Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-01-24

fections' latner IMAM continue the payment
interest for twenty years, as the fundin
is sound financial policy for the pr,
dent business man is also goo
financiering for the State Of Kansas AS m
predecessor aptly and wisely remarked in hi
message TO this Legislature: PAY as you go.
This motto is applicable TO the State as well q
to every municipality.
| LOCAL TAXATION
The amount raised by taxation for State
| county, township and school purposes, on as
sessment OF 1887, was s11, 49s, 7o7. 50, namely
State, 81, ,274o53.01 county, s. 551, O4; city
sl.593 324 45; township, 81 3i6, 13S o.; and school
| lsH1.3l an average rate per cent. of s. 2
| upon each 800 OF assessed value.
The taxes levied for purely local purposes ar
| indeed burdensome, and are the only ones com
planned OF, though entirsly self-imposed Tn,
State levy Is small compared with the amounts
collected in defraying the expenses of various
municipalities. What the State exacts Is only
about one-ninth part Of the whole amount col
lected, the balance being for purely local pur
poses FOR The support of county government
| alone the tax levy is nearly three times as muci
as the State requires; whil- townships, cities
and school di stricts levy tribute with q heavy
hand, and in still greater measure to defray ex
penses Incidental to local government, greater
portion being for interest on outstand
reckless extravaganza in many cases little
dreamed OF by De Tocquev1lle when he wrote
SO etoquentfy and admiringly OF the beauties oi
tnose minor municipalities as the miniature
Republics in the new system of popular govern
ment in America
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS
Tne subject Of municipal Indebtedness has
been fruitful theme OF executive messages.
For years each Of my predecessors has warned,
nrOfQStAd a and o1zv1o r,lo
OF 1t all the volume OF debt has doubled and
treoled, swelling with each recurrence of the
frenzy OF railroad construction until, as it ap-
pears by the Auditors report, that on July 1,
1881, the grand aggregate of county, township,
city, board OF education and school-district in
deotedness amounted to S31, ,1O7, "a L03, bearing
an average interest OF at least six per cent. per
annum. This interest means an annual tax of
fl'S66, ,498 81, or levy equal to five and one
fourth mills on the dollar the present as
sessed value Of all taxable property in the
State This interest charge alone exceeds the
State levy for the year 1893 by Si1S1i0.63
During the past two years S13, 33s, ,061 of bonds
have been registered in the Auditors Office,
showing that this indebtedness exceeds the ag-
gregate herein mentioned by several millions OF
dollars, the report on total indebtedness being
to July l, 1887, and on registration TO June 80,
1888. OF the amount so registered, SS54455O
is severe and constant strain
upon the productive resources OF the tax-pay-
ing people. Payday must come eventually
lit Is recommended that indiscriminate issu-
ing OF funding bonds be prohibited. The
Governor recommends that provision be
made for the payment of all raid claims certifi-
Gates
ASSESSMENT.
The question of amendi e the present system
assessment mnch no
Is that all property shall be assessed at its true
value. The law requires the assessor, from
actual view and from best sources of informa-
ton within his reach, to determine us nearly as
practicable the true value.
Referring to personal property, the law re-
luires the several township and city assessors
10 meet and agree on an equal basis of valua
lion OF such property as they may be called to
assess. Again, the oath required from the
assessor to be attached TO his personal property
'eturn, is that the value thereof is estimated
oy the rules prescribed by law. This the
assessor construes to mean the equal basis
igreed upon at the meeting of the several
ownship and city assessors. These township
assessors are elected by the people of their re-
pective townships, and have their political |
r1ends and followers. 1t has occurred 10 me |
hat in amending this law, after providing for
he assessment of all property at its true value |
'erform their duties in accordance with the |
tatute, it would be well to make the Office as |
early non-pol1tlcal as possible. And if instead |
township assessors as now provided for, the |
flee OF county assessor be created, that it be |
1ade the duty of the judge Of the district court
the several judicial districts to select and |
ppoint county assessor for each OF the coun-
les IN their respective districts. who shall hold
flee for the period of two years; that sail
have ~ for !
I'd to I'LL vacancies: such county assessor TO
ave authority to appoint deputies with the ad-
ice and consent of such judge. An amendment
this kind might remedy the evil complained
and secure the assessment of property at its
'ue value.
CORPORATION LAWS
The attention of the Legislature is called to
lie act conc 'rning private corporations. The
berality OF the State permits the creation of
operations for nearly every conceivable pur-
ose, comforting great powers and valuable
anchlseS upon them without any direct charge
: expense whatever. The ease with which
operations are formed and The nominal ex-
ense incurred IN their creation, induces the
rmation Of a vast number that exist only in
anne, the incorporators holding to a faint hope
nat something may grow out of filing of the
'ticles OF incorporation. Advantage is also
ken Of this law by citizens OF foreign States,
no come into Kansas long enough to secure
10 Cooperation OF sufficient number of actual
sldents, execute and file articles of incorpor- |
ion, secure certified copy OF the same and
lsten away to their foreign homes to COM
ence business, holding themselves out as a
ll-hedged corporation duly authorized under
e laws of Kansas.
1.-THE Governor calls attention to the ineoual-
les Of the law in regard to fees and salaries |
many cases registers of deeds receive greater (
es than district judges and county treasurers {
ore than the State Treasurer. He recon- |
ends that all offices be placed on salary
Isis.l
INSURANCE
The last report of the Superintendent of In s
rance shows that one hundred and seventeen !
surance tompanies are authorized to do busi- I
SIS in this State. Eighty three of these were /
Q companies, twenty-eight life, and six com. {
nies are classed as miscellaneous. About I
enty Kansas companies have died of expos q
c, and the number of worthless home compa i
es has become very small
The receipts OF the Insurance Department S
IT year, paid by the companies doing busi- l
IS here, were Sj1,40S.57. The receipts Of I
department since it was established in '
u. have been S3S3, 64S 35. Most of this money a
S gone into the school fund and the general S
venue fund 1t is turned over to the State
easurer every month. r
The amount OF fire insurance written in the O
ate last year was sl37 2ss $50. cost, in premi- 1
Is 5000, s2S; losses paid, 81, 124 726; average
te OF premiums. Si59. e
The llfe insurance written during the year p
IS sl2- -S01, ,Sis; losses paid, ssi7, ,4S5; premiums
,eived. s743 3S4 e
Attention is called to the fact that the State Z
S no law regulating the important subject Of C
nks and banking and that hundreds OF banks "
We been organized not as savin banks in il
t, but TO carry on general business and [
eded legislation recommended. The Cover b
r also recommends that the Supreme Court e
mmission. which expires by limitation next Il
Irch, be continued until permanent relief to s.
crowded docket can be Afforded. ii
RAILROAD REGULATION b
invite your attention to the subject of State Il