The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-21
Commissioner Porter Would
Check Gage Park Line.
Let Them Vote For or Against
Tenth Street Extension.
PATTEN REVIEWS HIS OFFER
Tandy Casts About for an IL
Iustration in Point.
A Girl Already Engaged Will
Turn Down All Offers.

The Gage park controversy is not
dead-only slumbering. 1t was resur-
lrected this morning and clothed in
new ideas. Commissioner w. L. Por-
ter wants a special election-election
by, of and for the people; expenses
to be borne by the Topeka Street
Railway company. Such an election
is provided for in article XXI, section
6 of the Topeka Plan of Civic Gov
eminent, which says:
| eff, pending the passage of such an
| ordinance, ten per cent of the legally
qualified voters of the city shall pre-
sent petition to the board of com
| missionerS asking that such franchise
ordinance be submitted for adoption
to popular vote, then it shall be the
duty of the mayor to issue procla-
| nation calling special election for
4 such purpose
| THE proclamation calling such
special election shall specifically state
that such election is called for the
| adoption of the ordinance granting
such franchise and shall be published
| for six consecutive times in the Off
| cial city paper, last publication shall
not be less than thirty days before
the day upon which special election
| is held. If the majority of votes cast
shall be for said ordinance and the
| ma king of said grant, the same shall
| thereupon become effective; but if
| majority of the votes cast shall be
| against the said ordinance and the
| making of said grant. said ordinance
shall not confer any rights, powers
or privileges of any kind whatsoever
upon the applicants therefor, but shall
be, ipSo facto, absolutely null and
void.
"AIl expense Of publishing such Or
dinances shall be paid by the pro-
posed grantee, and whenever any cleo
ton is called for the adoption of
such ordinance, the entire expense
thereof shall be borne by him."
Commissioner Porter made brief
and pointed statement this morning:
81 would like to see this come to
vote of the people," he said. IF 10
per cent of the voters vote on a spe-
cial election, the commission has got
to provide for it. Two-thirds of the
park. Understand my position want
a line to Gage park any way we can
get it: transfers to all parts Of town;
good service. and cent fare"
Patten Resurrects Gage Park Line.
The Gage park question was resur-
rected by a communication mailed this
morning to the mayor-a communica-
ton from Albert Patten, assistant gen.
eral manager of the Mckinley Trac-
ton company, renewing his offer to
build to Gage park and asking for a
new franchise to that effect.
The submitted franchise contains
the following provision: Present bond
of $4,000 to remain in statu quo
pending the completion of the line on
Tenth street by January 1, 1914; work
to start within thirty days after pas
sage of franchise; grant company
right to build terminus of line to Gage
with loop for turning cars inside park;
thirty minutes car service in summer;
three round trips in morning, one at
noon, three in evening during the win
ter season.
Now, the city commission on Mon
day of this week passed for second
and final reading the ordinance in
structing the city attorney to place the
collection of the $4,000 bond, for
feited by the street railway company
for nonfulfillment of their franchise,
in the hands of a district judge. Roy
L. Bone, commissioner of finance, is
sued an intricate statement, heartily
approved by Messrs. Cofran, Tandy
and Newland, explaining in much de-
tail the stand publicly taken by the
big Four" w. L. Porter was the
one member of the board willing to
accept compromise of the extension of
the line on West Tenth street
Completely ignoring the official ac-
ton of the board, Mr.. Patten presents
a new franchise differing in only a
few details from the proposition re-
Gently rejected by the commissioners.
The situation is peculiar.
"A man might propose to a girl al
ready engaged said Mr.. Tandy, curt
ly, "but the girl wouldn't accept him.
IL 49,