The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-17
WE PAY
TOO MUCH.
The Long Continued Agitation
In Kansas
Over Present System of Assess
ment and Taxation
TO BE CONSIDERED
By This Legislature - Matter
Comes Up.
Resolution to Delegate the
Work of Revision
Killed by the Senators Who Will
DO 1t Themselves.
Resolution to Delegate the
Work of Revision
Killed by the Senators Who Will
Do 1t Themselves.

The members of the legislature are
too busy to attend to their official du-
ties, according to confession conceal
ed in a resolution introduced in the
senate by Senator Crossan asking for
the appointment of special committee
to draw up a bill on assessment and
taxation. When the resolution was read
some of the senators evinced great sur
prise but when the reading proceeded to
the point where $40 per day for SER
vices on such committee is specified 1t
was apparent there were several mem
bers who thought: 81 should be ap-
pointed and they let it pass at that.
The resolution was introduced Mon
day and went over under the rules until
today, when it was killed. 1t was in full
as follows:
Whereas, A speedy revision of our
present assessment law, for the purpose
of obtaining a uniform system of as
seSsment, is greatly desired by all, and
Whereas, The members of our legis-
iative bodies are so greatly occupied
with other matters that they cannot
give the time and labor necessary to
compile a bill providing a uniform sys-
tenn OF assessment, which Will meet all
the requirements; therefore,
Be it Resolved, By the senate, the
house concurring therein, that the lieu
tenant governor be directed to appoint,
immediately upon the passage of this
resolution, a committee of three, whose
express duty shall be to carefully pre-
pare bill which shall provide a uni
form system of assessment, and shall
submit the same to the legislative bod
les on or before February Is, 1899. That
each member of this committee shall be
allowed the sum of SO per day for every
day actually employed in the prepara-
tiOn of said bill
Senator Crossan's resolution to create
a joint house and senate committee to
prepare an assessment and taxation bill,
provoked discussion in the senate today.
Mr.. Crossan favored its adoption.
Senator Lupfer said. the resolution
was calculated to provide new offices
at extraVagant salaries and hoped the
senate would kill the proposition.
Senator Coleman said the plan is not
feasible and suggested that if the SEN
ate thought seriously of taking steps in
this direction a commission should be
created and given plenty of time to
consider and prepare measures calcu-
lated to relieve the present 1nequ1table
system of taxation
Senator Householder said a bill pre-
pared by such a committee would not
be seriously considered by the senate,
and that the experiences of the past
with such special committees had been
great financial frauds from which no
good has come. He hoped the senate
would kill the proposition.
Senator Anderson said the present
system of taxation should be remedied,
that the members of the committee
should be selected outside of the senate,
and said: This commission should be
non-partisan. I do not want the COVER
nor to select the members of the COM
rnittee from among fellows who have
political pull
Senator Andrews opposed the whole
proposition and said: There are brains
enough on the floor of this senate to
prepare the bill which people are de-
manding to regulate the assessment and
taxation in Kansas and 1 think we
should do it without the aid of any
outside committee
) Senator King said: eff this senate
is not capable of preparing this bill, I
think the members should resign and
go home.'
Consent" exclaimed Senator Hessin.
Senator King suggested that if the
senate couldn't do it's work. to adopt
the referendum and refer the whole
matter to the people.
If you do that the people won't have
any taxes and the senate will not con-
vene again.
THAT might be good thing said
Senator King.
Grant that" said Major Anderson,
but we are here now and something
must be done.''
The subject was disposed of by adopt
ing Senator CampbelPs substitute re-
ferrfng the resolution to the committee
on taxation, with instructions to report
bill back to the senate.