The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-08
WILL NOT SUBMIT
Merchants Raise Their Voices
in Earnest Protest.
Committee Is Appointed to Ask
For Justice.
JNWARRANTED RAISE.
Increase in Assessments Little
Short of Appalling.
Merchants Between Sixth and
Eighth Bear the Brunt.

retary Anderson of the Commercial
club, a number of Topeka merchants
met at the club rooms this morning to
discuss the question of increased assess
ment. Instead of adjourning to the
county commissioners office in a body.
as was originally intended, a committee
of three was appointed to investigate
the matter and report to a second meet
ing of merchants Monday morning.
The committee is composed of John f.
McManus, chairman; c. J. Evans and
Charles Adams. The members will visit
the court house this afternoon and COM
mence their investigation, which will be
with a view of determining whether an
equalization should be demanded in the
city assessment only or in the assess
ment of the entire county.
The firms represented at the meeting
this morning were the following:
Crosby Bros.
George w. Crane & Co.
Sam Hindman.
Palace Clothing company.
Kemper & Paxton.
Charles Adams.
GreenWald & Co.
M. F. Rigby.
John F McManus.
kellam Book & Stationery company
Robinson, Marshall & Co.
Topeka Cash Dry Goods company.
Thompson Bros.
The Fair.
Mr.. George W. Crane was chosen
| chairman, and the object of the naeeti1 .
! was stated by Secretary Anderson. In
! opening the discussion Mr.. E. H. Crosby
! said:
L understand that a number of the
! merchants have had their assessment in
creased as much as 100 per cent over
| that of last year.Our assessment has
| been considerably more than doubled.
| When Mr.. Leavitt. the assessor, called
| at the store and left the blank for the
| statement of valuation I voluntarily in
creased the valuation $4,000 because OF
| our additional stock. This Mr. Leavitt
| refused to accept, and filled out a state
| ment according to his own ideas This
| statement is now in the hands of the
| county commissioners unsigned I did
| not refuse to sign it, but told Mr. I.eav-
| lit wanted time to investigate I went
10 Col Burgess, the city assessor, anc
ne told me that the work was wholly ir
the hands of his deputy. I next called
| on Mayor Drew, and it was nv under
standing that the mayor would confer
| with Col. Burgess and Mr.. Leavitt il
reference to the matter. However, tht
| street fa1r came up, and the thing was
allowed to slide along and is now in th.
hands of the county commissioners. Il
| we are to be compelled to pay the samt
rate as last year, the increase will
amount to an outrage. It has been s+a
ted to me that the county assessors heI,
pack their assessments until after tht
CITY assessment was completed"
Secretary Anderson-The rottenas
tnlng on the statute books of the stat,
Is the assessment law. When 1 wa,
IN the senate at the last session 7 t1.ie,
TO have something done to remedy pres
ent conditions, but found it impossible
In reference to the city assessment,
understand that the entire increas
amounts to 5000 000
Mr.. D. P. Paxfon-In that case
thlnk 1t viii be found that the mer.
chants have been made to stand tn
entire increase. My assessment show
an increase of $40, 900 over that of las
year. and from this it can be seen tina
1t would take but a few merchants +
represent the $780, 900.
Mr.. d. ]. Greenwald-I understan,
the increases are confined to the uer
chants between Sixth and Eight ave
nueS- have taken the time to loo
into the matter and find that clothin
| chants between Sixth and Eighth ave
their assessments increased IT look
2 as II the discrimination is in the cit
: assessment, and that the eoualizatio
7 should be made here
Mr. Crosby-In talking to Mr.. Ieav
lit he said an effort was TO be made t
l reduce the rate of taxation The rat
= would have to be reduced close tn
per cent. before it would make the as
! sessment as it now stands Just. If th
l rate was reduced to a reasonable figuI
ttie ileIcHdHtS would De glad to pay o
I the increased valuation
| Mr.. McManus-As I understand i
! 1t is the intention of the merchants
l go before the county commissioners an
protest against the assessment A
there seems to be no definite plan ,
action, before the visit is made to IL
/ l county commissioners I would sugge.
y that a committee of three be appointe
| to look into the matter and find out tt
: exact conditions. The committee con-
then report to this meeting and II
: report would form an intelligent bas
, on which to work
The suggestion of Mr.. McManus M
with general approval, and Chairma
Il Crane appointed the committee wit
= = MI McManus as chairman. After Il
report Of the committee Monday ii
9 merchants will call on the commission
= erS in a body.
: SIXTEEN PAGES SATURDA