Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-10-18
AT IT'S FULL VALUE.
the Commission Makes Radical Changes
In Assessment of Property.

the ola law TO be repeated TO make
way for the new. The new bill con-
tains $50 sections. By the terms of
the new bill the several counties elect
county assessor for a term of four
years, and this officer is Ineligible for
reelection and cannot be a candidate
for any office until his term expires.
The county assessor appoints dep
uty assessors but no deputy may as
sess property in the district in which
he resides. He is required to exam
inc all the county records and if nee
essary subpoena and examine wit
nesses and to generally search out
all hidden and omitted property and
see that it is assessed at its full value.
The bill requires assessment of
property at full value and it cannot
be evaded. The board of equalization
is broadened by adding to the board
of county commissioners. the county
assessor and county clerk. Any per-
son aggrieved by the action of the
county board may appeal to the state
tax commission.
The state tax commission is COM
posed of two commissioners, elected
for terms of four years, alternately,
| and the secretary of state, the audit
or of state and the treasurer of
state. The two tax commissioners
are elected by the people and get the
salary of state officers. They put in
| their whole time. The state tax
commission is to have general super
vision of the county assessors, with
power of removal if any county as
SCISSOR fails to do his duty.
| 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. It also ,hears' and deter
mines all appeals from the county
boards of equalization. affirming or
| altering the action of these boards.
The state tax commission assesses tel
ephone and telegraph property, ex-
press companies, pipe line companies
and, having the wide power and equal
izations above mentioned, may thus
make all property bear its rightful
share of the expense of government.
Telegraph and telephone companies
are assessed upon the proportion, the
|
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, basis. Ex-
press and pipe line companies are as
sessed in the same way. Railroad
companies are assessed upon both
their tangible and intangible prop
Ierty; that is to say, upon the physi-
L
that the market value of the stocks
and bonds of the company is to be re-
ported and considered. Banks are as
sessed the same as now-upon their
capital, surplus and individual profits.
Street railways, electric light compa-
MES, waterworks companies and all
companies possessing public fran
chises are taxed upon the full value
of their tangible property.
All other corporations are assessed
upon the full value of their property
exactly as individuals are. Merchants
are assessed upon the average value
of 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 IL
Loan, investment and insurance
companies are assessed the same as
banks. Pawnbrokers are assessed up
on the value of the goods received in
pledge by them Elevator men and
grain brokers, class which has large
ly escaped taxation, are assessed upon
the average value of the capital in
their business, and the assessor may
examine their books and check stubs
IN aSoarfair, fbic amount Tn tho CO
of merchants and manufacturers the
j. assessor may require the production
/, of their inventories, books of account:
| and insurance policies.
Stringent provisions are made to in
sure the taxation of personal proper
| ty brought into the state after Febru
airy 1, and the county assessor is es
pecially required to look after such
property as well as to. examine al
county records for notes, mortgages
> judgments and estates in process OF
probate. In making the assessment
each individual or corporation, ex
: cept the quasi public corporations
: which Rave different form of seized
ule, is required to fill out a list Oh
schedule containing every variety OF
property capable of ownership and
subject to taxation. This list is made
up of a number of interrogatories sc
, searching that there is no chance fol-
, evasion and the taxpayer must either
list his property or commit perjury.
I The assessment of real estate by
this bill is oonly taken once in fou1
years with power to make proper ad
. ditions or reductions each year te
e. cover buildings or the the destruction
$ or removal of buildings
:. A tax of five per cent on collatera
D inheritances is provided. Legacies O.