The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-22
66.62S.62

"
The law under which their fran
chise was granted them says: They
shall make a report twice a year and
shall pay into the city treasury, an
nually, 10 per cent of its annual net
earnings upon actual cash value of it's
investment at the date of each report
"As these reports are due the city
twice year the actual depreciation
could. at the time the reports should
have been made and rendered the city,
have been only one-half the amount,
or S33,264.31, so that by their own
report they owe the city 10 per cent
on this amount, or $3,326-43 more
than the check which they have Of
fered in payment.
"In other words, they have charged
up depreciation in advance of its hap
pening, making the last half of each
years depreciation apply to the first
| half statement
On Paying Taxes.
Continuing, Captain Waters declared
that if the city railway company,
which he described as "a foreign cor
poration with no interest in Topeka
except to get its money would pay
| taxes on an equal footing with the
small property owner some of them
/ jitney drivers, the city would derive
| twice as much taxes from the COM
pany as it does now.
After paying his respects to the rail-
way company, the captain turned his
attention to Mayor Jay E. House and
the city commission. First he insinu-
ated that an ordinance so drastic
| could, or would not be conceived by
| the commission unless some power
was behind it. There is only one way
| to look for anyone interested enough
| to suggest such an ordinance, he de-
clared. and that is toward the rail-
way company. He left the commits
sion alone after that and devoted all
his energies to Mayor House.
{ Blow at House.
You have mayor here" said
Captain Waters, who declares that if
the whole town is against him he in
| tends to vote for the ordinance Most
men is the making of knowledge. Evil
IDENTIFY. your mayor doesn't want
knowledge.
81 want to tell you right now that
Jay House can't say I'll close my ears
to the people. If so he must not have
as high an estimate of his constitu-
ency as he did during election time.
In short, gentlemen, Mayor House
is a mixture of Smart AIeckism. If he
has reputation of being smart, re-
member how much of the reputation
was taken from. other photographers.
For years he has Stunned decency
and shaken hands with vulgarity in
his columns
Captain Waters next threw a few
shafts into the supreme court of Kan
sas for upholding the Wichita ordi-
nance anu t1uS giving House ana MS
commission an excuse for presenting
a similar ordinance In fact, Captain
Waters looks upon the supreme court
as more to blame than any other body.
He urged the audience to familiariZe
itself with those men on the supreme
! bench who had handed down such an
opinion and cast no more votes for
them Judge Porter, he stated, de-
INJURED in the opinion written by
Judge West while Judge johnson did
not concur in the opinion.
DR.. Eva Harding was greeted with
round after round of applause when
she stepped to the platform. DR.. Hard
ing described the streets as public
property and decried any action that
might be taken to quash competition
and uphold monopoly. She cited the
street railway company's arbitrary ac-
ton in selecting a route to Gage Park
as an example of its power with city
| commission. Fair regulation of jit-
neys is favored by DIR. Harding, but
she does not believe in the drastic
clauses contained in the one proposed
by the city commission
George Hughes told of attending
meetings of jitney men, of his urging
upon them for giving good service as
the only means of getting the public to
stand behind them. The mere fact
that the public had supported jitney
service in Topeka was proof that they
; desired such a service plus street car
srvices, the speaker stated Added to
this proof is that brought to light in
the last few days by the thousands of
names on petitions of protests and the
monstroIfs mass meeting which the
speaker addressed.
''Scorn should be heaped upon US
for electing such servants if this ordi-
nance is passed. said Mr.. Hughes.
Can't Break Contract.
H C. Green, attorney representing
the jitney men, likewise rawhided the
: mayor and commission. The fact that
, the supreme court has once upheld
an ordinance similar to the one pro-
posed does not mean that it will not
reverse its decision, Mr.. Green de-
clared, and he cited instances where
opinions had been reversed.
Further, Mr.. Green stated that the
: city now had a contract with jitney
men to operate until their licenses
expire in September and could not
break it by enforcing any such ordi-
nance at this time.
Another point brought out by Mr..
Green was to the effect that the city
had no right under state statutes to
permit any corporation to operate in
any part of the city under an exclu-
: sive franchise
Merely Aids Transportation.
: In analyzing Judge Vests decision
: Mr. Green pointed out that jitneys did
e not maintain depots ard waiting sta
tions.
Il wonder if he had in mind the
= dinky little transfer station at Eighth
n and Kansas ayenue?" said Mr. Green.
: The audience laughed and applauded.
. THE initiation of the jitney bust
v ness does not mean that the city rail-
Q way will have to go out of business,
: but it does indicate healthy competi-
| ton, a more adequate transportation
service for it's citizens and one which
: the citizens have demonstrated by the
1 AI-e+ h.