The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-09-13
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RAILROAD ASSESSMENTS.


The following proceedings of
convention of county commission
ers, held at New Chicago, Neosho
county, some weeks ago, were sent
us at the time in circular form, but
were lost. We now clip them from
another paper and publish them as
per request of the convention.
This subject of assessing the rail-
roads is one that is attracting atten-
ton. The law was gotten up with
great care, and fully discussed. It
has now been tried for two years,
and If it does not work well some
thing better should be substituted.
We notice that some of the papers
are disposed to criticise the board
of assessors. So far as we know,
it is composed of honest nd good
men, who will do the be they can
for all concerned, according to
the best light they have on the
subject. 1t is good deal easier,
and perhaps more popular to lam
poon the officers than to suggest
remedies for what are conceived to
be evils in the present mode of as
sessing railroad property. In these
"piping times" of political denunci-
alton people should pay but little
attention to charges of "bargain
and sale" against public officers.
We give room to the proceedings
of the Convention, with the hope
that it may lead to fair and speedy
adjustment of this vexed question
as to how to assess railroad proper
ty:
Upon the request of the commits
sioners of Neosho county, a meet
ing of the chairmen of county COM
missioners in Southern Kansas, was
held at New Chicago on the 9th day
| of August, 1872.
Upon motion, A. Riddle, of Frank
lin county, was called to the chair,
and George Mcmillan, of Neosho
county, was appointed Secretary.
Delegates from the following coun-
ties were present, to-Wit: lon
/ Franklin, A. Riddle; Allen, E.
Harville; Montgomery, j. c. Fra
sier; Woodson, III. G. Larned; La
bette, D. j. Dulen; Neosho, j. NJ.
Allen. The object of the meeting
and the course of procedure to test
the validity Of the present manner
of assessing railroad property was
explained by T. +. RACER and r. N.
Baylies, attorneys.
| Whereupon it was recommended
that the counties of Franklin and
Neosho proceed to assess the rail-
road property within their respec.
tive limits in the manner as other
property. The following resolu-
tons were then adopted:
WHEREAS, Questions have arisen
as to the validity of the act com.
monty known as the RAILROAD AS
sessment Act" approved March Sd
1871, and it appears that the assess.
ment of railroad property within
this State by the board of railroad
assessors elected under said act fol
the year 1872 is far below its actua
value, therefore be it ResOlUed:
1st. That we are in favor of hav'
ing all railroad property within
each county assessed in the samI
manner and under the rules present.
ed by the general assessment law
entitled can act to provide for the
assessment and collection of taxes,
approved February 18th, 1868.
| I'd. That if suits shall be insti
gated 10 prevent the collection o
taxes under assessments made a.
above indicated, or if it shall be
come necessary that legal proceed
ings be commenced to determine
the validity of the act commonly
known as the Railroad Assessment
Law, approved March Sd, 1871, WI
pledge the counties represented BY
US in this meeting to lend their ait
and encouragement to the defensI
or prosecution of such actions, il
order that an early judicial decision
may be obtained. as to the validity
of the aforesaid act.
Sd. That all other counties in thu
State are earnestly solicited to CO
operate with us in an effort to Sc
cure TO ali just determination o
the questions above suggested.
4th. That the secretary shall fur
niSh the board of county commits
sioners of each county in this Stat
with O copy of the proceedings had
and of the resolutions adopted By
this meeting, and that the press o
the country be requested to, publish
the same.