The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-17

you do not put in this drastic provision
you will leave the law as it is and
twenty-five years experience under
this law has shown US that mortgages
escape taxation. Statistics show that
only one and seven-tenths per cent of
the Kansas mortgages have been en-
tered for taxation have a circular
letter which was sent to an Atch1Son
loaner by Kansas City company when
it was thought that the provision tax
ing mortgages would become a part Of
the law. The writer of this letter makes
a proposition to the Atchison agent
and it is to the effect that the Kansas
man deposit his money with the kan
sas City concern and then act as its
agent and make his loans in the name
Of the nonresident concern Gentlemen,
you can't go home and say to the far
mers you have compelled them to re-
turn every piece Of property for taxa '
ton or go to the penitentiary. and that
you have arranged for the protection
of foreign insurance companies loanlng
money here. Party expediency does
not demand this of you
As a final concession the mem Der
from Atchison asked that his amend
ment be allowed to remain in the bin
and be reported back to the house as a
part of it. He was refused The vote
on Smiths motion to strike out the
Waggener amendment was as follows;
Senators Smith Hurrel, Morfow'
White. Gabriel. Fitzpatrick, and Repre-
sentatives Nation, Honneu. Dougherty,
Bevington. Pralle. Peck, Speer, Francis
and Leland, Total, 16.
Against striking out-Senator NC
Knight, and Representa- tives Stavely,
Harris, Bowman, KInlxel, Jensen. Wag-
gener. Gobel. Law and Perkins. To-
tai, 10.
Mr.. Waggener in his argument quoted
extensively from the interview given by
Governor Bailey to a representative OF
the Journal. published in yesterday s
Journal. Governor Bailey is opposed to
stringent tax upon notes and mort
cages, but neither does he approve of
their exemption from snare IN the
burden of state tax. He views the prob
lem in a light with Senator Smith. Mr.
Bailey has given considerable thought
to the tax question and is opposed to
taking a step which, to say the least, is
radical
It was Senator Fred Dumont Smith
who originated the idea of making II
impossible to foreclOse a mortgage
which had not been listed for taxation
as an expedient by which every note
secured by mortgage should be com
PEELED to pay its tax Waggener took
this I'D when his own amendment had
been lost, but it likewise perished in the
returning wave Of sentiment. After the
vote on these two propositions Wag-
gener proposed an amendment chang
ing the valuation for assessment from
One-third to One-fifth, and, when thai
was lOSC, 10 One-lUQTtn- mat was alSS
killed. Finally. however, Waggener was
allowed an amendment making the ex-
empti0n upon the gross assessment S4Cl
instead of $500 as it has always been
This had previously been a poiuA O.
some contention.
Within a few days the tax bill vii
be laid before the two houses of th
legislature Waggener, Smith and Peel
were last night appointed a committe
to revise the tax bin and prepare it 70
presentation to the legislature with it
amendments. When presented it win b
placed under general orders and ad
vanced' for immediate consideration.