The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-07
They Will Bear the Burden of
the Levy.
CHEAP FOR THE HOME OWNER.
Will Pay on an Average But
S71a Cents.
The Attendance Will Be DOu-
bled, 1t Is Believed.

Sentiment on the fair tax PROPOSE
ton seems to be crystallizing in favor
of the tax. advocates of the free fair
idea assert. While there is some OPP
position, it is melting in the face OF
argument and a full understanding of
what the tax amounts TO and what II
would do. they claim. The election is
only ten days away, and both sides
will probably get to work from now
on. although the opposition doesn't
appear to be organized.
Fair advocates, too, for that matter,
do not appear to be carrying on an
active fight, seeming to depend upon
the judgment of the voters when they
go to the polls.
The proposition. as published, pro-
roses to levy a tax of one-fourth of
a mill on property in Shawnee coun-
ty, to make the fair free. This tax.
which would amount to Is cents on
the thousand, would yield a sum of
S21, 500.
Il is pointed out that the tax would
be very light, and would not cost the
average taxpayer a dollar. If mans
property is now assessed at $4,000, he
would pay ~ cents.
Discussing the matter, j. w. Thurs
ton, one of the best known bankers in
the city. president of the Farmers Ma
making up my mind on this PROPOSE
ton, but L have decided it will be a
good thing for everybody and I am
in favor of it. 1 know there is always
raising taxes, but a state fair is a
great educational institution and we
can AM handle it. i, At At least; I am n, not
we can all stand it,
Will Help Business.
Eli Ulamperl: THE free fair will
enable a great many poor people to
attend who haven't been able to go
taxpayers would be so small that I
think everybody should be willing to
pay his part and thus make the fair
free. Furthermore, I believe it would
be helpful to the business men be-
cause it will bring twice as many peo-
pie to the fair"
A. P. Rosser, druggist: ST think it
would be good drawing card for To-
peka and a great advertisement for the
city and Shawnee county, and 1 am
for it"
Postmaster w. o. Rigby: at would
be big thing and build up the fair.
1t would bring many more people here
and the average taxpayer won't pay as
much as he does now 1t is a new idea
and we should try it; if 1t isn't sue
cessful we can try something else.
With the fair free the people can go
as often as they please, and if they
grow tired at the fair grounds they
can come to town and then go back
again later. This, I believe, would
increase our retail trade. AS it is. the
people come to the fair and once in
the fair grounds they stay there all
day, till ready to go nome
David j. August, merchant: at
would double the size of the fair and
therefore make it just twice as val
liable to everybody; that's why 1 am
for the free fair. The attendance
would be doubled and the exhibits
would be doubled. 1t would be a fine
advertisement for both the city and
county"
Big Taxpayers For 1t.
l.. NJ. Penwell, funeral director:
1.-The tax is so small that nobody
would possibly feel it except the very
wealthiest tax payers in the county,
and they should be willing to pay it
in return for the blessings they have
received, and thus contribute this
much toward the education of the less
fortunate. 1 am glad to learn that
the biggest tax payers in Topeka are
for the tax. 1t would be a great
thing for everybody, for the town folks
and the country folks, and as it is q
brand new idea who knows but it
might surprise us all and make our
fair the biggest State Fair in the
country"
John NJ. Brunt, druggist and secre-
tary of the Rotary Club: TT is one
OF the biggest, most progressive, mod
ern, forward movements in county af-
fairs that has ever been suggested 1t