The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-07-31

such other business as may come before the com
mittee 4 full attendance is desired.
By order OF the committee.
6. W. REEVES, Sec'y.
THE STATE PAPER ON PENALTY.
The Topeka Commonwealth and
several other papers of the state are
rendering themselves ridiculous i'm the
ewes of all thinking men by printing
editorials abou; the hardships of "the
fifty per cent. penalty law" and asking
for an unconditional repeal of the OBJ
noxiGus measure. II naturally makes
one feel little squeemish both in head
and stomach TO see, in papers that
should have leading influence, incipi-
ent bosh and sickening twadle, dressed
up in owlish language, all for the
apparent purpose Of catching the pop
ular favor. The Commonwealth ought
to be the last paper in the state that
would lend itself TO anything of the
kind. We noticed articles the same
tenor in papers of smaller note which
we attributed to the ignorance of the
editors. If ignorance is what ails the
editor of the state paper, then let the
stock holders make change.
We will ask these papers getting up
this short sighted and unreasonable
howl a few questions. but before doing
so will announce for their better infor-
nation that there j. no such a law as
the Fifty per cent. penalty act" upon
our statute books. nor has there ever
been. taxes upon property is not
paid within two months and ten days
after ii is due the law provides that a
penalty of ten per cent. shall be added
by the clerk and collected by the treas
urcr, which is the only penalty under
the law. In four months thereafter if
taxes are not paid it is presumable
that it is not the intention to pay them.
But the state must exist, counties
must have money to pay their expenses,
townships, road districts and school
districts cannot stand still or borrow
money. What is to be done There
is another law which provides in effect, !
that after the time for the payment of
taxes has expired. and after the time |
OF the penalty has run out, that any !
person may pay the taxes upon any de- |
linqucnt property and, as an induce
ment for sach payment, the law says
L. Il, L. =.
terest at The rate Of. ffty per cent. per
dnaum on Tie amount Of purchase
money from date Of sale"
We have not space AT this time to
show the records and instances where
wealthy spectators had made il a
practice, previous 10 the enactment of
that law, 10 only pay their taxes once
in three years, or just a few days be-
fore the final sale. allowing the county
to carry them, and forcing the prompt
paying men TO pay nearly double; TO
show that the passage of that law put
over $50 900 in the state treasury in
one year, and all from nonresident
lands: to show that without such q
law any land spcculator can afford TO
let his taxes run and use his moneys
for other purposes 10 show that the
state of Kansas had floating script
suspended for the non-payment of
taxes: TO show that Illinois and Mis-
souri, have both found it necessary in /
the past TO allo2stsso rate Of one hum ,
dred per cent. per nnnum in order to |
keep the tax rolls paid up. Property.
not individuals, pay tax, and il 10 the |
rich man. the Spectator and the big I,
land owner that are delinquent nine ,
cases out of ten, rather than the farmer
and mechanic But we have forgotten .
ourself. We, at this time, only intend
ed TO ask the Commonwealth and those
other papers a few questions.
Are taxes necessary at all TO The sus- ,
tanning ofgorernment lfso, and they (
are not paid promptly, what is the con- |
sequence upon the credit of the state? .
Where taxes are not half paid up who ;
suffers, the delinquent or the prompt ,
paving man? l. the credit system and ,
over due notes any better basis for "A I
state, a county. a school district or a ,
township 10 do business upon than an ,
individual or firm? When and where !;
do the coupons on our state. county :
and school district bonds fall due, and =
is il necessary 10 promptly meet such d
obligations? In fine. is there any way =
in which we can allow one-half the a
property of the state TO go year after Il
year delinquent, and at the same time O
meet the finances of the state and its i,
credit successfully and not Cypress the G
other halt who promptly pay their r
taxes? Y
Unless the Commonwealth can an :,
swer the above questions in a different -
light than that which experience has \
answered them in for centuries, let II n
dry up IFS nonsense about laws that +.
taxes alike and at the same time, and
which laws in no way Cypress those
who. within the two months prescribed.
come forward md bear their just pro- "
portion of the burden which is ncces- 6
'ary 10 the life of the government that
safety 10 that same prop VI
'rty. and life and liberty 10 all law u
lbding citizens. ~
A
DARING ROBBERY. al
The partial destruction and robbery
II a railroad train. in Iowa. by a party
NJ Ill smuisn rnhhrrs atlnrls one of The y