The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-01-17

school houses account Tor a very con-
siderable share of this local taxation,
of which no Kansan ever complains,
nor offers word in extenuation. The
nine thousand miles of railroad in
operation in the state tell Of millions
and millions of bonds voted in aid of
their construction. These railroads
the Kansan regards as an educational
force, operating on parallel lines with
the school house, the press and the tele-
graph, stimulating intercourse and
activity in the multiplied fields of hui
man endeavor among people widely
dispersed over a territory an empire
in extent. But our just pride in this
direction is tempered by glance at our
receipts for local taxes, a semj-annual
reminder of that inflexible law of COM
pensation that runs throughout all the
relations of life. politics included.
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
The subject of municipal indebted
ness has been fruitful theme of exc
cHtive messages. For years each of
m y predecessors has warned, protest.
ed and expoStulated in vain, for in spite
of it all the volume of debt has doubled
and trebled, swelling with each recur-
renee of the frenzy in railroad construc-
ton until. as it appears by the auditors
report, that on July 1st, 1887, the grand
aggregate of county, township. city /,
board of education and school-district
indebtedness amounted to $31 ,107 &c.
03, bearing an average interest of at
least six per cent per annum. This
interest means an annual tax of ST.
S66, 1881. or levy equal to five and
one-fourth mills on the dollar on the
present assessed value of all taxable
property in the state. This interest
charge alone exceeds the state levy for
tho 1899 NV Q172 110 R2
During the past two years S13. 1888 ,O61
of bonds have been registered in the
AUDITORS Office showing that this IN
debtedness exceeds the aggregate here
in mentioned by several millions of dol
lars, the report on total Indebtedness
being to July 1st, 1887, and on registra-
ton to June 80, 1888. OF the amount
so registered, SO ,544 $50 was to aid in
construction of railroads. This indebt-
edness is a severe and constant strain
upon the productive resources of the
tax-paying people. Payday must come
eventually. There is no mysterious
alchemy in legislation, whereby debts
can be discharged, and 1 realize how
much easier it is to suggest difficulties
and conditions requiring cure, than
it is to devise the remedy; and atten.
ton is called to this subject now by
way of warning, and in the hope that
while the past is beyond recall and
must take care of itself, you may do
something for the future in the way OF
clipping the wings of these minor mum
icipalities, by a rigid and wholesome
limitation upon their power to vote
bonds for any purpose other than tC
build school houses-always to be ex
cepted in Kansas. How the existing
debts of these municipalities are to be
paid, is for the taxpayer.
How to provide some safeguard
| for the future, is the question
that confronts you. An absolute pro-
hibitioD above specified rate per cent
of the taxable value of all property
would greatly curtail the power to is
sue bonds
The state auditor calls attention tt
| the funding of county warrants for cur
rent expenses under the general fund
ing law of 1879. under this law coun
ties can issue bonds to fund indebted
ness without submitting the question
to a vote of the people. This has been
taken advantage of and large amount!
of bonds, running thirty years and
bearing six per cent interest, have been
issued III payment for outstanding
county warrants. Some of the newer
counties and cities have availed them
selves of this. and have undoubtedly
become lavish in expenditures for thai
reason. The act referred to should be
amended so as to prohibit this indis
eliminate issue of funding bonds.
RAID CLAIM CERTIFICATES.
! Under the act passed at the last seS
sion of the legislature providing fol
the payment of losses by invasion o
guerrillas, certificates to the amount Of
! 1916, 1854 principal, and S98 ,252.90 in
tereSt, have been issued, as shown b!
the report of the auditor. Provision
should be made for the payment of tin
annual interest, and one-tenth of TIN
principal which natures February 1st
| 1890, and like sum February lst
| 1891.
So far DIS as the Price raid claims ar
concerned, l refer you to the full re
port of Commissioner Caldwell. TIL
few thousand dollars transmitted t
the state by the general government t
pay certain specified claims, and by tn
state grossly misappropriated, SHOULD
be Immediately made good to the claim
ants thus wrongly deprived of thei
money.
STATE OFFICERS.
In making estimates ana compute
tionS for revenue and other purpose
for the fiscal year ending June 30th
1890 and 1891, the auditor and treasure
|
financial officers of the state. and thei
knowledge will be valuable on thi
question. Their suggestions on othe
subjects stated in their reports ar
commended to your earnest attention
and should be carefully considered
These reports, together with the ri
ports of all state and bureau officers
fail to receive the careful attention
from legislators to which they are en-
titled, as 1 can testify from persona
experience.
ASSESSMENT.
The question OF amending the pres
ent system of assessment is much dis
cussed. The demand is that all prop
erty shall be assessed at its true value
The law requires the assessor, from al
tual view and from best sources of IL
formation within his reach, to dete
mine as nearly as practicable the tru
value.
Referring to personal property, th
Law requires the several township an
| city assessors to meet and agree on a
equal basis of valuation of such prOpe
ty as they may be called to asses
} Again, the oath required from the al
J SCISSOR to be attached to his person;
, thereof is estimated by the rules pr
scribed by law. This the assessor col
strues to mean the equal basis agree
upon at the meeting of the sever
, township and city assessors. The:
= township assessors are elected by Il
people of their respective township
and have their political friends al
followers. 1t has occurred to me TIL
: in amending this law, after providiI
j for the assessment of all property at j
true value and imposing penalty {
: assessors failing to perform their d
: ties in accordance with the statute,
! would be well to make the Office as no
, political as possible. And if instead
: township assessors as now provided Il
the Office Of county assessor be ere
: ted, that it be made the duty of Il
e Judge of the district court of the seve
4 al jucicial districts to select and a
Y point d county assessor for each of Il
) counties in their respective district
! who shall hold Office for the period
3 two years; that said judge shall ha'
d power to remove for cause and to
!. vacancies; such county assessor to ha'
authority to appoint deputies with Il