The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-25
TWO DAYS MORE.
3
Then Registration Books Will
Be Closed.
Vote This Spring Keeps Regis
Z tration Alive.
TALK TO TAX PAYERS.
Why People Want to Keep
Lighting Plant.
w. w. Mills Talks About Ex-
pense OF Farming Out Lighting.

| The registration books will close
on Friday evening. Those who voted
at the last election will not have to
register again, but if you are in doubt
don't neglect to inquire. A vote at
the spring election will keep the reg
istration alive for the general election
in the fall
Property owners who pay the large
proportion of the taxes of the city
favor the city electric light enlarge
ment and improvement. They are
going to vote that way at the polls
on April 18th, too. This Is indicated
by limited canvass. The action of
the mayor and council placing the
municipal electric light plant under
and taking it out of the hands of the !
council and politics is daily winning
votes. With three of the ablest bust
ness men in Topeka in charge of the
plant giving their services practically
for nothing, the pay is $50 per year,
and at great Inconvenience to them
selves the people realize that the city
electric light property is going to be
managed in the interests of the city
at large without reference to any
ward or clique.
This is what a few of the business
men say:
j. w. Robinson of Robinson &
Marshall: 81 have seen a good many
people and about nine out of ten are
for the bonds and the betterment of
the plant. l can call to mind but few
people who were not, in favor of it.
There seems to be a little lukewarm-
ness about the registration and I am
afraid that the people are not getting
out so well 'as they should. Person
ally, am very radically for the plant
I think that the appointment of
commission strengthens it materially
and helps along the sentiment for the
bonds
81 am dead earnest in favor of the
municipal mi! ownership of the plant"
said w. B. Kirkpatrick, head of the
| Knights and Ladies of Security. 81
have not heard very much expression
| about it, but what I have heard has
been nothing but favorable to it."
| W. I. Miller Of the Miller Lumber
company said: + will vote for the
plant I have not heard very much dis
| cussion because I have not paid so
much attention to that side of it,"
! 81 haven't heard anything that would
Indicate that the heavy property owners
are against the city plant" said R. L.
| Cofran, one of the. members of the
board which will take over the control
of the plant. IT Just had a talk with
quite heavy tax payer a man who
| gives employment TO a great number Of
men and he said that though he seldom
| gets out as rule to an election that
J
and work for r. L. Cofran. He said
that he had worked for Cofran for
| mayor and was going to work in this
| election for this bond issue. In fact the
| talk that have heard on this subject
| has been more than favorable. / have
heard a number say that under the old
| regime of things with the plant under
| the council they would have been pas
sive but in this case they were going
| to put in their time for the plant. AS
| far as possible, as have been able to
| judge, from the people coming into the
| office and talking it looks favorable
| very favorable for the city electric
| light plant
| IT'S simply business proposition
said w. w. Mills. Five per cent on
| $4,000 is not much compared with $27,-
| 500 year for lamps as you would have
| to pay the Edison. company for street
| lighting under the contract that they
| want to make doait see why anybody
| should be against the city lighting when
| they can save money by voting for it.
| I think that the amount Of the interest
| of the bonds is a decided saving as
| against paying for an increased cost for
| lighting under a contract
| Herbert Hackney said: 81 have talk
| ed with a number of the tax payers and
they were very much pleased with the
| idea of putting the plant under a COM
| mission. 1 haven't heard anything in
the way Of dissenting from the support
| in favor of the electric light support.
| The only way that I can see that the
| bonds could be killed is for the Edison
| company to induce voters by moral
| suason to vote against them. 1 am not
saying however that they would use un-
| fair methods to do this though I have
| heard that they were using their efforts
| to defeat the ISSUE.
| J. w. Thurston of the Bank of To-