Barton County democrat., 1914-12-25
WILL HAVE WHITE
WAY-MAYBE.
Get Together Meeting Seems To
Have Accomplished Desired
Results.

Il ONOAANa
i Results.
Great Bend is going to have a
White Way-maybe. But the
chances at the present time seem
a great deal more favorable than
they have since the project has
been agitated. In order to have
this White Way it is necessary
for the city commissioners to
raise the money outside of the
general taxation, for the levy is
already as high as the law will
allow, and in order to raise this
money the commissioners devised
the scheme of levying an occupa-
tiOn or business tax. An Ordi-
nance to this effect was passed
some months ago, and a remon-
STRANGE was promptly circulated
by those not in favor of the meas
ure and over Is per cent, the re-
quisite number, of the legal voters
of the city at the last municipal
election, signed the petition ask
ing that the ordinance be recalled
and as this is a part of the law
governing cities with a commits
sion form of government, the or
dinance was relegated TO the back
shelf.
About a month ago an ordi-
nance along similar lines was
adopted by the commissioners
but this one did not meet with the
approval of the people, or at least
% per cent of them, and a remon.
STRANGE was again circulated and
again the ordinance was knock.
ed out.
But the people of the town as
a whole desired the White Way
and for the purpose of the two
factions getting together in the
matter a meeting of the business
men and citizens generally was
held in the Commercial Club
rooms last Thursday evening, al
which the matter generally was
ironed out and everyone in at.
tendance had their chance to ex.
press their opinion either for OF
against the measure.
A number of those who had
signed and circulated the remon.
STRANGE against the measure made
talks and the fact developed that
almost every person present was
in favor of the White Way, and
also really did not object to the
occupation tax as a means OF
raising the money, but the re-
mOnStratOrS were of the opinion
that the burden was not equitably
divided and it was for this pur-
pose that they had raised the OBJ
lection.
Commissioner Moses was the
first called on for a talk, and he
explained the situation of the
city in detail. He stated that the
people wanted the lights, but that
owing to the state of the finances
OF the city it was impossible for
the commissioners TO add this ex-
pense as a part of the regular tax.
He stated that the commissioners
did not desire to add this burden
to the business interests if they
did not desire it, but that il had
been continually requested and
that they had devised this means
of raising the money, and in doing
so they had tried to be as fair tC
every person as possible, and thai
while it was impossible to brins
the thing out so that each one
would pay in exact proportion
yet they had been as fair as they
knew how. He said that the law
allowed them to assess a genera
tax of One-third of a mill on al
taxable property in the city fol
this purpose, but that this would
not raise enough revenue to pro
vide for the White Way, tn,
Sprinkling and the cleaning of tn,
. streets, and that the other tax wa.
| necessary if the business Interest,"
wanted these things.
w. S. Nelson stated that he wa
engaged in the confectionery bus
> mess and that under the ordi
/ nance he would be required to pa,
/ a tax on both branches of hi
{ business. He was against luncI
stands, etc., on the streets and be
$ lieved that if he was taxed, thes
$ enterprises should be taxed also
e He was for the White Way.
/ R. A. Charles wanted the Whit
0 Way, but as his place of busines
s was off the main street he di
I~1.oo Ill