The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-13

| day from representative citizens, on
| the question of whether or not the
taxes should be increased, selected
only those who are taking an active
| part in the business life of the city at
| this time and who have the reputa-
| ton of favoring every plan for the ad-
vancement of their city, no matter
what the cost. The result is as fol-
| lows:
E. Z. Ames, cashier central Ma
| tional bank: Generally speaking,
without having given the subject
close study. L am opposed to raising
already high taxes. Instead of paying
off these bonds in two years. there
should be twenty years time given the
people. Any other pressing city in
debtedness should be liquidated in
the form of refunding bonds payable
in five. ten, fifteen and twenty years,
| or sinking fund could be created
with the idea of meeting the debt In
twenty instead of two years.
John F. snyder. real estate. insur-
ance and building and loan man:
Topeka taxes are high enough now,
goodness knows. If they are raised 1t
VIII not only work a hardship upon
the average property owner and busi-
ness man but will hurt the city by
soaring away the prospective investor,
either In business, manufacturing in
dustry or home. l have had several
deals fall through lately on account
of the present high taxes here, and
one instance was that of a man who
was transferred here by his company
from Kansas City, Mo-, where he
| owned a s4,700 home. He intended to
sell his Missouri property and invest
in a home in Topeka, but the high
taxes here bluffed him out He de-
| clared that taxes were higher here
than in Kansas City and that he
could pay rent here and invest his
money in something else beside a
home to better advantage. 1 am in
touch with a large number of peo-
pie here who have made or are con-
sidering investments in Topeka and
would declare that 1 am emphatically
opposed to any raise in taxes at this
time"
A. w. Knowles. vice president Bank
of Topeka: Taxes here in Topeka
should be left alone, especially at this
time. When the valuations were in
creased four times by the new tax law
the people were promised that the rate
of taxation would be lowered in pro-
portion. The new tax law has been ac-
cepted in better spirit by the people at
large than was expected at first and
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth
of heretofore untaxed property has
been added to the tax rolls this year.
To raise taxes during the first years
operation of the new law would be the
extreme of folly for many reasons,
chief among them the need of the
support of the people When the tax
law comes before the next legislature
for revision of it's weak points and for
a final moulding process in the light
of a years experience of its applica-
ton. This tax law should first be es-
tablished and firmly fixed before any
attempt is made to raise the taxes.
The people generally like the new tax
law, but if their taxes are raised this
year they will lay the blame entirely
on this law and then there will be
possibility of Kansas taking step
backward by repeating It, The taxes
should be lowered this year instead of
raising them. If a sinking fund must
be. created let it be on the 20 year and
not the two year basis"
Frank NJ. Bonebrake, cashier of the
Merchants bank: 81 am opposed to
raising the taxes at this time. The
city is trying to pay off its bonded
debt too fast. We should proceed by
easy stages, otherwise it will work a
hardship on the people at large. The
new tax law was promised as a re-
lief and not as an additional burder
1 want the city to pay every cent OF
it's indebtedness, but 1 see no pressing
cause for all this haste in the matter.
Under the plan proposed IL is as though
internal improvements were PAID TOT
by direct tax, all in lump IN one
year. 1t is a mistake, and L hope that
the idea Of raising the taxes one cent
more this year than last. VIII be aoan-
doned."
!. w. Robinson, of the firm of Rob-
inson Marshall & Co.: Il am against
this plan of increasing the taxes. The
paving, sewers. court house. city nan,
bridges. and school houses we are now
building. or have built, and propose
to pay for all at once by increasing
the taxes and saving interest, will all
be here so years hence and another
generation will enjoy them, too, and
use them Why not let them pay
part of the bills? 1 see the necessity
of leaving this legacy for our chlldren'
but do not see the need of paying Tor
all of it. Surely II is enough to bulld
these things make all these improve
ments and pay for over half OF them-
1 believe that the people generally are
opposed to an increase in taxes at TINS
time Not only those who ara always
opposed to such things but slny VINO
cheerfully bear their part of any bur
den that is of benefit to the commun-
ity are against this plan OF increase
of taxes this year. 1t will be pad
advertisement for Topeka to raise taxes
the first year of the new tax law.
Whether bonds refunding bonds or
sinking fund. 20 years is none too long
a time to take for payment L am not
In favor of leaving too heavy burden
in taxes for those who come after US,
but / want to see a reasonable ana
equitable proportion of the cost ran
upon all during each generatlon. .,,,.
W. w. Mills, president of the Mills
DRY Goods company: Il am always
ready to bear my part of any pubic
burden, and while 1 have not studied
this matter very closely. yet L am op-
posed to any raise in the taxes at TINS
time They are surely high enough
for a modern city this size.