Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-05

are strangely olnerent YET
strangely akin-in that both
have crushed that DOGGY man. Taxation.
From its gaming tables Monte Carlo most
famous gambling spot of the world, gamers
enough to free its citizens Of taxation. Chanute,
Kans., slew the tax ogre by taking over the
operation of its own public utilities-gas, water
and electric light and power.
While Monte Carlo pays its homage to the
profitable gaming god, Chanute takes .
matter of course its worldwide fame as the
largest taxless town-probably the only city In
America free from local taxation.
b. r. Baughman lumbcrman and mayor,
who spent six years building up the cttys
utilities to where 1t freed from taxation,
has Just been voted out of once. He was
showed under. He received only slightly more
than 700 votes as compared to 5000 for his
opponent.
In most ways Chanute is just like the
regular Western city of 10000 population. 1t
has its Rotary Club and Chamber OF Com
merce. It has a municipal band and an air
port 1t has its county fair and building and
loan association.
But when you meet the people IN Chanute,
you learn Chanute is very extraordinary
town. The people own Chanute, they tell you.
With the three municipality owned utilities
earning profits at the rate OF about $4,000
year the city Of Chanute sees opportunity
for an eventual municipal Utopia. First
large memorial building decided upon 1t
was built and forms the center of life in
Chanute. Then came airport and white
way" Attorneys now are figuring out way to
revise the law and use profits from the utilities
10 widen and pave the streets.
IF This keeps up, there is no reason to be-
lieve that Chanute eventually will not be the
best built city in the world smiles II. W. 10y,
the new mayor. The consumption OF cleo
tricity and gas is growing each year"
So. you see. the story Of Chanute may get
bigger and bigger every year. Some even say
it some day will be as famous Rome. Others
tell you 1t won't last and that 1t won't be long
until the whole thing tumbles and taxes come
back again.
Some people still believe the world is nat"
retorts the mayor and he draws from his desk
pigeonhole the fiscal account for the last year
to show how the utilities turn out enough
, profit to pay all city expense and still leave
q surplus to carry on with new buildings.
When steps off the train in Chanute
and out into Main street, he is impressed by
the neighborness Of the town. To the stranger
who has heard of Chanute's taxless fame there
is certain thrill in arriving on its main
street. One may expect to find neghborly
feeling right Main street. and he is not
disappointed.
T the newspaper Office Sunday morn
ing one always finds George Moody, the
advertising manager. business manager
and ofttimes gatherer.
els this town of Chanute any different from
any other towns because 1t pays no taxeS?"
Mr.. Moody is asked
Il believe it is" he replies. People take
an interest in running the town. If 1t
was their own business Elections are not
run on political issues, but everybody runs as
an independent. We always have plenty of
candidates, and good ones"
He glances out the window and waves his
hand. Dashing to the front door he summons
Guy S. Jeffers into his shop and intro
duces him.
Mr. Jeffers turns out to be the commissioner
of utilities, one of three men who the
city government, including all the public util-
tiles with the exception of the telephone sys-
tenn. H. E. Coulter, a transfer man in private
life, is the commissioner of finance.
Now one might think that to run . citys
public utilities an experienced utilities man
would be required But Mr.. LETTERS turns out
to be the music dealer for Chanute. He runs
a music store.
I'VE have solved that problem by hiring an
electrical engineer who is a whizz bang" Mr.
Jeffers said He is running our plant 30 that
n Is q very profitable business.