The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-18
DID YOU
KNOW THIS?
That Shawnee County Pays
One-TWentieth
Of All the State Taxes Raised
in Kansas.
SENATOR ANDERSON
Makes This Statement on the
SENATOR ANDERSON
Makes This Statement on the
Floor of the Senate.
HOpelessness of Getting More
Equitable Assessment.

The people of Kansas. regardless Of
party, present conditions or previous
servitude, are cIamoring for the enact
ment Of an equitable law pertaining to
assessment and taxation, but the most
sanguine supporters of the proposition
do not believe that the present legisla-
ture will afford relief along this line
Any man who pays taxes in Kansas
knows well that the present system is
Ubiquitous, but there seems to be no es-
cape. The 1aboring man who owns
property pays the following rate Of tax
alton on the values Indicated:
$780, 107 per cent.
$3.50 to $500, 56.3 per cent.
$500 to 81, 900, All per cent.
81, 200 to $500, 29.9 per cent
81, 500 to So, 200, 24.9 per cent
5000 to SIG, 0O0 1874 per cent.
900 and upward, 16.S per cent.
Packing houses, salt mines, creamer-
les, and other business enterprises OF
this character, have an assessed valua-
ton of SIG, 1873, 256. Upon this amount
81 per cent in taxes is paid on plant
and property. the manufactured prod
uct scaping taxation entirely.
Biennial efforts are made in the 1eg1S-
lature to reach the heart of this Ques-
ton, but nothing has yet been done
Senator Caldwell Of Anderson county,
two years ago, had a bill to regulate
assessment and taxation, but it went
the way of all the earth, and he re-
newed the effort at the opening Of this
session and had charge of the bill re-
ported by the committee on assessment
and taxation, which had been made a
special order for Friday afternoon
This bill was regarded with disfavor
by the members of the senate, and it
was the work of but few moments
to dispose of it by referring it back to
general orders, where it will come up in
regular order before the committee of
the whole senate.
affr rr-fJ1 he
made to kill the bill because it will not
accomplish the purpose for which it is
designed. The bill purports to provide
for an assessment of all property at ac-
strong objection is made IS as follows:
THE assessor shall carefully and dill
gently inform himself as to current
values of all species of property which
may be required to assess and value, as
well as the different grades of the same
article, posting himself upon current
markets, and consulting other means
and sources OF information as to values,
and shall proceed to view the property
inventoried, and fully acquaint himself
with the value of such property, and as
soon thereafter as may be set opposite
each article or collection of articles the
real and true value thereof on the said
LIST day of March-real estate to De
valued with improvements thereon,
money to be set down at its face value,
and all other property of whatsoever
kind at its real value; that is, what it
would or ought to sell for in money:
and the assessor shall make due and
diligent search for property that may
not have been inventoried, and shall
inventory all such property, whether
omitted by the owner or person con-
trolling the same by accident, design
or otherwise, or where the ownerS or
person in control has failed to make or
return any inventory of property
The assessor is thereby made the au-
tocrat of the district Of which he has
charge and given what are regarded
as excessive powers.
Senator Young, who is inclined to be
humorous, will offer an amendment to
this bill providing that no corporation
shall be assessed a less than it is rated
by Dun or Bradstreet'S commercial
agency.
When the discussion of the bill was
concluded and it was put out of the
way for the day, Senator Tom Ander-
son moved that all bills pertaining to
assessment and taxation be stricken
from the calendar.
The motion was lost, but Mr.. Ander-
son created an opportunity to relieve
his mind. He said:
There is no use fooling away any
more time on this subject, because you
who are talking about it don't mean
business. The indications are that moth
ing will be done, and want to serve no
tice now that If the counties represent
ed by the other members on this floor
propose to defraud the state, Shawnee
county will do likewise. Our people are