The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-24
GROWS In INTEREST
HOUSE MOVING MATTER ATTRACTS
SOME ATTENTION.
Many witnesses are Examined to Show
How Things Have Been Manipulated in
the Interest of Certain Parties-Mean-
time Mr.. Caldwell Comes. to his Own
Defense In . Communication Over His
Own Signature-The Public Is Given a
Chance to Sit as Jurors in the Important
Matter.

The house-moving matter having been
referred to County Attorney Anidon by
the county commissioners, that official
| moved yesterday with his characteristic
| energy TO investigate the matter. Henry
Schweiter, Mack McGregor, r. Z.
Guthrie, y. L. Harmon, Rufus Cone. l..
A. Dorsey deputy county treasurer, S.
w. Cooper, Il. W. Danie.s and J. W.
koontz were examined in detail Fur
ther hearing os tn case was postponed
| until Wednesday next.
II was testified that two years ago,
when McGresor took Caldwell home on
a certain occasion Caldwell said If ne
could get $50 from Schweiter he (Cald-
Weld would reduce the assessment on
| mis- property. McGregor being put on the
stand, said he could not recall such an
agreement.
Mr.. Guthrie testified that he was dep
Wy assessor in the spring Of 1896; that for
the first two weeks he drew from the
county $500 per day and gave CaldweI.
a rebate Of 90 cents each day, making MS
real salary $3.50 per day.
Other witnesses testified that they had
served as deputy assessors and had
agreed to deductions of from so cents 10
$100 per day.
County Commissioner Harmon testified
that the board had employed Mr.. Cald-
well to look after houses in localities 10
see that they were not removed until
the taxes were paid. In November and
December the commissioners paid Cald-
well $50 per month TO look after such va
Gated houses.
S. ". Cooper and Rufus Cone testified
that Caldwell sold a house in the south
part OF town for $40 and told the pur-
chaser to get the house off the lot on
Christmas day. The receipt FOR said
house was in CaldwelPs handwriting.
bu. the name was that Of a colored boy.
The county treasurer testified that no
taxes had been paid on the property in
question for the last three years.
One o. the most important witnesses
Tor the investigation was not interrogat-
ed to a conclusion.
The general impression Is that there
are ''other ducks IN the puddle and if
Doug. is crowded to the wall ne will I'M
load in his spectacular style.
He has this 20 say:
To the Editor of the Eagle.
AS the question of house-moving and
the collection OF delinquent taxes has
been to some extent agitating the public
mind recently, / would like to give my
law upon this subject. In the first place,
the law requires that all property, real
and personal, shall be assessed at its cash
value, but the law fails TO attach any
penalty for the violation OF said law.
The result of this is tint the assessors in
each county in the state at their annual
meeting, the first Monday in March OF
each year, fix a basis of valuation on
which they will assess the property for
that year. Some counties fix their basis
of assessment at % per cent others at
thirty, 40 and so per cent of its cash valu-
alton, instead OF Its full value, as the law
directs.
When the county commissioners from
the different counties in the state f,e the
transcript of assessment in their respect
FIVE counties it comes before the state
board of equalization for their inspec-
ton. II can be readily seen what an i'll
tricate matter it is for that board 10
eqitably adjust the assessments between
all the counties of the state under this
go-as-you-pleaSe perversion of a plain
statute.
Three lines would amend this law, by
affixing a penalty of $500 for the failure
to assess and make return OF all prop
erty for more or less than its fuE cash
value.
The law thus amended wouH save tens
of thousands of dollars to the counties
where they do not receive a cent under
the present practical working of the law.
To illustrate. John Jones has $500
worth of personal property Under the
present rule OF assessing, thirty per cent
of $500 IS $50. John claims his constitu-
tional exemption OF 5000. and ne lacks
$50 of having what he is constitutionaly
allowed. / have always held that the
$500 exemption should be deducted from
the full amount of the property. thus:
$500 less $500 would leave $500. and then
If you take so per cent OF this $500 it
would give you $50 assessable, where IN
der the existing rule in Kansas John
Jores does not pay a cent, but lacks $50
of having his legal amount of exemp-
ton. II plain English. John Jones gets
ss65 constitutional exemption instead OF
$500. This amendment alone would add
1.5eo 10 a.0c0 personal taxpayers 10 the
roll in this city.
Mortgages and judgments should be
taxed. in the counties where recorded,
against residents and non-residents alike.
And a failure TO list any mortgage or
judgment for assessment by the holder
or wner or his agent, should make such
mortgage note or judgment void.
No person should be compelled 20 psy
taxes On the fun valuation OF any prop
er;y. real or personal. in which he has
only An equity. and in many cases that
equity heing questionable.
The present law Of advertising in news
papers delinquent tax lists each year
should be abolished. II ia expensive and
useless. Make il the duty OF the county
treasurer to prepare each year list ~
delinquent taxes 70 be kept in a delin-
duent book or posted in his Office, and