The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-07


hon dollars stocks and bonds for taxes
at only so million dollars, or 10 cents on
the dollar, while the property of the
farmer and home owner living within
the state is assessed for taxes at from
one-t third to one-half its value, and this
discrimination in favor of the rich out
slider against our home people amounts
to several million dollars eacn year.
Attention is called to the glazing vio-
lation OF the Kansas law which says
that all property in Kansas shall be as
sessed at it's full value, by comparing
the present assessment of the Kansas
railways with that of the past. In 1898,
the railways of Kansas were assessed
for taxes at 81 milton dollars, and in
1902 they were assessed for IS million
dollars. As a matter of course this
million dollars difference was in favor
of the railroads and against the people
This reduction being made with full
knowledge on the part of the state Of
ficials that since 1893 enormous sums of
money had been spent in Kansas in inn
proving railway property and increas-
ing its mileage. That the Santa Fe
alone spent 81 million dollars since 1896
in betterments and their earning power
increased from 81, 1852 per mile in 1867
to $500 per mile in 1912 Compare
this record with that made against the
farmer and home owner by the men in
official life entrusted with their affairs.
In 1893 the total assessed valuation of
property in the state of Kansas for
taxes was $685. 621, $500 and the rate
charged by the state was and $40
mills While in 1902 the total assessed
valuation was raised to 1868, 1853, $4,000
and the rate raised to 515 mills. If an
swer is made that the state had pros
pered, it follows that the railroads pros
pered at least in proportion to that of
the country through which they passed,
and there is no honest reason why their
taxes should be reduced and that of the
farmer and home owner increased as
has been done whenever the Republican
party was in power in this state.
I'VE fusionists can't understand why
the Republican press of the state and
the candidates of the Republican party
now insist that the railroad assessments
are all they should be, after the Repub-
lican legislature of 1891 appointed
commission consisting of two railway
attorneys and a third party to remedy
the abuses they then declared existed.
and now say do not exist. Our people
demand that the corporate interests of
the state of Kansas pay taxes in the
same proportion to the value of their
property as is paid by the farmer and
home owner We claim the Republican
candidates cannot bring about the tax
reform demanded by the fusionists be-
cause their Republican platform, Re-
publican press and the candidates
themselves say no reform is needed, and
daily give their reasons to the people in
justification of their position on the
REDUCTION OF TAXES.
I'VE ts.ink our claim is consistent
when we say the individual taxpayer
can reduce his taxes One-half if he will
elect the fusion ticket. and here are the
reasons: TIE state of Kansas collected
IA million dollars tax in 1891. The total
assessed value ofall property in the state
without railroads was about 800 million
dollars. The rate was less than per
cent, call it per cent. If the public
utility corporations 600 million dollars
were assessed for taxes at 80 cents on
Ia i
lion dollars to the present 300 million
dollars assessed value Of real estate and
personal property in the state, and the
grand total would be 500 million dollars
of taxable property in the state, which
taxed at 215 per cent. would bring the
amount of money required for state
purposes. and reduce the taxes of the
individual taxpayer onehalf; or, where
he now pays 500 tax he would then
pay only $50 tax. and where he now pays
$40 tax he would then pay only IS tax.
We have the Kansas law to sustain our
position, which says property in the
state shall be assessed at its full value.
The supreme court of the United States
sustains our position. In the case where
the railways Of Indiana appealed from
the assessment made by the state, JUS
tice Brewer said: Whatever thing is
worth for income and sale, it is worth
for taxation Our laws are good enough
il honestly enforced.
IF the Republican candidates are
honest, IneY are DOunQ Dy Ine1r plat
form and the precedent established by
the present state administration to con-
tinue the policy of openly violating the
Hurrel prohibitory law. the Farrelly
trust law. the Cubbison gambling law
the old soldier law giving old soldiers
preference in state and municipal en-
ployment. the S-hour law, the Sunday
labor law, the black list law, and every
other law on the statute books where
gain can be made by their non-enforce-
nent
VIOLATION OF LAWS.
Republicans boast that they create
issues and always stand for something
It is true they have created the issue of
violating the laws of the state with inn
punity, and chief among the issues
they have created in Kansas are Vio-
lating the law by favoring the corpora
tons ct the expense of the people.
violating the DrOhibitOry law in IA
vor of nonresident brewers and distill-
ers
Violating the Farrelly trust law in
favor Of the trusts.
Violating the old soldier law at the
expense Of the old soldier.
violating the Sunday law 8-hour
law. child labor law, black list law ard
Pinkerton law. at the expense of the
laboring man.
I'VE fusionists demand that the pro
hibitory law be resubmitted to the Deo-
pie, and that all laws on the statute
| books be enforced or repealed.
! Page AIS. official manual. state of
Missouri, 1912, shows 6.77O miles OF
railway in Missouri, and the average
assessment per mile at ST. 430.
Page 1877, annual report of comptrOl-
Ter of public works, state of Texas. 1902,
shows 20 100 miles of railway in Texas,
an average assessment of $685. per
mile.
page 312 twelfth biennial report,
auditor of state for Kansas. 1899 1900,
shows IL, 292 miles of railway in Kansas,
and average assessment of $500 per
mile.