12, 049, 900.
This returns a little over $4,000 each
year for :he general improvement and
general revenue funds of the city.
Councilman S. T. Howe, chairman of
the ways and means committee of the
council stated that the mills levy was
insufficient for the demands placed upon
the general improvement fund and that
IT be recommended that the levy be in
creased from to mills.
1T would raise a storm from the tax
payers If we did anything of that kind,
Mr.. Howe said Mayor w. H. Davis.
"A great many people believe that they
are paying as much taxes now as they
should be compelled to and they would
object to seeing the levy increased"
The matter was dropped.
The present law provides that the
maximum to be levied for each of these
two general funds be mills and all of
the cities of the first class have long
since placed their levfes at this maxi
mum figure.
Popular feeling is too strong to be de-
MED, however, and no levy increases
will be asked for from Topeka with the
exception of the board of education
which has gotten in line with other
cities of the first class and will secure
the enactment of a law permitting an
increase of the levy from 10 mills to
20 mills for school purposes. This means
in Topeka 100000 more and additional
taxation to be met this coming year.
The bill has met favorable reception
and members of the legislature say it
will pass.
rd Of n1lx set oa1-e-
had expected to ask for an increased
levy for park Improvement the levy
under law provides for 1 mill. but the
park board has given over this re-
quest. The council legislative COM
mittee laid plans during its conference
to secure the enaction of five bills in
which the city of Topeka is greatly
interested.
A meeting is scheduled this evening
with the ways and means committee
of the senate for securing the recon-
mendationof the appropriation from
the state for repaving the states share
of the paving about the state house
square. Three streets are badly in
need of repaving Eighth ave-
nue., Jackson street and West Tenth
avenue. The appropriation necessary
is variously estimated from $4,000 to
The passage of the commission bill
for a commission system of govern.
ment is gathering strength. The,
question in connection with this bill
which is agitating attention is mat
ter of the term for which the COM
missioners shall serve. The bill pro-
vides for four years and every mem
Der of the legislative committee
Councilmen Green, Howe, Nipps and
Jordan and Mayor w. H. Davis-ap-
proves of four years rather than two
The city officials of Wichita and Kan
sas City, Kan, who are interested in
this bill rather favor the two year
term. In an attempt to come to an
understanding over this feature of the
measure city officials of Topeka and
the two cities named will have a con-
ference next week.
Two other bills of particular inter-
est intrusted to the committee for
boosting is one making it possible for
a city of the first class to vote two
mill levy for the creation of a fund
for enlargement and improvement of
electric light plants instead of issuing
bonds as must be done now, and the
second bill providing that in case of
repaving the city council may order
in such Improvements upon resolution
when it is deemed necessary by a
three-fourths vote regardless of pro-
tests from property owners.