The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-28
TALKED ON TAXES
Mr.. DOUGLAS HAS SOME SUCCESS
TIONS FOB THE LEGISLATURE.
He Advises the Passage Of a Law Pro-
viding for the Funding Of special
improvement BoJds-EcSult Of
Present Law Burdensome to the
People of First lass Cities.

Hon. George L. Douglass was in a me-
ditative mood yesterday when a report
er for the Eagle braced him for his
views with reference to legislation this
coming winter. 1t was the kind of a
day that would inspire a man to think
on that perennial problem, taxation. and
Mr.. Douglass was at ii. He said:
Hundreds of our best citizens are
threatened with loss of property owing
to the enormous burden of special i'm
provement taxes--a burden which falls
upon them at the very time when a
dollar is harder to get than 1t ever was
before. The effect is doubly disastrous
The taxes are not only heavy burden
if paid; but If the owner seeks to sell
his property the taxes often operate to
extinguish all salable value. The re-
suit is that vast amount Of valuab BILE
property either goes to tax title spec
ulators or is bid in by the county for
taxes.
The trouble comes largely from the
law regulating special assessments
which is well adapted to boom times
but which often results in practical
confiscation in such times as these.
There ought to be some way to secure
immediate relief for hundreds of good
citizens who want to keep their proper
ty but are unable to pay these taxes at
this time
The present law authorizes such taxes
per cent interest charged on the I'M
paid balance"
What suggestion can you make for
relief"
ct suggest that the legislature be
urged to pass a bill authorizing cities
of the first class to refund all their
special Improvement Indebtedness into
twenty year 5 per cent bonds. There
is little doubt that all the outstanding
bonds could be speedily exchanged for
these twenty year bonds. If there is
eny doubt about this, however, the
law could provide for the gradual issue
of the new bonds only as the old ones
we're presented for exchange or pay
ment. Then provide that all special
taxes be assessed so as to spread them
out over twenty years with interest on
deferred payments at the same rate Of
interest as the city pays on the bonds
and no more.
This will Immediately relieve hun
dreds of ohr citizens from a part of the
burdens which now threaten, in many
instances, a total loss of property. It
will do more than tf1is-eit wilt increase
the actual value and selling price of
of every foot of real estate in the paw
ing and sewer districts of Wichita.
by provisions in the land BILL or by
separate act, relief can be extended not
only to the case of current or future as
sessments, but also to delinquent tax
es where the property has not yet act
ually gone to tax deed. To effect this
latter purpose a good many things
would have to be taken into account:
but / am satisfied that a bill could be
drawn which would not only accom-
plish this result, but would relieve the
county and city to great extent of
present embarrassment by reason Of the
non-payment of taxes.
"Such liquidation would require to be
very carefully drawn; but have little
doubt that such a bill or bills could be
passed and very material relief obtain
ed for our people. If the tax payers
think this is the proper thing to do they
ought to get together and talk 1t over.
/ have no doubt Mr.. Rohrbaagh and Mr..
Eekstein Will take hold of this or any
other matters for the good of Wichita
with VIM