The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-07
Matter of City Railway Exten-
sion Far From Settled.
Much Talk of a Referendum
Petition Is Heard.
INTERESTED CITIZENS ACTIVE
I'll. C. Root Makes an Argument
Before the Commissioners.
Passed the First
Reading at Today's Session.

The satisfaction of the Eighth street
contingent and the disapproval of other
sections of the city to the agreement
made by the city with the Topeka
Railway company was expressed at a
lengthy meeting of the commission this
morning. Several speeches were made.
one of which by Hiram Root attacked
the right of the commissioners to do
anything but bring suit on the bond
outstanding. and others urging the
construction of line to Gage park at
once. regardless of the inside exten-
siOnS.
Outside of the commission room, a
group talked of a referendum petition,
and openly threatened to put such
petition in circulation, believing that
it would be an easy matter to obtain
the 1,500 !, 500 names necessary to re-
fer the proposed extensions to a vote
of the people of the city. 1t is be-
lieved likely that, in the event that the
present ordinance is passed, that
referendum petition will be circulated.
For one thing it would not cost the
city a cent of money even if the cleo
tion is held, which is generally misun-
derstood. And the names of only 10
per cent of the voters who voted at the
last city election, signed to such a petit
ton, are required to compel the COM
missioners to submit the matter to the
public. If an election is held the cost
must be paid y the corporation ask
ing for the franchise-the Topeka
Railway company.
Mr.. Roots Argument
One of the clearest arguments in the
present case was presented this morn
ing by Mr.. Root. He declared mas
much as the railway company has
failed to make the extensions promised,
that whatever proportion of the bond
covers the failures belongs to the whole
city of Topeka. and suggested that the
commission has no right to trade off
that interest of the whole people for
the sake of a favored few who live on
or near the proposed inside extensions.
TIE urged the commission to bring
suit on the bond.
That section of the law providing for
the referendum in the case of fran
the passage of any such ordinance or
during the time intervening between it's
final passage and the expiration of sixty
days before such ordinance shall take
effect, ten per cent of the legally quail
fed voters of such city voting for
mayor at the last preceding city cleo
ton shall present a petition to the
board of commissioners asking that
such franchise be submitted for adop-
ton to popular vote then it shall be
the duty of the mayor of such city to
issue a proclamation calling for a
special election for such purpose"
Referring to the expense of such
election the law says: "All expense of
paid by the proposed grantee and when
ever any election is called for the adop-
ton of any such ordinance, the entire ex-
pense thereof shall be borne by the appli-
cants for such grant, right, privilege, or
franchise; and as a condition precedent
to the adoption and taking effect of said
ordinance, the applicants for such grant,
right privilege or franchise shall deposit
with the city treasurer in cash an amount
sun icient to cover the entire expense of
such election, and the mayor shall not is
sue his proclamation calling such election
until such money is deposited with the
such failure to deposit said money the
ordinance passed in the first instance
shall be, ipso facto, null and void
Signatures Easy to Get.
It is urged that the city commission.
Topeka, taxes for the Improvement or
Gage park has had its first opportunity
to make good in placing the park within
reach of the citizens who have contributed
toward it, and has failed. 1t is believed
that a petition carrying 1900 signatures
for special election, especially as the
election would cost the taxpayers moth
ing could be obtained without any diff
| Guilty. and the matter of the extensions,
might be settled for good by a popular
vote of the entire city.
Petitions will be prepared in the next
| few days, if they are started, and will be
circulated where the signatures may
easily be obtained.
The street car extension matter is by no
means settled. The ordinance was read for
the first time this morning. 1t will be
| passed by the city commission. and in the
meantime it is subject to amendment.
| After its passage it must be published in
| full for three weeks in succession, in the
| Topeka State Journal and following its
passage does not become effective Tor
sixty days. At any time during the sixty
days, under the law, referendum petitions
presented would either mean a city cleo
| ton or, if the railway company refused
nullifv any ordinance the city commission
might pass.
A protest from the Good Government
| club against leaving the Gage park ex-
| tension for so long; a communication
! from the city commissions advisory board
| urging the commission to secure an i'm
mediate extension to the park, but urging
| that it might be built out on Eighth street
and save time; and a resolution from the
| Women's Federated Clubs urging the
| Gage park extension, were read and or
| dered placed on file.
! Mrs. Lucia o. Case made an address in
which she urged the city fathers to give
| the poor people and the boys of the city
| a chance at some of Gods pure air. to
| be found only at the park.
| The commission proceeded, however,
| with the ordinance and altered il only in
| minor details, agreeing upan it practically
| as has been reported, and the first read
| ing was declared to be finished.
|
Macy Admitted to Practice.
A special commissioners report tc
| the supreme court this morning gave