The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-03
GRAVES BILL DEFEATED
Il was Good Thing On Principal But Wa
Very Injurious In Practice.

very injurious In Practice,
Guthrie. O. T., Feb. 2.-(SpeciaD-Tke
OH introduced by Graves of OklaholM
county, exempting from taxation slOO
worth of property TO each head of a fam
iiy was taken up by the committee of the
whoie, and after lengthy discussion,
was defeated. much TO the regret of the
author. whose heart was so set on its
passage that he quoted from the Consti-
tuition OF the United States. the Declare
Ion of Independence, Magma Charta, the
Ten Commandments and all kinds Of
Things in support of IL. The bill was de-
feated by vote of II TO 2.
Mr.. Olson said that the bill was a fair
one but the principle was bad.
Mr.. Berry said the passage Of the bill
would ruin the revenues of his county
The people were living on land given
them by the government and did not
have much personal property. and he be-
lieved each person was willing 10 pay his
share. He was wiling TO pay his. AS a
rule the assessment of families was IN
der 500, and the passage of the bill
would be injurious 10 the whole terri
tory.
Mr.. Ferguson said il was class legisla-
ton and he was opposed 10 it.
Mr.. Shannon said il was a matter in
which his people had not asked any re-
lief. 1t could not be made 10 work equi.-
ably, and would be an injury to the poor
as well as the rich.
Mr.. Wilson was opposed to it, as all
should pay their equitable share. The
exemption of some made the burden
heavier on others and was not a relief.
The bills must be paid, and the exemp-
tor of part would only increase the rate
on the balance.
Mr. Doyle was in favor Of the bill as
it would relieve great number OF poor
people and give them justice with the
rich who escaped taxation on every side.
ELS favored the bill as he believed il
was needed. In his township 329 lists
of property were returned aggregating
$50, 900, and that was different from the
statement made by Mr.. Berry. The
people there demanded this relief and
they should have it.
Mr.. Rose said it was bad policy at
this time to exempt. In counties and
cities where the railroads. banks and
large business men could be taxed it
would work all right, but in outlying
counties and district the law would
close the schools and make county taxes
exorbitant.
Mr.. Berry said the average amount as
sessed to each taxpayer in his county
was under $500, including railroads,
banks, etc.
Mr.. Olson said the thing TO do was
to make the rio n, which Mr.. Dayle talk
ed about. pay their share OF the taxes
The bill in question would simply in
crease the burden of the people at large
and would make the taxes exhoroitant
upon the homesteader who had proved
up his lard.
Mr.. May thought the poor family
should have the shack over their heads
or the COW giving milk for the family ex-
empt. and moved TO make the amount
Of exemption so.
Mr.. Ferguson said the passage OF the
law would close one-third OF the schools
in I;ocoIn county. 1t would impose a
great hardship upon the farmer who had
proved up. while mis- neighbor who lived
I,pon as much and as good land still IN
the rame CT the government would es-
cape all share Of taxation.
Mouriauand said the bill would close
half the schools in Blaine county and
impoverish the few people who had
proved up on their land.
Mr. Graves spoke for the bin. declar-
ing Il would bring prosperity TO the
whole people. The wealth of the nation
made the wealt1-the farmer-shouid
have some encouragement and protec-
ton.
Mr. Tousley said this law would not
bring out the hidden prosperity OF COM
pei the rich TO pay the taxes they now
made. He said some Of the western
counties were at present unable 10 raise
taxes enough TO pay the county officers
and were talking OF uniting two or more
counties into one. While the spirit OF
this measure was good. its passage at
this time would close all the schools OF
those counties and stop the county ma
chineTy entirely.
Berry showed tha, by Ellis own fig
ures the people IN his township only av-
eraged Sl0i each He plead for the de-
feat u the bill. as Il would make taxes
on the property not exempt prohib.tive
and would drive business men and the
better class OF farmers from the country.