Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-01-25

III often that
Voluntarily contracted by the people. Bat this
statement is not IN all cases. based On fact. In
many instances, indeed, the votes authorizing
them have been secured by compulsory processes.
Directly or indirectly, the people have heen IN
formed that failure 70 vote bonds wOuld result IN
IL t9I+t4OA OF railway 1lnes Dg such routes as
would seriously 1uJure or utterly destroy existing
communities, N which were ceRtered an the
-SAs me SIL9fLs ana I1le aceuIlulaLAons o! years
or labor and enterprise. In this age, railways
make or ununake cities and towns, and when
community knowing this fact, has a railway
bond proposition submitted to it, the alternative
IS well understood, and the freedom of action
e1LoHeu Us people IS not very clearly apparent
DETERMINATIONS AGAINST EAEgAs TOWNS AND
Many communities. too have bssn deluded by
hopes or derrauded by promises of local adVan-
tage that have not been, and never VIII be, real
as local concern, several of the railway lines OF
Kansas are so operated as to build up and foster
sllen communities, 70 the CleLE1nent or destruc
ElOn OF our own towns and cities. Eztravagant
and burdensOnne as is the volume OF municipal
building railways, 1t would not be disastrous If
these corporations, the creatures of our laws and
the EeclpIlenus OF the prod1gal Dount1es Of our
Hunlclp aIlU1ess were so managed as to build up,
promote and foster Kansas interests and Kansas
CoI7lAu41Iles. But several II not most or the
railroads trstVerslng our state are operated
70 retaTd the growth and damage the prosperity
on .cOLnLnqn1ues IhaJ have materially aided IN
building them, and that are bearing heavy bur
qens OF taxation TO meet Indebtedness contracted
The Board of Railroad Commissioners, in
Its last annual report, calls attention to some of
these determinations against Kansas interests
and communities, and asks that additional
powers be conferred upon the Board, By law, to
compel the railways to deal Justly In such mat
tiers. / cordially indorse this Recommendation.
and trust that the Legislature VIII vest in the
Board ample authority not only to redress the
wrongs specially mentioned, but to protect Kan
/ sas communities and Kansas interests generally
against determinations and injustice. That such
legislation IS necessary no observing citizen OF
the State VIII question. On several Kansas rail
ways trains are run and freights and fares are
adjusted for the benefit Of alien communities,
that bear none OF the burdens of our govern
ment. and have no common Interest in IL E pros
III hT1aC fTF.a If
traverslng large portion OF our State, has
ternlnl at two points on our border, both outside
the limits Ofakansas. Another line disregards
the orders and defies the authority of our Board
or hallway Commissioners. The rights, the in
Uerests, the welfare of Kansas towns and cities
are ignored by many, If not most OF our rail-
ways, or If justice is done them it Is grudgingly
conceded not as right, but as favor. 1t is time
that the law-mal1ing power OF the State gave
these matters its serious attention. Kansas com
munltles are justly entitled to all the benefits
and advantages that Kansas railways can give
them. Millions of acres of State lands, and
millions of dollars in bonds have been given by
OlL L5ypLS 10 ettu II DuiiOIIB tLles5 ROADS me
benehCiarIes of this prOdigal generosity should
recognize their obligations to the people of the
oLaUe ana SO operate their INES as TO confer the
largest possible benefits and advantages upon
ana nrI1 enacUments, should demand that the
Z trade and commerce or the State shall not De
uClIzed LOT the sole penenG OF alien cities and
towns; The Board OF Railroad Commissioners
should have ample authority to prevent
injustice being done to any Kansas com
munlJy, either IN the running OF trains, IN
the adjustment of freights and fares or by any
other form of discrimination hurtful to Kansas
interests or Kansas people. Appeals to the JUS
tice and fairness OF many railway managers have
been tried, again and again, for many years, and
have failed to accomplish any important results.
1t is time to try what stringent law, backed by
determined public sentiment, viii do to secure
| justice for Kansas at the hands of Kansas cor
pOratlOns.
call your attention, also, to the methods
adopted by several counties ana municipalities,
for eYadIng the existing limitations put upon
their taE-leYyiug and debU-Creauing authority.
! counties, municipal corporations, the Boards OF
Education Of any city, and School Districts, to
refund theil indebtedness.'' 1t was the plain
intent and nurpOse of the Legislature, in enact
ing this law, to confer upon these ulunicipsli-
ties, boards and districts authority to refund
bonded Indebtedness only; that is, to take up
outstanding bonds and issue Others in their
stead. But the letter of the statute cOnfers upon
any of these municipal subdivisions of the State
power to compromise and refund its matUred
and maturing Indebtedness Of eUery kind and de-
scrigtiO7l 9ChdtSOeUeT, upon such terms as can be
agreed upon, and to issue new bonds in
payment for any sums SO com promised"
In several, If not IN many counties, cities,
townships and school districts Of the State, am
informed that the authorities have issued war
rants or orders on the treasury for any purpose
whatsoever, and whenever these warrants or or
them as ''matured indebtedness and proceeded
to compromise and refund them by issu-
In some of the newly organized west
ern counties such warrants have been
issued to pay expenses incurred in con-
Quoting county seat cases, as we'll as for other
unauthorized or extraVaganE expenditures.
embOdy It's original purpose N plaln language,
that cannot be perverted. The authority IN
tended to be conferred, under its directions was
perhaps necessary; b1G tLe auIhorlJy zeAereersed
never intended to be conferred, and has
been used, IN many instances, to further WantOn
extravaganza II not dagrant public robbery and
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
In two previous biennial messages L have called
the attention of the legislature to the fact that
property values needed thorough revision. Their
defects, universally recognized are organic Inc
system that creates, invites underValuatiOn and
encourages parUlaIlJy ana lnJusElce. IL Is 1lis
possible to secure uniform and Just assessment
Of property until there Is GradlcaI change IN the
nneJhOds OF assessing ana equaL4Ai1g t5Iues. 90
long as township trustees are employed as the
assessors, Just SO long viii unequal and unjust
that these officers holding their positions by the
votes OF those whose property they assess, VIII not
each endeaVOr 70 secure Tor Ln1s nelgAgors ana
constituents all possible exemption from the
our laws, too, are contradictory in their direc-
tons TO assessors. Section 10, chapter 1O7 Laws
of 1879 requires that all classes or property shaI
be assessed at the true value LnefeoT IN
money" section So of the same chapter, how
ever, directs assessors to assemble at the
of each year, and then agree upon an equal basis
of valuation OF SUCH property as they may ,pe
called upon 70 assess. Inc assessors "a VaElto4y
interpret the last quoted provision as a9lnor11lng
them to Tx any basis OF valuation, they may
deem proper, ana, as a rue, agEes on a Dssls OF
one-third or ne-tOurth at the real cash value.
But in actual work. even this baels Is frequently
dlsregarded by assessors anu numerous instances
can be cited IN nearly every county, where prop
erty is assessed at not to exceed ten per cent or
its real value.
The county clerks, at a convention recently
held adopted resolution looking to the election
of county assessor for each county. The officers
making this suggestion have knowledge and
experience touching the practical workings. OF
our assessment laws that entities their opinion
to cOnsiderate attention. The quesllonsl1Vo!yed
however, are complex, and it viii be difficult to
establish a system that viii not be open to some
objections. But it is certain that more unfair,
inadeduRue. and ObiectiOnal system than that
now provided by our laws cannot be devised.
ANY change, therefore, would be an 1proveuenI.
This subject Is of such general and grave inn
portance that it should receive your prompt,
( careful. and intelligent consideration i call
your attention to the suggestions made In the
nth biennial report Of the late State Treasurer.
desire TO add that, IN my Judgment. It IS