The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-30
TO STUDY SYSTEMS
County Clerks Want a Com
mission Provided.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Association to Meet Next
Year at Topeka.

The annual state meeting of county
clerks adjourned yesterday afternoon,
after a very interesting and enjoyable
session. 1t was decided to meet next
year in Topeksson account Of the Iegislat-
i've session which will be held at the cap
ital, and it is probable that the meeting
will be held some time during the session
Of the legislature. The clerks are very
anxious to secure some needed legislatio
and the meeting in Wichita has accom-
plfshed much good towards lettering the
condition of the county clerks in their
tedious and responsible tasks of conduct
ing the clerical work of their counties.
Before adjourning yesterday the cleo
ton Of officers took place, and the fol-
lowing were elected for the ensuing year:
President-John NJ. Wright, Topeka
Vice Presidential. E. Peach, Emporia-
Secretary-W. E. Wood, Wellington.
Treasurer-John NJ Chain, Wichita,
An important step was taken towards
the much-sought revision Of the state as
sessment law, and the presence and sug-
gestions Of State Auditor Cole helped the
clerks very materially along this line.
He was the means of the clerks dropping
their demands for an enforcement of the
law compelling assessment of property
at full value, and instead a resolution
was adopted making the assessment Of
all realty at two-thirds value Mr.. Cole
made other suggestions to the clerks by
which they have been enabled to get
their demands down to a system, and it
is very likely that they will be able to
get some very favorable legislation at
the next session Of the legislature
One Of the best efforts along this line
was the adoption of a resolution submit
ted by a committee consisting of A. NJ.
Denny S. G. Pottle, S. W. Swinney, j.
A. Davenport and Mr.. CoweIl of Cowley
county. The resolution was 20 the effect
that the legislature of 1901 should be pc
toned to provide a commission to inves-
tigate and study the various systems Of
assessment and taxation in the different
states, to the end that a revision Of the
assessment and taxation laws of the
state of Kansas may be made so that
the many discrepancies in the present
system may be overcome. The commits
sion is to consist Of seven members, in
Guiding the state auditor and attorney
general, who are to be ex-Officio mem
bers of the commission. In order that all
classes Of property may be represented
on the commission, the resolution pro-
vides that the other five members must
consist Of one farmer one banker one
merchant, one county clerk and one stock
man.
A committee. on needed legislation was
appointed by the president The duties
Of this committee will be to ascertain
from the county clerks of the state an
opinion on certain lines of legislation
needed, and these opinions will be col
lected and presented to the annual meet
ing Of the association. There they will
be acted upon and arranged in a manner
to be presented to the legislature. This
committee will probably have more hard
work before 1t than any of the other
committees of the association. It consists
of the following clerks: S. W. Swinnev
of Cherokee county. S. S. King of Atchf-
son county, J. c.. Cornell of Norton county
Hays of Rush county and J. A. Daven-
port of Franklin county.
The discussions of all topics on the pro-
gram were entered into with much inter-
est and enthusiasm. The first part Of the
session was devoted to discussions Of
topics Of general interest Hon. Geo. F.
Cole, auditor of state, was present and
answered the running fire of questions
propounded by the clerks relative to as
sessment, taxation, state equalization,
etc. The discussion Of these questions
brought out very prominently the fact
that great discrepancies exist in the vari-
Gus counties of the state as to the basis
OF assessment. Auditor Cole stated that
the average basis of assessment through
out the state was between SO Is per cent
and 40 per cent of actual cash value
The committee appointed to draft reso-
luton relative to assessment and taxa
ton reported as follows:
I've. your committee on resolutions
relative to assessment and taxation at
real value, report as follows: First-Re-
solved. That standing committee be ap-
pointed TO obtain so far as possible con-
certed action on the part Of all counties
in this state in establishing and main
tanning more equitable and legal as
sessment at actual value of all property
as now required by law
Second. that said committee procure
and circulate the necessary printed blank
forms Of the following agreement. to-wit:
I'VE, the board Of commissioners OF
-- county hereby agree to require
all township and city assessors in this
county to assess all properties for the
year 1900 and each succeeding year there
after at actual value. as now required By
the laws OF this state This agreement
TO be binding and considered in force
only after two-thirds majority Of all
the county boards in this state shall
have signed such agreement and the same
is certified 70 this committee by county
clerks under the seal Of their respective
Counties