The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-05
ABOUT KANSAS ASSESSMENTS.

ORION INGERSOLL,
Secretary.

From the Atchison Patriot
Kansas people have no doubt been told
of their one great fault in the matter of
assessment and taxation very many
times, and doubtless know it, But it
occurs to us who have Just cast our lot
with you that it is proper for us to re-
mind you of it again. The Kansas idea
of low valuations and high per centages
has done the state irreparable injury. 1t
has kept many and many a mandatory
from the state, many and many a capt.
alist, many and many a sturdy farmer.
People east and people in the great Mis-
sissippi valley read the figures that tell
the story of your wealth and your taxa
ton, not knowing as you do that they
tell monstrOus lie, and shun the state
because of her fearful high rate of taxa
ton. They do not know that your prop
erty is listed at about one-third it's actual
value and that the rate of taxation is
therefore, though apparently very great,
no greater than that of other states.
The tendency for years has been, as
we are informed, to decrease valuations,
so that lands valued at SAL in 1887 are
now valued at only $3.50 per acre, and
personal property shrunk from sixty
millions in 1887 to forty-nine millions in
1890. In 1890 the assessors returns show
fewer horses, fewer cattle, fewer hogs,
fewer wagons, and of less value in Kan
sas than in 1887. What is true of the
state at large Is also true of most of the
counties and municipalities Values
have been cut down and as a conse-
quenCe rates of taxation have gone up
The law that all property shall be as
sessed at its real value has been most
shamefully violated. In an elaborate
report upon assessment and taxation by
the board of railroad commissioners,
shown US few days ago. the board de-
clares: 1T is the Judgment of this board
that all property should be assessed at
its real value. Such is the intent and
meaning of our statute. The law has
been continuously and shamefully
evaded by making absurdly low valua-
tons and consequent high per cent of
taxation upon the assessed valuations,
and thereby making citizens of the older
states timid about investments and in
Juring our credit.
To illustrate. suppose one dollar was
required TO be raised upon horse Of an
assessed value of 500; the levy would
be per cent upon the valuation; but to
raise the same uOllar upon the same
property assessed at S25, the levy would
be per cent. 1t can readily be seen
that the same revenue would be raised
in either case upon the same horse. bus
70 a nonresident it would appear that
the horse was of little value in this state
and the rate of taxation was enormous
in Kansas. The latter fact would be
more apparent to the man seeking to
invest in Kansas, and would probably
disgust him so much that he would not
investigate farther, and conclude that
the rate OF taxation was out OF proper
ton 10 the value of the property, and
would naturally turn TO other states
where the real percentage Of taxation Is
higher than it i in Kansas. although az
paren,lv much lower. thus showing that
our system tends 10 deter emigration
and prevent capital from locating II
Kansas
These are wise words the board Of
utter, and ought 10 be
needed. They must ba needed if It IS
desired that the tide of immigration
should how kansasward again.