Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-04-02

bills before the house: and in future,
would like to see the Eldorado Republican,
WORLD, and other republican papers that
give circulation to such falsehoods, do
the same. 1t would be more manly and
more honest.
BEN. G. Rich,
of 1891. ''A u 'n' ''''0n
We do not hold ourselves responsible
for any statement made by Senator Muir
dock, nor for any statement that appears
on the patent side, This controversy is
not ours and were it not for the unjust
and uncalled for insinuation contained in
Mr. Richs closing paragraph, we should
not have replied. An examination of the
journal reveals the fact that the bill in
troduced by Mr.. Scott, known as house
bill No. 71S, did not pass the senate and
to their credit we make this admission,
We give herewith the first two sections
of the bill, which is entitled: "To COM
pei railroad and other assessors to assess
railroad and other property at its true
value"
Sec. 1. Any board of railroad assess
ors, or any member or members thereof
entrusted with the listing and assessing
of any railroad property situated in the
state of Kansas, who shall hereafter as
sess such railroad property at lesss val
ue than the actual cost of constructing
and equipping such railroad shall be held
guilty of misdemeanor etc.
Sec. 2. Any city or township assessor
who shall list or assess any real or per-
sonal property situated or taxable within
his district at less value than its true
value in money, shall be deemed guilty
of misdemeanor etc.
AS will be seen from reading of the
bill its caption is misleading, and we are
very much surprised that Mr.. Rich did
not give the full text. 1T would have
been more manly and honest"
You will observe the difference in the
terms of the two sections. With reference
to railroad property it provides for it's
assessment at value not less than the
actual cost of constructing and equipping
such railroad. With reference to real and
personal property it shall be assessed at
it's true value in money. Why this diff
erence? Why this discrimination? The
bill is not only unjust and oppressive but
entirely absurd. Railroad property shall
not be assessed at its true value in mon
ey but at the actual cost of constructing
and equipping. No difference if the
road has been in operation twenty years
and the ties and the rails are almost worn
out and the rolling stock has deprecated
fifty per cent from long use and wear
the actual cost for constructing and
equipping shall be the basis. How
would you like to have your old wagon
and pillow assessed at their actual first
cost? 1t occurs to us that no fair minded
man could vote for such bill We are
not championing the interests of rail-
roads as against the people. Our SYM
pathies are all with the people. We are
under no obligations to the railroads of
Kansas. They do not even furnish us
with a pass to ride over their roads or
any of them. At the same time we will
endeavor to be just. Equal and exact
justice" should be the motto of us all. It
is very evident that Mr.. SCOTS bill was
only introduced for effect. It was we'll
known that the senate could not and
would not pass it, and besides it was
only sent to the senate on March 9TH at
time when the legislature was
about to adjourn or as soon as they
could pass private bills and appro-
priations. It was not the intention to
have it passed and it would have been
unconstitutional if it had been. We
don't care to discuss the difference be-
twixt tweedle dunn and tweedle dee. The
senate showed its good Judgment in not |
passing the bill.