The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-02-08
NAKED UP.
The Tax Payers Of Leavenworth
County Hold Mss Mseting at
the Court House
And Say They are not Able to Pay
Such Heavy Taxes.

For some time past the people in the diff
ferent townships of the county, have bee,
complaining Of the excessive drain on tht
proceeds OF their laboIs, by taxation, and
feeling that they can no longer be subjected
to the caprices OF politicians who contro
the floating vote in getting taxes yoked or
them, by persons who pay no taxes and pay
no attention to the general welfare of the
county and city, it was resolved to hold 9
mass meeting, and signify by q uniform
movement their Independence, and make az
endeavor to free themselves from the burden
of debt which they are unable to pay.
Pursuant to a call Of tie prominent tax.
payers of the county,
THE MsEIING
was held at the court house Yesterday after
noon, and IVES attended by a large del.
epation from several Of the townships
The large hall Of the criminal court
room was filled with representative men
OF the county, eager to battle for their
rights, bat not for the purpose of denying
anything that was just and within the linn
Its Of possibility.
At half past 2 o'clock the assemblage
was called to order and Hon. J. p. B.user-
man OF the city was chosen chairman and
o. J. Farnsworth Secretary.
The object of the meeting was then stated
by Mr. ID n. Barnes Of High Prairie, to be
the devisipg Of some plan by which the
people could be relieved from The payment
of certain railroad bonds az par, giving as
his reason that the people were over taxed
and in many instances could rot even pay
for the property, taxed. He reported the
present d. bt Of the county to be Sl.2i5, 399
Mr.. Juo Gist Of High Prairie then made a
few remarks In which he said he, 10 talking
the matter up had found much diversity of
opinion. Some we're for a compromise and
Others were for
| REFUSAL
to pay taxes which went toward the pay
ment Of the bonds, unless a reasonable com
promise could be effected. He was follow
ed by Gen. Stone, Mr.. Murray and others
who each expressed the opinions Of their
communities in q manner not to be mi-ta-
ken. Some being in fav-r OF a constiiu-
tional limit OF running ex penses, and to col
lect no tax unless it is
VOTED BY THE PEOPLE.
Mr. Barnes then again took the floor, and
spuke in substance as follows:
aeowe over one million dollars at per
cent ard we own $4,000 600. Our indebted
ness is II per cent. Of our property. We
must cut of the taxes, fraudulently put on
us, in some wa.
Can men who owe for their property vet,
pay a public debt? $500 600 Of this is a
paid; AS judgment has been rendered. Our
h.. :
expense, which will make il per cent
We must have some law for our relief until
the de bt Call be compromised Some hoid-
ing bonds are wi ling TO compromise al 40
cents ON the dollar But men are here to
buy them up and Charge US 40 per cent
The bill in The legislature for the compro-
mise. will not help us. as it will only reduce
our t.xstion / per cent.
Suppose We extend the time on the bonde.
We would pay l per cent. for yer, on our
total property. 2 per cent. of our assess
,nents will wipe the debt out in eight years.
if they will take 80 per cent
This, it seems, is the better way. Ii we
can't pay the whole debt, let u say SO, and
pay what We can. Ii lrvies aIe too high,
let us also say 30. Tie law provides a
levy OF Al mills for current expe ses. The !
officers III the equity have little control, !
and at the erd Of the ear, wien expenses
are footed up, it is found that it requires |
81 mills
The true theory is to ascertain the loves |
amount il will take TO run the county, and |
pay il. We want TO get rid Of this 81 ,000,- |
600 debt. We must do asbU-iness men do. |
hey fail, and are let live. We are in that |
position; We are bankrupt. Let us pay |
what we can
1t looks 10 me as though The bill now in 1
the legislature is in The interest of some |
men who are specializing in these bonds, |
which can re bought for 50 cents on the |
dollar. No tax speculstor viii now dabble |
in tax deeds; people let the cgunty have
their property, Ind after five years buy ii |
IL for l per cent
We can, by repudistion, bring about
compromise for 50 per cent. II we can do
go we Can live and pay the debt in ten
years The taxpayers, who pay their taxes
regularly, pay % per cent. OF The delin-
quenciss o: Others.
AT the conclusion OF his remarks the fol-
lowing committees re, on motion, appoint
ed by the chair to draft resolutions to be
reported at once:
City-John w. GRANGER, Owen Duffy, J.
l. Lsrimer and L. NJ. Goddard.
County-D. \. Barnes, james Or, John
Aaron and c. ii. Grover.
The committee retired aud shortly re-
turned with the following majority report,
which was adopted:
MAJORITY REPORT.
MR. CHAIRMAN; your committee appoint
ed to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of the meeting, beg leave to submit
the following:
WHEREAS The bonded Indebtedness of
the county of Leavenworth, and the ac-
crued interest thereon, now amounts to up
ward Of one million dollars and
WHEREAS, The present valuation of the
real and personal property in the county, is
about seven million dollars and
WHEREAS, A large portion of such in
debtedness is in judgment, and subject to I
payment by levy OF tax Of
at cost, seven per cent; and
WHEREAS, The pr sent financial condi-
ton of the people of the county, is such
that they are utterly unable TO pay such e
levy; therefore
Resolred, That il is the sense Of this meet
ing, that said indebtedness should be CON-
to an amount not exceeding fifty
cents on the dollar, and that the holders of
the sum ought to and will accept such COM
promise.
Resolred, That our members OF the Legis-
lsture be requested to procure such legisla-
ton ~ may be necessary TO enable the
County Commissioners to make and enter
into euch compromise.
Resolusd, That our members be and they
are hereby instructed not 10 vote for the
passage Of any Law authorize or empower
ing the County Commission, rs of our coun-
~, TO compromise or settle any Of the rail
road bonds Of the county on any basis ex-
ceeding fifty cents on The dollar.
And further
Resolred, That unless such compromise
can be made, We recommend that the tax
payers of the count wiihold the payment
Of all taxes imposed or levied for the pay
ment OF bundled Indebtedness.
d. n. BARNES, Chairman Committee.
After the adoption of the above, the fol-
lowing minority report was introduced by
Mr.. Orr, and after some discussion, in