The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-20
Topeka City Officials Objected
"Great White Way" Bill.
Knock Props From Under Com
merciaI Club Matter.
GET UP AND LEAVE.
I've Members of Committee Dis
gusted With City.
But After All Agreement Is
Reached on Measure.

After a stormy session lasting two
hours, the city commissioners and the
Great White Way committee of the
Commercial club agreed on a tax street
lighting bill to be presented to the leg
islature this winter. The original bill
drawn up by the Topeka Commercial
club and approved by senators ana
representatives from every city of the
frSt-claSS in Kansas was bombardeo
from all sides by the Topeka city COM
missioners and not until an amendment
was made to their satisfaction was the
proposition agreed upon this morning
The Commercial club figured that in
lighting up the business streets OF
city and establishing a great Whlte
way the property owners of the bus1-
ness streets should pay for the lnstalla-
ton of the poles, lights and wires
while the city at large should pay for
the maintenance and electric current.
This bill was approved by the legls-
lators who met with the CommerclaI
club. But when the committee descend
ed upon the Topeka commissioners TINS
morning they found a different recep-
tion-a reception that was so cold that
two of the committee became disgust
ed with the sentiments of the city Of
ficials and left the room.
Basis of Compromise.
1t was decided finally that in estab-
fishing a great white way in Kan
sas cities of the first-class the property
owners should install the poles, lights
and wires and pay half the expense or
the current. The city at large should
pay the other half of the maintenance
expenses. In other words it divides the
expense in two after the first year.
Mayor Billiard led the fight against
the Commercial club committee. All
of the commissioners upheld him in his
ideaS-not a man faVoring the CONNER
cial club proposition. The fight grew
so heated that N. B. Burge and Sam
uel e. LUX, members of the committee,
left the room.
What we need worse than great
white way is a new mayor" explained
Mr.. Burge. I'VE have enough people
in Topeka now holding back on all
Improvement propositions without
adding the mayor to the ranks. To-
peka needs a good live man in city Of
fees who will support boosting meas
ures."
The rest of the committee stuck
with the city commissioners to fight
1t out. A compromise was reached
when Mayor Billiard gave in-also the
committee. The mayor thought that
the property owners should install the
lights and then pay two-thirds of the
maintenance. The Commercial club
committee thought that the property
owners should install the lights and
pay nothing thereafter.
A half and half agreement was
reached-with no one entirely salts
fed.
In supporting the great white way
and its advantages here are some of
the speech extracts:
w. w. Webb: MY firm represents
two million dollars worth of property
in this city-and big portion of it is
in the residence districts. Not single
voice has been heard against the tax
ing of the people for great white
way-and there are some 230 people
listed A great white way would be
q benefit to everyone in Topeka and
the tax of one-third or one-quarter of
a mill would not be felt"
Worth a Million Says Burge.
N. B. Burge: Il represent 100000
worth OF residence property-and 1
haven't word to say against this tax
assessment. In five years the great
white way will be worth one million
dollars to the city in increased valua-
tion--and l know what 1 am talking
about. No one can afford to antagon-
the front of 1t. If we fight it people
over the state will think that it is a
poor outfit down here"
Samuel E. Lux: THE great white
way would be a great benefit to the
merchants, the property owners and
the residents of the city. All cities
have it-even many of those with less
than 5000 population and they have
found that it means much to their adj
vancement. I see no reason why To-
peka should lag behind and hold out
against the improvement through the
city officials Here is a scheme to in
crease the property, the inhabitants
and the wealth of the city"
William Macferran: This is pub
lie affair-a matter that should attract
the interest and the approval of every
citizen of the city. We have no idea
what the great white way means to
Topeka until we have it-other cities
have their brilliantly lighted streets
and We should have them also"
At this point Commissioner Bona
walked in the room and taking up the
discussion at once he started a fire
with very little trouble
1T is a question to me whether this
is public or private benefit" he said
This aroused W. w. Webb He
Jumped to his feet and exclaimed:
81 want to say that this is nothing
but a public benefit and a matter of
interest to everyone in Topeka. We as
representatives of the Commercial club
are not here with any private gain in
view. Our ideas are for the good of
Topeka and not for any firm or cor
poration. There is no question at all
as to whether or not this is a private
or public matter"
well there is a question in my
mind" retorted Bone.
Here the tiff ended.
Mayor Billiards. Objections.
Mayor Billiard gives his reasons IN
Directing to the original proposition as
follows:
81 don't want anyone to think 7 am
against the great white way'-I am
for it. But 1 am not in favor of the
first scheme suggested. If this was
carried out the property owner would
nav $500 for the installation of the
poles and wires and then he would be
through with it. After that the city
at large would pay $12.0 900 a block in
ten years to light up the business
streets. This is unreasonable
'"Then there Is a danger in this. An
electric light company might come
along and tell the property owners on
residence streets that they would in
stall the poles if the people wouId
oatifiou for the lights II xs-o,,Id $500