The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-12
BARNES
READS HIS MESSAGE
Continued from First Page.)

(Continued from First Page.)
extended the increased valuation, the act
ual increase of taxation IN said county re-
sulting from the action of the board would
have been about 81 cents upon each hun
which would have gone into the terri
| torial treasury, where it was most needed.
In other counties the amount of increased
! taxes would be materially less tina the
above stated sum. This result is certainly
| not so extravagant as to indicate flag
rant abuse of power by the board nor so
| burdensone as to warrant the taxpayer in
| resorting to the expensive process of the
| courts to resist the collection Of the tax,
nor TO warrant or justify the action Of
| county officials in attempting to nullify the
| law.
| I have taken this occasion to briefly
! analyze the results Of the action of the
board, if possible, that it may be clearly
understood and not because 1 am welded
| 20 or believe that the System of Cqualiza-
ton is perfect or is even the best that can
be devised. I am not so welded TO this
system, and wish to sap distinctly and
definitely that if in your wisdom a new
and better revenue law can be formulated,
one which will secure uniformity of tax
alton with less cumbersome methods and
restriction Of centralized power or with
any relief TO the taxpayer such enactment
will meet my cordial commentator and
approval.
It is well perhaps that the main features
Of the present law have been upon our
statutes since its passage by the first leg
islative assembly that it has with its
amendments and notifications been
through the courts it's terms and provis-
ions well settled and determined by con-
current decision Of two supreme courts
and that the practice and procedure there
under is so well known and understood
that if officials having the assessments and
extension OF the rolls in charge do their
sworn duty. no injustice will be done the
tax payer, and the inequalities of tax
alton, which occur 20 some extent under
any system, will be reduced to the MINI
mum; whereas under a new system resort
might again be had to expensive and ted
ious litigation in the interest Of unscrupu-
lous persons who desire to impair the cred
it of the Territory and effect the prices of
territorial, county, district or city ev,-
dences of indebtedness, for purposes Of
personal profit. It is also well 90 rcnem-
Der that the system OF assessment was
changed by act Of the Fourth legislative
assembly and that hereafter assessments
will be made by county assessors, instead
Of under the township system, which has
heretofore prevailed. II is believed that
the new method Of assessment will regu-
late much of the inequality of assess
ments heretofore existing between the var
ious counties and will to a large degree
remedy the cause of complaint of the
action of the equalizatio boards. This
law should be, IN my judgement, given a
fair trial before any radical change in the
system is attempted. The law, however,
provides very inadequate compensation for
the onerous and responsible duties re-
CURED of county assessors and earnestly
urge that you will carefully revise this
feature of the law and provide for rea-
sonable salaries for these public servants,
from whom much careful, palnstaking and
intelligent research and labor is required.
The territorial laws authorizing the tax
alton Of all personal property in the Usage
and other Indian reservations attached to
@Okiahoma for judicial purposes has been
held good by the supreme court Of the
United States.
earnestly urge your careful considera-
ton of the wisdom and expiediency and
Justice of so modifying our present law
as to require payment of tax for judicial
purposes. It seems a hardship and I'M
just to require pay ment of other county
and school taxes from which the tax
payer derives no corresponding benefit.
SCHOOL LANDS
Full and accurate information in de-
tail as 70 the condition and operation Of
this department will be found in the re-
port Of the secretary of the school land
board.
Under the acts OF congress donating this
land to the Territory and under the rules
promulgated by the honorable secretary Of
the interior and in the absence of Iegis-
lation by our own legislature. the admin
istration of these affairs has heretofore
been largely in the hands of the board for
leasing school lands, which is composed
Of the governor, territorial secretary and
territorial superintendent of public in
structiOn. Since assuming the duties Of
my office the board has been ably assisted
by Hon. Charles II. Fuson. who was ap-
pointed secretary Of the board and who
is entitled to high commentator for his
very energetic and careful management
of the vast amount of detail work neces-
sary to protect the interests of the Terri
tory and carefully guard the interests OF
the large number of lessees. The rules
laid down by me for the conduct of the
land Office were. first. to require all lessees
20 strictly comply with their contracts and
promptly pay all rentals due under their
leases, and. second, to protect the 1essees
in every right and privilege 10 which they
are entitled. A system of bookkeeping has
been adopted by which an accurate know
ledge of the condition of affairs OF the
land office may be told at a glance and
trial balances are made from time 10 time
which are as reliable as a national bnk
sttement.
The very large increase IN the revenues
from leased lands and the reduced expense
OF making new leases, appraising the lands
and collecting funds, is ample evidence OF
wise and careful management.
The moneys received from the rentals
Of school land have been from time 70 time
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Observation-Disclosures
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