Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-09-24
The Question Of Taxation.

The Question Of Taxation.
The human family is prone to devel-
op prejudice and Is equally liable to
favor any person or any measure that
tavors them. This is equally true OF
political parties as their component
parts are human. Also Is It true Of
corporations for, though soulless, their
managers are human and are always
found aiding their friends and abusing
those who do not assist them In their
schemes to obtain i'll. gotten gains.
The farmer, small tradesman and the
laborer have always borne the brunt of
the battle OF life aud especially 30 in
regard to taxation.
The great army of producers have
but one object in view in this life, VIZ:
10 provide for the immediate wants of
their families, educate their children
and lay by a small competence 'for a
rainy day." The corporations are their
greatest enemy, they are simply leech-
es living of of others labor and prod
ucts.
We, here In Kansas. are struggling
to destroy the grasp that monopoly
has on the labor of Kansas. The
fusion forces are demanding that
the people be permitted to govern in.
stead OF being governed By the rail.
| roads
w. H. Craddock stands for the PEG.
pie against corporate greed and extor.
ton. w. J. Bailey and the republican
machine are manfully striving to con-
tinue under railroad domination.
Mr.. Craddock demands that the rail
roads, electric lines, lighting plsnts
and telephone and other plants that
hold franchises. shall be taxed in the
same proportion that the farms and
town lots are taxed. Mr.. Bailey and
the republican machine make light of
| this and say that the railroads are over.
taxed now and it is this contention
that the two parties are struggling over.
That the farmers. small dealers and
| laborers may determine which is right
and vote accordingly, we present a few
extracts from republican documents:
Justice Brewer says Whatever
| thing is worth for income and sale, it is
worth for taxation. Report of state
| tax commission.
From same report:
In some counties corporations are
assessed at rate as low as one-half of
one per cent of their paid up capital
stock"
| This rule Is considered SO thorough
ly established that one of the aims of
all tax laws is to obtain as large an
assessment of personal property as of
realty"
| Can the farmer. small dealer and 10
borer hide his property or evade the tax
collector?
| Continuing from same report:
ION March LIST, 1901 the Kansas banks
had on deposit $40, 5000 600. The as
SCISSORS on same date had returned to
them sos. 424."
Do the corporations and wealthy peo-
pie hide their property and evade the
tax collector?
There are in Kansas 1873 miles of
railroads and sidings. Believing that
Kansas roads are an average, then those
roads are worth $685.. POI $3.50. These
railroads are assessed at $50, PA, 150.
Whereas il they we're assessed on the
basis Of our farms, their assessment
would be $lSS, 400 $50. And if the cleo
trio lines, telephone, telegraph, express
and other corporations doing business,
were assessed il the same ratio, we
would have $50, 900 900. more added to
our assessment rolls.
Then our assessment would be
Personal PrOp....... :. $50. =. 49,. 40 600 0OC
Railroads. ........ ....-...! .....- .Ieo OOOOOl
| IOtal. 0~S UUU w
Instead of $343 200, 600 and railroads
$50 900 600 of that.
| Novp LOT tho farnor aak hio how or