The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-07
Counties.
Now a part of Finney.


The taxes in all of these thirty-nine
counties are large, much of which is I'M
necessary and unjust; and the object of
this petition is to show the present con-
dtions of these counties, point out the
source Of the trouble, show that the rem
edy is within the state, and ask the legis-
lature for proper relief. All Of these coun
ties are hopelessly bankrupt, il present
conditions continue. The one with the
least bonded debt is Greeley county; 1t
owes the permanent school fund $4,000,
and is ;resisting, in the courts, the pay
ment of either principal or interest. Scott
county owes the permanent school fund
S150,S00 and it is, also, resisting pay
ment. These counties stand in the po-
sition among the beneficaries of at
tempting to defeat the state in the co..
lection of its most sacred fund. The
bonded debts Of the remaining counties
range from upwards Of 100000 to nearly
$500, COO and upwards of one million Of
this debt forms a part of the permanent
school fund, and but pretense is made
Oe paying either principal or interest. The
taxes that are collected are used in sus-
tanning expensive orSaniZat tons, and the
laws machinery Of many Of these coun-
ties is used to defeat payment Notably
is this the case in the counties of Greeley
and Scott.
While 1 recognize the fact that it is i'm
possible to make a wholesale conso-ida-
ton of these thirty-nine counties. yet a
beginning can be made under the law.
At the last general election Greeley coun-
ty cast 1879 votes, Stanton 112, Grant los,
Haskell 135. Stevens 135, and Morton So.
The constitutional requirement Is go
votes; and. in the interest of economy
and just representation these counties
should be consolidated in such manner as
to best subserve the interests il the state.
Morton county never cast go votes, yet
1t has delegate in this legislature who
draws salary and mileage without rem
dering any service whateve TO either the
state or his constituents. In this connec-
ton, would call your attention to the
fact that Wichita county cast In the last
election 391 votes, Scott 25S, and the total
population Of these two counties, taken
from the census OF 1896. was: Wichita,
.421; Scott, 1,045; total, 2,476, which
gives these two counties representation
in this body equal TO that of Cherokee
county, with population OF 3,92s; Cow
ley. with 26.426; Sedgwick, with 1885,
and Lyon, with 24,251. Or, in other
words. that section of the state west of
the ninety-ninth meridian has a repre-
sentation in this legislature of from ten
TO fourteen times as much as the east
half Of the state. The company / repre-
sent is one of the largest taxpayers in
the state. and our taxes have been made
burdensome by two of the
session laws of 1895. The first is chapter
26S, providing for fire tax in these thir-
lynne counties. Under this law. So
called fire-guards have been plowed
around much of the land OF this comapuy
such plowing was assessed against the
land. This was done when there was not
an Improvement left within miles of such
poWing. The originators of this law Sc
cured Its enactment, after its defeat in
1888, Knowing what the effect would be.
The next is chapter $50 OF the laws of
1895. authorizing and requiring the en-
closing or filing I'D of wells on abandon
ed farms. The effect OF this law was 10
take and destroy property that We pro-
posed 10 use for stock ranches. charge US
exorbitant prices for such destruction OF
cur property and then assess such unjust
charges against the land.
MORE ofan
We ask OF this legislature the repeal Of
these laws
The loans that were made on thsse
1885 farms were made in good faith and
upon the representation Of honest men,
Yet mistaken in judgment. When the
loans were made there were buildings.
fences and other improvements. which.
IN most cases. have been DESTROYED: and
for years. with very few exceptions. We
have not received a dollar Of income:
but. instead. in many OF the counties
notably in Haskell, We have a constant
~ increasing liability in the amount OF
taxes on said land. For these depreis-
tons We have never been able to secure
either redress or compensa ton: but. IL
stead. We have been Disseminated
against in hundreds Of cases in the mat
Ter Of taxes by the county and township
officers having jurisdiction. We have
been subjected TO heavy taxes TO sustain
schools where there were less than half
a dozen children in the district The
cattlemen, more particularly in the
tier OF counties. are practically
taking possession OF the country by
building wire fences and taking in prop
er:y belonging to-us and other non-resi-
dents aRt thus denying US access 10 our
c wn lands. and refusing 20 compensate
as therefor. In some Of these counties
the county commissioners arr cattlemen.
and they sight against any reduction in
tss assessment OF the rate OF taxation.
as they are desirous Of crowdirg gu. the
owners and acquiring. through TAX deeds
the land belonging 70 such persons. Il
is impossible for Us 10 obtain redress IN
the courts for the machinery Q. the
courts Is too slow and Is triu,cal. Lot