The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-23
NOT OF ONE MIND
Big Fight Over State Tax Bill
Is Coming,
Legislature Appears TO Be Very
Much Divided.
NOT in PRESENT FORM.
Representative Kirkland Thinks
Bill Should be Changed.
How Bank Deposits Manage to
Escape Taxation.

After the fight over United States
senator and state printer have been set
tied by the Republican legislative eau
cuses, about the principal thing that win
engross the attention of the legislature
will be the taxation proposition. While
the matter was not generally discussed
in the campaign, because the Republic
cans were not sure that they wanted
to shoulder the bill that had been pre-
pared by the tax commission, the people
have been discussing the matter among
themselves and the members of the leg
islature have been studying up on the
proposed bill and thinking up changes
which they want to make in it.
Il do not believe that bill which has
been prepared by the tax commission
will be introduced at all in its present
FORM" said c. B. Kirkland, representa-
tive-elect from Saline county. in dis
cussing the matter. I think the bill
ought to be changed in number of de-
tails But the tax commission has been
a splendid thing in my opinion 1t has
studied up this taxation question ana
has gathered information which Will be
invaluable in framing the right kind OF
taxation law
There are only two features to the
taxation proposition as l view it. One
is to assess all property so that it Will
other is to get it listed. If we can solve
these two problems the taxation ques-
ton Will be settled. There is no justice,
though, in plan which allows man TO
sell team for $3.50 and take the buyers
note for the debt, and then pay taxes on
the face of the note while the buyer
pays on only one-third of the value of
the team. or $50
Il should like to have the law framed
to compel the assessment of all property
at one third of its actual value" said
Cyrus Leland. IF all property were
assessed alike il would result in bring
ing out a great deal more taxable pro
perty. Now some property is assessed
at one-third its value or less, while
money and some collateral is assessed
at its full value in some counties. The
result is that people with that kind of
property hide it and it escapes taxation
entirely. Here we have over $4,000. 900
of bank deposits and hardly any of it is
listed for taxation"
Yes" said Mr.. Kirkland. 1.-TWO years
ago when there was s70.000,000 in the
banks there was only $1,000 listed for
taxation, while the entire personal pro-
perty tax in the state was only $780,
900.
IF we can frame the right kind of a
law to assess all property at one-third
of its real value. and provide penalties
for its enforcement, Twill result in list
ing a great deal of personal property
that now escapes taxation entirely"
w. Y. Morgan says that so of the
members of the coming legislature were
members of the convention which nomi-
mated Bailey for governor last spring.
Morgan also makes the following COM
ment; There has been no change in the
political situation in Kansas since the
state convention when Mr.. Curtis de-
clared that the election of George E.
Cole chairman and the nomination of
W. J. Bailey meant his defeat for Uni
ted States senator"
W. w. Atkins. a Kansas City, Kan.
man who started in life as a Wichita
newsboy, will work on the members of
the Legislature for a law allowing trial
judges to parole first offenders when
they believe the circumstances warrant
1t. He says that his observations when
a boy led him to believe that boy once
convicted of a crime and sent to Jail
seldom reforms, while if he were paroled
and put on farm he would probably
make q good citizen.
Harry Bone, secretary to Governor
elect Bailey, is already tired of looking
after Mr.. Bailey's matrimonial CORE
spondence. Mr.. Bailey himself has long
since ceased to have anything to do
with it. The proposals came in SO thick
and fast upon him that he got so that
he would not open letter addressed in
Z feminine hand. and as soon as Mr..
Bone took up his work as secretary he
became the governors matrimonial
bureau
At first he rather looked with pleas
ure upon the prospect of replying to
those missiyes, but he has got over that
He says that sort of letters take too
much time.
In order to help matters out, Charles
Sessions has evolved a plan for Mr.
Bone to issue a call for a convention
of all the women who have proposed tn
Governor Bailey. He would have it is
sued in the form of a proclamation
something as follows.
Whereas, innumerable and divers
feminine persons have submitted matrl-
monial propositions to Willis j. Bailey
the next governor of Kansas, and
Whereas, Said proposals have greatly
confused the future chief executive of
the state and rendered life a burden to
his secretary, upon whom has devolved
the duty of answering said proposals in
such a way as to Enthusiastically turn
them down without offending: therefore
"A convention will be held in the To-
peka Auditorium Immediately after the
inauguration of Governor Bailey OH
January u, 1908, to be participated IN
by all persons who have made proposals
OF marriage to said Governor Willis ].
Bailey, to discuss the desirability Of be-
coming the mistress of the executive
mansion Of the state of Kansas. to de-
termine if possible which one of the
proDcsers shall carry off the prize and
to pass resolutions on the subject"
This plan" said Mr.. Sessions today,
will settle the whole business It won't
be necessary for Bailey to refuse any of
them. because they won't agree oil
which one shall have him.
The meeting should be held in the
Auditorium so as to give plenty OF
room If necessary an overflow meeting
could be held in the city council cham
Der. Bailey ought to preside over the
meeting himself, and Dave Hanna
should be appointed sergeant-at-ar arms
Governor Bailey himself has ceased to
take any interest in the matter at all
He has turned the mana cement of the
whole thing over to Mr.. Bone, only en-
joining him that he shall not be gotten
into a breach Of promise suit
W. z. Morgan points with pride to his
record as a fgurer in the gubernatorial