The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-02-19
THE LEGIsI.ATURE.
A New Tax Law.

The legislature has undertaken
the task of remodeling the tax law.
An important bill is now under
discussion in the House of Rep
resentatives, entirely remodeling
our whole tax system. 1t has
been under careful investigation
by the Committee on Finance and
Taxation for several weeks, and
is said TO introduce a number of
desirable reforms. One number
of the committee, Mr.. Morse OF
Linn county, stated in the House
that the bill, i;f adopted, would
make an annual saving of not less
than five thousand dollars to each
county in the State. This esti-
mate may be large one. but if the
bill will result in saving of even
half that amount, it is certainly a
very important one.
The Lawrence Journal makes
some good suggestions on this
question.
"One reform in this tax business
which has been repeatedly called
to our attention by practical men
IS this: Instead of having dupli-
cate tax rolls have but one and
that In the hands of the county
clerk. When 4 man wants to pay
his taxes let him go to the county
clerk, get his tax receipt properly
filled out with the amount of his
taxes. go to the treasurer, pay his
taxes, get the treasurer's name on
his receipt, return with the receipt
to the clerks office and get it
countersigncd by the clerk. This
would make the clerks Office q
constant check upon the treasur-
er's Office. The clerk at any mo-
ment could tell just the amount of
money in the treasurer's hands.
The treasurer would be relieved
OF vast amount Of unnecessary
Office writing aud keeping of &C
counts. He would simply receive
and pay out money. The ex-
pense of making out duplicate tax
rolls, amounting to several hun
dred dollars q year would be saved
and the whole business would be
kept in better shape.
We do not know whether this
feature is included in the new tax
bill or not. IL not we hope it will
be incorporated therein before it
shall pass.
The new bill, as we understand.
is very carefully drawn so as to Sc
cure the fair assessment of all
kinds OF property, and to prevent
those disreputable and dishonest
lodges by which large amounts of
property under our present laws
manageto escape their fair share
of the public burdens"
APPROPRIATIONS.
Emporia Normal School.-The az
gregate of appropriations recommend
ed by the Ways and Means committee
for this institution is $lI,GJ0 The
President receives $4,000, three Pro-
SCISSORS 81 GOO each, Preceptress and
Principal of Training School, $l,IOO
each.
Agricultural College.-The amount
recommended TO be appropriated is |
$27 ,G74.24, and is all for building pnr-
institution, being betrayed from the |
permanent income of the establish |
ment.
$4,000
Have been appropriated TO the State |
Grange to pay freights on supplies
contributed for the relief of settlers,
the bill having passed both houses.
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
A special Senate Committee has re-
ported bill cutting down the number
of judicial districts to twelve. The
bill ought to pass, but its operations
would put so many noses out OF Joint
that its fate may be considered doubt
full. AS the subject Is an important
one to many, ! append the principal
section of the bill.
That from and after the taking ef-
feet OF this act, the first Judicial DIS
Lrict shall consist of the counties of
Leavenworth and Jefferson. The sec
ond judicial district shall consist of the |
counties of AtchisOn, Brown, DonI-
phan and Nemaha. The third Judicial |
district shall consist of the counties of |
Shawnee, jackson, POttawatomie, RT- |
ey and Wabaunsec. The fourth judi |
cial district shall consist of the eoun-
ties of Douglas, Franklin, Anderson,
Allen and Neosho. The fifth judicial |
district shall consist of the counties of |
Usage, Lyon, Cofiey, Greenwood, !
Woodson and Wilson. The sixth Judi |
cial district shall consist OF the coun-
ties of Davis, Morris, Dickinson, Chase, |
Marion, Ottawa and Clay.-The sew
enth judicial district shall consist of
the counties of WyandOtte, johnson,
Miami and Linn. The eighth judicial
district shall consist of the counties of
Bourbon, Crawford, Cherokee, Labette
and Montgomery. The ninth judicial
district shall consist of the counties of
Washington, Republic, Cloud, Mar
shall and Jewell. The tenth judicial
district shall consist of the counties OF
Howard, Cowley, Butler, Sedgwiek,
Reno, Sumner, Harvey and Barbour.
The eleventh judicial district shall con-
sist OF the counties of Saline, McPher-
son, Rice, Ellsworth, Barton, Russell,
Ellis and Pawnee. The twelfth judi
cial district shall consist OF the coun-
ties of Mitchell, Osborne, Smith, Phil
lips, Rocks, Norton and Lincoln.