Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-08-28
Candidate Craddock on Taxation.

CandloAte Crao0ock on Taxetlon.
Mr.. Craddock, the Democratic can.
didate for governor Of Kansas. rsitsr-
ated in bis Abilene speech the ridicu.
lous pledge that II be is elected he
will reduce the taxes Of the people
one.hsli. At Seneca the other day
be described the methods BY which
be would bring this wonderful thing
about. "At present." be said, "the
ordinary property Of Kansas 10 as'
ssssed 1t about eS00,0Oo,000. The
railroads and other public service
operations are considered to DO
worth $500, 100000 and We will assess
them 1t so per cent Of this and put
them on the tax rolls ct $500, 900, 900.
This virtually doubles the assessed
property OF Kansas, and therefore
will cut the tax collection In half. l
pledge you that II ! am elected the
man who pays 800 ia taxes now will
have to pay but $50 then, and the
man who pays SO now will have to
pay but % then"
The X. G. Journal shows up bis In
consistency thus: First and foremost
it ought to be known to every intelli.
gent citizen that as governor, save
through the veto power,Mr. Craddock
will have no more control over the tax
system Of Kansas than be does now in
the walks Of private life. Taxation is
first defined and limited in the consti-
tuition, and then is collected through
the machinery provided in the
statutes. The governor has no power
to alter, suspend or annul any part Of
the existing system. To redeem bis
pledges with respect to taxing cor
porations, Governor Craddock must
secure legislature in harmony with
his ideas. And when we remember
that these ideas are presented as par
tisan in character and that the Repub'
licans have a hold-over state senate
that will remain in office until the
last day OF Governor Crsddock's term,
the iutility Of bis pledge to put the
new system into instant operation is
plain to be seen.
However, the fact Of Republican
state senate is not the main barrier to
this scheme Of taxation. The propo-
sal Of Mr.. Craddock is for violation
Of the federal constitution, the state
constitution and every rule Of justice
and equity. The constitution OF the
state OF Kansas says that taxes must
be just and equitable. Mr.. Craddock
proposes to "value" the railroads and
other public service corporations at
$500, 100000, and then place them
upon the tax rolls at $500, 900, 900.
In other words, he proposes to in
crease the assessment of these cor
porations about five times over. 1t
is shown by the returns Of the census
bureau that the public service cor
porations Of Kansas are not worth
one.third the sum fixed by Mr.. Grad
dock. When Mr.. Craddock's party
was in power in Kansas ard a great
crusade had been started against the
railroads it was reported by Popu'
| list Democratic committee OF the
house Of representative that the en-
tire value Of the public service cor.
porations in Kansas was but 1884,
100000. This is too low. A better
estimate is 5000, 1000, 1000. At present
these corporations are assessed al
$50, 100000 in round figures, or about
80 per cent Of their true value. II
We took the Demo-Pop estimate Of
their value the per cent Of assessment
would be exceed rs.
Here, then, Is basis Of comparison
the fact that public service cor
porations pay taxes 10 hansas on mort
than 80 per cent Of their market value
1t must be assumed that every fail
citizen Of Kansas will admit without
argument that taxes should be just
and equal, whether levied against .
corporation or against the individual
So to justify Mr.. Craddock in bill
crusade against the corporations W
must find that the lands and personal
property Of Kansas are assessed a
more in proportion than the property
~ cornors tiona. But when we 0x'