The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-07
CRAFT IN The WAY
Only Difference In Tax LegisIa-
tiOn Now Left.
How Shall the Members Be
Selected.
PROTECT TREASURER.
Senate Won't Legalize Interest
on State Funds.
Committee Agrees Not to Ex-
empt Money in Banks.
Fractional Feeling Is Keeping
Committees Apart.

Only three points remained to be
settled by the new tax committee when
it met this morning. They we're as fol-
lows:
First. Shall the governor name the
appointive members of the state tax
commission, or shall they be selected
by the executive council?
Second. Shall the commission be COM
posed of two appointive commissioners,
the state auditor. state treasurer and
secretary of state, or shall the treasurer
and secretary of state be cut out?
Third Shall the state taxes be left
in the county treasures until they are
called for as needed by the state aud
itor, or shall they be sent to the state
treasurer twice a year as at present so
that the state treasurer may deposit
them in banks as at present.
The house members took one side OF
these propositions and Fitzpatrick and
Peterson of the senate the other side,
and it was understood that they would
have a majority of the senate with
them. Senator Smith was trying TO
bring about a compromise.
After discussing the questions for
some time, the house members submit
ted a proposition to the senate to ac-
cGQG TWO points II the senate would dC-
cede one, and allow the senate to ma Ike
the choice. Here are the propositions
submitted by the house members.
First. We propose that the appoint
i've tax commissioners shall be appoint
ed by the governor
.Second. We propose that the tax
commission shall be composed of the
two appointiVe commissioners and any
other state officers.
Third. We propose that the Francis
! dfGn0GifiOn of state taxes ld0nfpN
by the joint tax COMMITTEES and passed
by the house shall be adopted
The house members agreed to con-
cede any two of these propositions to
the senate IL the senate would concede
the third to the house, and the senate
can make its choice.
The contest over the first two of these
propositions is a contest between fac
tions. The contest over the third IS
over the question whether the state
treasury graft of depositIng money ia
banks and getting a rake-0f on it shah
! be continued. The house has already
passed the Francis bill, which provides
for allowing the state taxes to remain
in the county treasures until called fOi
as needed by the state on the first Of
each month by the state auditor. At
twice a year, after the seni-annual col
/ lection of taxes. and the sta ate treasurer
virtually deposits the money, sometimes
amounting to an immense amount. in
+ ate proposes to kill this bill
The senate also expects to kill the
| Goebel bill requiring the depositing of
state money in banks on interest, which
has also passed the house The senate
does Lot propose to interfere with the
graft by which somebody gets in
terest on state funds amounting to
several thousand dollars a year. The
senate wants to protect the graft
The committee at first disagreed on
the basis of valuation. but got together
on a fractional valuation of one-third.
Th vote al first stood as follows:
For assessment a actual cash value
For assessment at one-third value
Senators Smith. Peterson and Vincent;
Representative jerks
For assessment at One-fourth value
Representative Eil1 Kinkel and Hay
den
Edward Wilder and J. ". GIeed
members of the Topeka board of educa
/ ton, appeared before the committee and
/ protested against an assessment at one
4 fourth valuation. as such a basis would
/ prevent the city of Topeka from making
a levy high enough TO raise sufficient
funds to keep the schools going.
The committee finally got together or
a third valuation.
None of Bale Waggener's pet hobbies
are considered by the committee
The fractional valuation provision is {
weak feature Of the bill. It is one OF
the bad things about the present sys-
tenn. 1t win work a hardship on manX
counties it will frighten investors from
coming into the state by making
much higher rate of taxation than 9th
erwise, and it VIII aid in tax-dodging.
/ The committee has agreed not to ex
empt money on deposit in banks. which
/ has been a much disputed point.