Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-14
RAILROADS HIT HARD.
KANSAS ASSESSORS INCREASE THEIR
TAXES EACH YEAR.
DARE NOT Do OTHERWISE.
ALL OTHER FORMS OF PROPERTY
PAYING LESS AND LESS.
This Years Increase Has Probably
Ended the Possibility of Re
ductiOn in Freight Rates
Pops iu "a PIckle-GeO.
VeaIe's scheme.
DARE NOT Do OTHERWISE.

reduction in rates on coal, grain and stock,
that possibility has no eOubt vanished on
account Of the action OF the railroad as
SCISSORS in raising the assessment OF several
OF the big lines. As General Attorney WaS-
Eerer, of the Missouri Pacific, put IL: The
Populists want to burn the candle at both
eIds." They want a reduction in rates
and at the same time raise in taxes On
the tax question the railroads appear TO
have just cause for complaint During the
past ten years the assessed valuation OF
all other ferns OF property has gradually
decreased, while that Of railroads has in
creased. Ten years ago the average as
sessment Of lands throughout the entire
state was SAP per acre. In 1886, with all
improvements added since 1851 the average
assessment of all lands was $3.50 an acre,
a decrease Of G. cents an acre or - per
cent The average assessment OF town lots
in 1857 was $92.42. while in 1856 1t was $50
a decrease Of S5S.72 per lot, or about 42 per
cent The personal property assessment
for the entire state in 1887 aggregated S6o,-
7g5746, while 1t had dwindled down until in
1886 it only aggregated SIS, l51,224 or a de-
crease OF about 10 per cent In 1887 all the
railroad property in the entire state was
assessed at Sil.5542i6. Last year it was as
sessed at $59,5i4 ST. an increase or SlI,1J0, 49,
or 81 per mile.
IL is admitted even by some Of the mem
bers Of the Populist board of assessors that
10 other property. State Auditor Morris
says railroads come ncarer TO paying taxes
on the actual value of their property than
do any other property holders. With be-
lei, or rather actual knowledge, OF the tax
discrimination against railroads, the aud
itOr Joined in with the other members in
making another Increase TINS year II mas
reached that point in Kansas politics where
the party in power believes it must increase
the railroad assessment every time II is
made, regardless Of the justice OF the mat
tor h.aa I'd of Flfl a 70
years ago had the courage Of its cOnYic-
tiOns and reduced the assessment 10 nearer
erty. The members of that board were de-
feated for renomination by their own party
No other board has made a decrease. 1t
has always been the other way.
The Populist state administration is out
on high limb, with the Populist masses
saving on the limb between the said ad-
miuistratiOn and the trunk of the political
tree. It's 4 precariOus position to be in
and something is going to drop pretty soon.
The limb is already beginning to crack
And the Popuist administration has got
itself into this position on account of one
l.. ID. Lewclling, the first reform governor
OF Kansas. The Investigation has lett Lew
stands charged under sworn testimony OF
lis brother Pops with being boodler
This has caused a renewal OF the light on
him by his former PoDultst enemies. and
they are reinforced by a large percentage
of the other Pops in the state who. profess
10 be honest ana are "agin' LewellinE now
because Of the disclosures of the investi-
CATION. From every section of the state
come protests of the further continuance OF
him on the board of railroad commisston-
ers, and a demand Of Governor Leedy and
the other members Of the executive coun-
Gil to fire him if he refuses to resign. A
large number OF mass meetings have been
held with this object in view and the Pop
editors are writing such warm editorials
about II that their presses narrowly escape
being melted while running of the editions.
And still Leweliing has not resigned, nor
has he been asked by the governor to re-
sign. Neither has he been removed. There
Is a Eood-siZed suspicion lurking around
that the administration IA sn l. Lew
elling has some of the members where the
hair is short II seems that theE would
rather run the chances OF letting hiUl stay
on and trying to allay pubic feeling than
70 fire him and then bear the brunt of the
both ends Lewelling would confer a great
favor on the governor II he would resign,
hut ne won't. Like other Pops. he doesn't t
care to give up the fat job where the only
work is 10 cash his monthly voucher. The
Lcwelling affair Is one OF the many almost
ernor Leedy for a denomination, much less
reelection.
George Veale, of this city tax commits
sioner Of the Union Pacific system, has
some very original views as 10 the best
method OF regulating the liquor traftc III
the nation. lie says that it has been dem
Oustratcd that the prohibitOTy law does not
prohibit. and this being the case the people
shCu uid look around for some other system
that would tend TO lessen and ultimately
stop the sale of liquor. His plan is for the
liquor and for various states 10 cease 70
license saloons. In lieu thereof. he would
adept a system by which the federal gov
errwent. as well as the state government,
would license the drinker. y state law OF
this kind. backed up by a federal law, he
believes would be very effective. No per-
son would care TO violate it. The license
OF the federal government could be fixed
at a certain figure and so mat II the con
sumption of liquor remained the same the
government could obtain the same amount
OF revenue that IL does under the present
system. Then If the revenue decreased by
virtue Of less consumption Mr.. Nedle says
q would be a good indication that the
people were becoming more sober and the
government could afford TO have the TeNe-
nue. from that source decreased. In the
case of the states they could fix an addi-
ticnal license. Then each drinker would
b. required TO take out a license. and the
authorities could be prevented from hcens-
ing minors or confirmed drunkards. Each
time a sale Is made the drlnktr shoniG be
compelled 10 produce his license ana no
liquor should be permitted to be sold eN-
cept 10y the drink in the place. the seller
u be subject TO heavy penalties for selling
to unlicensed drinkers and the authorities
empowered 20 revoke licenses Of person
who bc,amc intoxicated. Mr.. Ncalo says
it is not the dramshup keeper the people
should try 10 reach by law so much as II
is the individual drinker. II a plan Is
adopted to reach him the liquor question Is
solved. The UiJn ass given here is in the
rough but Mr.. Ncale says il Is good one
and that CONGRESS ought TO take the ide;,
up at the present extra session and frame
anl pass bill along the line suggested.
The great battle cry Of the Populists last
fail was economy in state affairs. The Re
pUblicans were accused of establishing
lot OF useless offices for no other purpose
than 20 give party workers Jobs rhc Pop
uliSts promised to make wholesale rcduc-
tion I'm offices Just as soon the lcCisla-
.turc convened What was the result? Just
three paltry little offices were abolished
and tho forestry and irrigation boards con-
sCl'GItCd. The three offices abolished were,
ClcTkships In the secretary Of states office
and this Was done because of spitework.
Secretary Of State Bush was opposed TO
the appointment Of I.e9C ling on the board
Of railroad commissioners and i'm order 10
punish him for this crime Lewelling just
had three clerks in his office cut out. After
this wholesale reduction had been made
the Pops took hitch IN their suspenders
and proceeded 10 create the following ad-
Gitional offices: Three hremcn for the
state house. two lunitors for the state
house. stcuographcr for the Insurance
superintcudenr. three attendants at tho
Winfield asylum, two guards for the same
place seven attendants az the Osawatomie
ASYLUM. three officers al the penitentiary,
seventeen AZ the Soldiers Orphaus' homo
mt Atchisou two Judges i'm Kansas City
KaS. eight school book commissioners. six
assistant appellate court clerks and fifteen
dcrutN grain inspectors. The wholesale
reduction resulted in a net Increase Of six
ty-threc places.
KANSAS REPUBLICAN LEAGUE.