Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-17
OUTLINE OF PLAN FOR REFORM
IN ASSESSMENTS.
The State Tax Commissions Be-
commsndations How Public Ser
vlcs Corporations Are to Be Dealt
With-PeIsonsl Property.


VICE Corporations Are to Be Dealt
With-PeIsonal Property.
The Kansas state tax commission,
Of which Representative Glosser is q
member, has given out the following
as a summary Of the bill prepared by
it for submission to the legislature
for adoption. Ten thousand copies
are to be printed for free distribution
and suggestions for revision will be
entertained by the commission.
The commission has been in ses-
sion sixty-fve days and has worked
an average Of seven hours day. 1t
will take three more days to draw
the report which must accompany
the bill. The members Of the COM
mission who travelled on passes have
given the state the benefit thereof,
and have consumed only about three
iourths OF their appropriation, lnclud-
ing the expense OF the trip to Buffalo,
where national tax conference was
he'd. 1t will have worked, when the
report is completed, about twenty
days without any pay whatever Its
work has shown how impossible it
would have been for any legislative
committee during single session to
frame a satisfactory bill.
There are 22s sections Of the old
law to be repealed to make way for
the new. The new bill contains 100
typewriter pages, consisting Of 25O
sections. 1t is complete in itself and
is intended to contain everything re-
lating to assessments and the levy
and collectisn Of taxes and II adopted
by the legislature will replace all ex-
listing law on that subject.
The most radical change proposed
by the new bill is in the machinery Of
assessment, for therein lies the main
trouble with the present law. BY the
terms Of the new bill the several
counties elect a county assessor for
the term OF four years, and this Of
fcer is ineligible for reelection and
cannot be a candidate for any office
until his term expires. He is to give
bond for the faithful performance OF
his duties, and any municipality may
recover any loss caused by his wilful
failure to do his duty. The county
assessor appoints deputy assessors
but no deputy may assess property in
the district in which he resides. The
county assessor has general super
vision Of bis deputies. He isrequired
not only to revise the assessment
lists and returns but to examine all
the county records and il necessary,
subpoena and examine witnesses 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 1t cannot
be avsded. The board Of equaliza-
tion is broadened BY adding to the
board Of county commissioners, the
Il
county assessor and county clerk.
Any person sggrievsd BY the action
Of the county board may appeal to
the state tax commission.
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 auditor
OF state and the treasurer Of state.
The two tax commissioners are elect.
ed BY the people and get the salary
Of state officers. They put in their
whole time. The state tax commits