The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-05
WACGENER'SCOUP
Sent His Tax Bill to the Head
Of the Calendar.
Placed Ahead of the Original
Commission Tax Bill,
NO ONE KNEW ABOUT 1T
House Did Not Realize What
Was Going On.
Creates a State Tax Commission
With General Powers.
NO ONE KNEW ABOUT 1T

Bale Waggener's tax bill was ad-
vanced late Wednesday afternoon ahead
Of the general tax bill and placed at the
head of the house calendar. Nobody but
Mr.. Waggener knew that it was done.
In fact not more than half the members
of the house knew that Mr.. Waggener
had introduced a new tax bill.
Just before the house took its recess
for supper Wednesday evening. while
members We're busy getting various bills
advanced, MI. Waggener among the rest
innocently moved that house bill No. 968
be advanced to the head of the calendar
under third reading. Nobody thought to
ask. in the hurry what the bill was, and
it was advanced with thesrest- It was
not generally known for hours after
wards that it was new tax bill that
had been advanced.
Today when it was discovered what
had been done band wagon was maun-
ed and ran over Waggener, sending his
substitute back to the tax committee.
Mr. Waggener's bill is comparatively
brief: While the commission bill covers
more than $50 pages, the Waggener bin
covers only IA.
Two new features are included in this
bill One is to prevent the collection of
insurance in excess of four times its as
sessed valuation, as it is assessed at
one-fOurth actual value. The other is to
make notes and mortgage bearing more
than per cent interest non-collectibie
in the courts unless they are listed for
taxation.
Mr.. Waggener's bill is as follows:s
CREATES a COMMISSION.
Section L In order to secure the i'm
prOVement in the system and equaliza-
ton of taxation in this state there is
hafs
consisting of the auditor of state ana
two qualified electors, 10 be appointed
on the 1st day of September, 1903 by
the governor and who shall hold their
Office for the term of four years. and
until their successors are appointed and
qualified.
GOVERNOR APPOINTS.
Sec 2. On the 1st day of September,
1907 and each four years thereafter, the
governor shall appoint two qualified
electors as tax commissioners.
Sec. 3. The members of the said state
tax commission shall each take and sub.
scribe and file with the secretary OF
state the constitutional oath of Office.
GENERAL SUPERVISION.
Sec. 4. The state tax commission shall
have general supervision of the system
of taxation throughout the state, shall
have power to make IA thorough inves-
LEGATION thereof, and Shall report to the
legislature on the first day of each regu-
lar session the results of its supervision
and investigation and shall formulate
and recommend legislation for the inn
prOVement of the system and for the
equalization of the taxation of the state;
it shall keep in It's office a public record
of its acts and orders, and print from
time to time for general circulation such
information as it may deem proper.
EXAMINE UNDER OATH.
Sec. 5. In making any investigation.
the state tax commission shall have
power to require local officers whose
n "a tn n
collection of taxes, or to the disburse-
ment of public funds, to report to it in
form as by it prescribed to call upon
individuals and corporations for in
formation bearing upon the subject of
taxation, to examine books and papers,
to summon witnesses to appear and
testify and to produce books and papers
before it at a time and place to be ap
pointed by it. and in case of the refusal
of any person to obey its summons. to
report the same to the attorney general,
who shall thereupon institute proceed
ings in the proper court to compel such
obedience. The chairman of the state
tax commission may administer oaths
or affirmations. In the discretion of the
commission, fees may be allowed to wit
nesses, and on the certificate of the
chairman of the state tax commission,
duly audited paid by the state treasurer
for attendance and travelling. And any
person testifying falsely shall be guilty
of and be punished for perjury.
SALARIES.
Sec g. The annual compensation
for each tax commissioner, except the
state auditor, shall be twenty-five hum
dred dollars and Of any clerk OF en-
ploye in the office of the state tax COM
mission, the sum fixed by the commits
sion, not exceeding the sum of fifteen
hundred dollars for each clerk or en-
ploye and no person, while serving as
Commissioner or as clerk, except the
auditor of state, shall hold any other
office or position of trust or profit or
pursue any other business or avocation,
or serve on or under any committee of
any political party.
Sec. T. Rooms in the capitol shall be
set apart for the use ana furnished I'M
der the direction of the state tax COM
mission It's postage, stationery and
I office supplies shall be provided and its
1 printing done as now provided by law
/ for other state officers.
/ sec. g. The salaries of the commits
sioners appointed by the governor and
of his clerks and employees and their
i necessary travelling expenses and all
other disbursements of its office, shall
1 be paid out of the state treasury as the
salaries and expenses of other state Of
] fcers are paid. and sum sufficient to