The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-15
Want LAW KILLED
Forum Committee of C. of C..
SWats Parking Rule.
Merchants Say They Are Losing
Customers Every Day.
FARMER PATRONS IN ARMS
Ask Directors to Work for I'm
mediate Repeal of Ordinance.
Pass COndemnatOry Resolution
at Noon Meeting Today.
FARMER PATRONS IN ARMS

The forum committee of the Cham
Der of Commerce today took healthy
swing at the present parking ordi-
nance, which places a time limit on
the stay of cars parked on Kansas
avenue and side streets on each side
as far as Quincy and Jackson streets.
The ordinance was characterized,
during the discussion, as "catas-
trophe to the merchants of Topeka"
Merchant members of the committee
asserted that they are steadily losing
customers on account of the parking
restrictions.
Ask Repeal of Ordinance.
The committee passed a resolution
recommending that the board of di-
rectors of the Chamber of Commerce
imm mediately take steps to have the
ordinance repealed.
G. L Hooper, who has recently
found occasion to visit several small
towns in Topeka's territory, declare
that the parking restrictions in To-
peka have become a subject of much
conversation and condemnation in
these towns, and that their residents
are declaring that they will not come
to Topeka to trade.
Harry Nightingale, manager of
Berkson Brothers store, told of hav-
ing received a telephone call from a
customer living near Topeka, who as
serted that he had agreed with his
neighbors not to spend another dol
lar in Topeka until the ordinance was
repealed.
W. w. Eden, manager of the
Kresge store, declared that he is daily
losing customers who have come into
unpleasant contact with the ordi-
nance.
E. H. Crosby, who was asked to
L. L r-s-r
his views on the subject, agreed that
the present ordinance is unsatisfac-
tory, but objected to asking that it be
repealed, for fear that the entire mat
ter of regulating the parking of cars
will be allowed to drop out of sight,
whereas, he asserted, something must
be done to remedy the situation which
existed before the ordinance was
passed.
'I get letters and telephone calls
from customers telling me to close
their accounts on account of this or
dinance. but I also used to get kicks
because cars were. parked so thickly
on the avenue that customers could
not get to the store" Crosby said. 81
am in favor of having the time limit
extended to two hours. and the re-
striction removed from the side streets
possibly, but not the entire repeal OF
the law"
Get Out of Town Protest.
It was reported at the meeting OF
the committee that one merchant In
Topeka has received letter signed
by forty residents of a small town neal
Topeka, assuring him that none OF
them would come to Topeka to trade
while the ordinance is in effect.
The merchant members of the COM
mittee declared themselves with fervoI
on the question of their responsibility
for the passage of the ordinance in the
first place. Because three of them
constituted a committee which tried
out the plan of parking in the center
of the street, and which was found
to be impracticable, they say the mer-
chants of the city are being held re-
sponslble for the passage of the ordi-
nance, and that they are being made
the goats against whom the wrath
of the customers is being directed.
w. w. Eden, a member OF the
forum committee, is also member
of the board of directors of the Mer-
chants association. as is Nightingale
Both men expressed themselves as
firmly of the opinion that the Mer-
chants association would cooperate
with the Chamber of Commerce in
presenting the case for the repeal oi
the ordinance to the city commits
sioners.
The resolution which was passed
by the committee is as follows:
"Inasmuch as the merchants OF To-
peka are suffering heavy financial los
/ thru losing customers on account Of
the present parking ordinance, we, the
/ forum committee of the Chamber OF
! Commerce recommend to the board Of
directors of the Chamber of Commerct
| that they Immediately take such step;
as are necessary to secure the repea
of the present parking ordinance, be
cause it is detrimental to the bushes!
| interests of Topeka, pending the re
/ suit of the city commissioners inves
/ tigation of the parking ordinances o.
! other cities"
| Commissioners Seeking Better Plan
1t is understood that the city com
mission is at the present time conduct
ing an investigation to determine hov
! other cities are dealing with the park
! parking ordinance will probably be re
placed with a better plan. If one l.
found.
| The merchants insisted today, how
ever. that immediate action is neces
sary-that the city is losing prestig
| and the Topeka merchants are losing
customers while the town loses tn
| good will of the surrounding people
every day.
Next Forum September 21.
Before the discussion on the cit,
parking ordinance started, the com
/ mittee decided that there would be n
more general forum meetings of tn
| membership of the Chamber of Com
merce until Wednesday. September 21
/ the first Wednesday after the Ere
Fair.