Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-02
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE Kansas NOVEMBER sTEI PAGES
THAT INCREASED LEVY.
Why Il Was Made ssd for What Par
posss-soms Pepulist Ds6cis nciss
Which Enter Into the Question

Which Enter Into the Question
With the celery compound nerve
OF the last Pop administr alton, and
with the same belief in the gullability
OF the people, that causes the hoy
orator. in the midst Of the hum oil
plenty, to declare that there Is no pros.
perity, the Pop campaign managers
are pointing to an increased tax levy
TINS year, with the cry of Republican
extravaganza, and cnleavoring 20
make tae Kansas farmer believe that
his increased taxes are due to Repub-
lican acknowledgement. II this claim
OF extravaganza were true, the folly
OF attempting to charge it entirely to
the Republicans when the Populsts
had an overwhelming majority in the
senate and could have defeated any
appropriation they desired, needs
only to be suggested But what are
the facts9 The tax levy Is higher
this year for number OF reasons.
The growing demands Of our charl-
table and educational institutions,
which consume by far the larger por-
ton OF our state taxes, have for o
number ,of years strained our tax levy
to the utmost, and it should have
been raised some time since an
probably would have been out for
political cowardice, Governor Staniev
being the first who had the couras.
to recommend what business sense re.
CURED; but, while this increased levy
or part Of It would sooner or later
have been inevitable unless a differ
ent basis Of assessment could have
been reached there were some i'm
mediate causes and extraordinary ex-
penses which are interesting, in view
OF the Pop attempt to make capital
OF it.
In 1897 the Populists we're in con.
troll OF every department Of the state
government One by one the cam
paign promises they had made pre-.
scented themselves for fulfiliment and
one at time they were repudiated.
When their railroad bill failed and it
was evident they had done nothing,
Senator Jumper at once conceived Of
the brilliant idea Of retrieving them
SCI yes by curtailing the appropria-
tions Where to begin was the next
question 1t wouldn't do TO touch the
Governors contingent fund as that
must be used to pay Ia Titles law
firm for defending Webb McNall.
Maintenance and repairs" at the
various state institutions vera cur.
tailed until for two years they were
without repairs Kansas was de.
representation at the Omaha
exposition, the appreciation was kill.
I'd and Immediately upon the adjourn.
m ent of the Legislature Leedy Dor.
rowed tho money OF the railroads and
he Republicans had 1t to pay last
winter, amount SEE, Then they
tut down the state printers appro.
'riation until the Republicans had TO
Jay him $50, 900 deficiency and then as
browning piece of economy(?) they
efused to make appropriations for
lumber of clerks and minor offices
'utting off from $50 to $500 each until
he aggregate amount was S3s, 800
efficiency which the Republican Leg
stature had to meet In addition to
his Leedy had his special session
# the Legislature at a cost of S9s, 900.
which swclled the tax levy just that
nuch Thus 1t will be seen that a
egacy of nearly Sl50,000 of unpaid Z
ills OF the Last Peoples party gov
rnment on earth is being paid from [
he increased tax levy of this year. ,
hat is what it is for and why it had {
0 be made