Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-09-13
KANSAS NEWS OF RECENT DATE.
New Tax Bin Drafted.

New Tax Bill Drafted.
The state tax commission has about
compiled a completed tax bill and 1t
viii soon publish it in pamphlet form
and scatter it over the state for criti-,
cism and suggestions. After the peo-i
pie have made all their suggestions
the commission viii meet again and
revise the bill to include the sugges-
tions OF importance. This bill is al
most a duplicate of the Indiana tax
law. Its principal features have been
published. Only two have escaped.
One is In reference to the assessment
of telegraph and express companies.
heretofore these companies have been
assessed on the actual amount of
property. If the new bill becomes a
law the assessment of express and
telegraph companies win be based on
their stocks and bonded indebtedness
This VIII increase their taxes several
fold. The other feature is change in
the system of running the Office OF
county treasurer. The treasurer win
be nothing more than custodian of the
county funds. The county clerk will
be a sort of an auditor, and the treas
urer cannot pay out any money unless
H.
viii have a complete check on the
treasurer. This change is suggested
in order to prevent shortages.
He Was Tried for Wife Murder.
J. J. Kunkel, Il German merchant,
who was the principal in sensation
1899, is dead. Kunkel was tried and
acquitted of the charge of poisoning,
his second wife. The case was fought
stubbornly by both sides. and the,
state endeavored to show that the
prisoner was responsible also for the
death of his first wife, of his second,
wife's daughter, and of his own Grip
pied son, all of whom had met death
at different times suddenly and in q
mysterious manner.
Accused of FaSoring Jointists-
The executive committee of the Tax
payers league of Burbon county
adopted resolutions serving formal no
tice on Mayor Goodlander and such
members of the city council as are
standing with him that unless they
collect the usual revenue from the sa-
looms Of this city for August the
league will institute proceedings to
GUST them all from office for collu-
sion with the saloonkeepers in the
violation of the law.
After More Rural Routes.
The postmasters Of the big towns
in southeastern Kansas are going
after more rural routes hard. That
section of the state is thickly popu-
lated and the roads are in good shape
the year round. The postmasters there
claim that routes should be estab-
lished so that every farmer could re-
ceive his mail at the door daily
Prairie Chickens Plentiful.
According to reports of sportsmen
who have visited western Kansas this
summer, there arc more prairie chick
ems to be found this year than for
many years past. The reason advanced
by many is that the extreme dry
weather of the present summer has
been conducive to the breeding Of the
birds.
BreidcnthaI in a New Venture.
John W. Breidenthal, former state
bank commissioner, and George W.
Clark, former judge of the appellate
court, are planning a new benevolent
order to be tablished in Kansas. The
details have not yet been made pub
lie, but it is understood that charter
will be applied for at an early date.
Big Barn Burned.
| D. r. Kenehan, who resides near
Beverly, lost large barn and its con-
| tents by fire. The barn was one of
| the largest in the county. The loss
| includes 500 bushels of wheat, fine
| stallion, large amount of feed and
all his farm implements. The fires
| origin Is unknown
Another Frisco Feeder.
The Frisco is about to add another
feeder to its system. Engineers are
now making a preliminary survey
from a point on the Memphis line at
or near Scammon by the way of Min
| eral and Sherman to Oswego.
Scott an OH Magnate.
S. NJ. Scott, formerly of Emporia,
who once figured prominently IN
fusion politics in Kansas, has made a
| fortune in the Beaumont (Tex-) oil
| fields.
Both Under Age.
Miss Leila Hyatt, of Scandal, and
Clifford Sims, of Republic, eloped to
Belleville and were married. Both are
| under age.
Paid s2S,O45 for n Site.
The committee appointed by the
| district court to condemn a site for
the new state insane asylum at Par
sons, paid s,045 for 64-acre tract