The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-07
CALL IT OUTRAGE
Topeka Merchants Complain
About Tax Assessment.
Valuations of Some Stocks of
Merchandise Are Doubled.
PROTESTS ARE IN VAIN
No Relief Offered by the City
Assessor.
Will Call Upon County Commits
siOners in a Body.
WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT
Is Purpose to Drive Business
Men Away2
Have Little Faith in Talk About
Lowering Rate.
10 Relief Offered by the City
Assessor.
Will Call Upon County Commits
siOnerS in a Body.
ARE THEY ABOUT
Is Purpose to Drive Business
Men Away2
Have Little Faith in Talk About
Lowering Rate.

The merchants of Topeka are excited
as a result of the recent city assess
ment. A meeting has been called at
the Commercial club rooms tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock, and from there
the business men will call on the board
of county commissioners il a body.
The reason for the indignation is the
doubling of valuations on stocks Of
merchandise which has been INDUCED
in generally. But few of the merchants
along Kansas avenue have escaped
without the valuation of stocks being
doubled, and in some instances the as
sessment has not stopped at this. One
merchants assessment amounts to
double the valuation of last year plus
$4,000 and another doubles last years
valuation plus $4,000.
All the merchants agree that there
should be some increase in the Valua-
tion because merchandise in stock this
year represents greater value than it
did year ago. However, they mean to
protest strongly against what they con-
slider the unjust increases made by the
assessment, and declare it to be moth
ing more than a hold up
The assessment Of the merchants has
been in charge of Mr.. S. l. Leavitt,
who for years was engaged in the dry
goods business in this city MIR. Leavitt
was a partner in the Wiggin Bros
store and later in the Warren NJ Cros-
by company. While a partner in the
latter firm a. few years ago Mr.. Leavitt
made out the statement of valuation,
placing the stock at $4,000. As assessor
this year he placed the valuation of the
Warren NJ. Crosby stock at $4,000.
/ 1T is prepOSterOus to raise valuations
to the extent they have been" said a
prominent merchant today. Just be-
cause we are at present enjoying some
thing like an era of prosperity IS no
reason why we should be held up IN
We may lose next year, and for this
reason the only fair way is to consider
an average of several years. 1t is no
more than right that valuations Sould
be increased somewhat because mer-
chandise is worth more than a year
ago, but it is an outrage to double
them"
statement Of valuation I made said
another Topeka merchant. He de-
clared that it did not represent my
| stock, and proceeded to fix a valuation
| in accordance with his ideas. This
amounted to considerably over double
! the valuation of last year. I went to
| see Col Burgess, the city assessor, and
/ he promptly told me that he had moth
/ ing to do with it, that the assessment
was in the hands of his deputies. 1 also
saw Mayor Drew and the county COM
missioners, but could get no satisfac-
| tion. The only hope is for the mer-
/ chants to lay their grievances before
the board in a body and demand re-
lief
My assessment this year amounts to
| double that of last year plus s., 600, said
! another merchant. THE volume of our
stock is practically the same, and the
| only increase is the increase in the val
! ue of the goods. There is therefore no
reason or Justice in the assessment l
mean to do what can to have the mat
! ter remedied.'
IF the rate remains the same as last
| year." said another, my taxes under
the assessment this year will amount TO
| more than my rent"
| The only excuse for the increase in
| valuation is the possibility of q reduc-
ton in the rate of taxation. The pres
ent rate is 4:S5 per cent. Under the
| present assessment the merchants say
that the rate would have to be reduced
to per cent to make the action just
Some of the merchants go so far as to
say that the county assessors did not
fix their basis of valuation until they
knew what it was intended to do in the
city assessment
The Topeka business men naturally
feel that under the assessment as 1t
now stands they win be compelled TO
bear an unjust portion Of the taxes Of
the county The majority of the mer-
chants are expected to meet at the Com
mercial club rooms tomorrow morning,
as the call issued by Secretary Ander-
| son is addressed to THE business men
who believe the assessor has placed too
high value on their property"
The merchants are not particularly
sanguine as regards the conference with
the county commissioners, but at least
will have the satisfaction Of making a
determined protest.