Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-17
KANSAS NEW Proposed TAX LAW.

sion is to have general supervision Of
the county assessors, with power OF
removal il any county assessor fails
to do his duty. Its power OF removal
gives it authority to compel obedience
/, to its orders and the two tax COM
missioners are expected to keep in
close touch with the county assessors
and see that the law is strictly
obeyed.
Sitting as the board Of equalization,
the state tax commission has greatly
enlarged powers. 1t may not only
raise or lower the gross assessments
Of any county, but it may raise or
lower the valuations Of any class OF
property. 1t also hears and deter
mines all appeals from the county
boards or equalization, affirming or
altering the action Of these boards.
No county assessment is final until
the state tax commission has COM
pleted its equalization and decided all
appeals, and the assessment SO COM
pleted by the tax commission is the
assessment for all purposes. This is
a strong feature Of the BILL 1t not
only equalizes all property and all
classes Of property in the state but 1t
provides for the removal Of injustice
by appeals from local influences
either against the general public or
against an individual. II q corpora
ton is TOO influential in a locality
and q fair valuation Of its property
cannot be secured, an appeal may be
taken to the state tax commission
and the valuation raised.
The state tax commission assesses
telephone and telegraph property, ex'
press companies, pipe line companies
and having the wide power and equal
ization above mentioned, may thus
make all property bear its rightiul
share Of the expense Of government
PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS.
Telegraph and telephone companies
are assessed upon the proportion the
length and value Of the lines in Kan
sas bear to the length and value OF
all the lines Of the company; taking
the market value OF the stocks and
bonds Of the company as a basis
Express and pipe line companies are
assessed in the same way. Railroad
are assessed upon both
their tangible and intangible proper
ty; that is to say, upon the physical
value Of their branches, and after that
the market value of the stocks and
bonds OF the company is to be report
ed and considered. Banks are assessed
the same as now-upon their capital
surplus and individual profits. And
for the purpose Of ascertaining this,
the assessor is required to 60 to the
last called report Of the bank to the
state or federal government. Street
railways, electric light companies,
water works companies and all COM
pauies possessing public franchises
are taxed upon the full value Of their
tangible property, and also upon the
value Of their franchises; and careful
rules are laid down for ascertaining
the value Of the franchises.
All other corporations are assessed
upon the full value Of their property
exactly as individuals are. Merchants
are assessed upon the average value
oi their stock, taking as nearly as
possible the amount Of the value OF
The stock in each month OF the year
added together and divided by twelve.
Loan, investment and insurance
are assessed the same as
banks. Pawnbrokers are assessed up. |
IN the value Of the goods received in |
pledge by them. Elevator men and
grain brokers, class which has
largely escaped taxation, are assessed
upon the average value Of the capital
in their business, and the assessor.