The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-27
TAX BILL PASSES.
CONTINUED from First Page.l

AOI1lJ, also 41a4E = 6LOLL SGECGh
Smith was last upon the floor. 'Gea-
tlemen," he said. I'VE cannot go home
to our constituents and tell them that,
like a parcel of children, We wrestled
with the tax problem all winter aud
were unable to do anything with it. You
can't face your supporters and say I
did not like some of the features of the
tax bill, and voted against it and for
the corporations Gentlemen, don't do
that. We have come here TO pass this
bill, and let's do it. Let's give the PEG
pie something.
Il have spent my time on the bill
during the last two years, and want
to tell YOU that I never worked harder
on one task in my life than I have on
this. Now. don't kill it just because you
have found one or two things that you
do not like. For Gods sake turn in and
help those of US who want a good bill
make something that you do like
There never was q moment since this
bill was drafted when the member from
Cherokee would have voted for it. He
came here with his mind made up to do
what he could to defeat it. but it has
not been until the insertion of this mon
ey clause that he has had an excuse
with which to cover his opposition 1t
is the same with the gentleman from
Corey. He says he opposes it because
it. exempts money from taxation and be-
cause its penalties are too severe. Yet
he has offered no solution for its im-
provement. 1 tell you, gentlemen, these
ODJGCIOnS are not IdlI-
Turning and advancing toward House
holders desk he continued:
The gentleman from Cherokee has
been in this body for twelve years and
yet he has never offered TO help the tax
ridden people out of their difficulties.
Why don't you support this bill? Just
because it has one provision that you DO
not like are you going to vote to kill It
Your leader last fall was beaten on an
issue to tax franchises. He offered no
law or solution of this problem, yet here
we have such a provision. Now, why
don't you vote for it? Why do you
gentlemen on the opposition oppose a
bill that offers q solution of the prob
lens presented to the people last fall by
your candidate for governor?
THE senator from Lyons is the only
one who has offered an honest objection
to this bill. Before this money clause
was inserted he was in favor of 1t and
would have voted for it's passage. BY
putting it in we have lost his vote and
am sorry for it. The question is, shall
we take this bill with all its imperfec-
lions on its head or shall we go home
and say to our constituents we were I'M
able to handle the situation That has
not been the history of the Republican
party in the past.
that we were too cowardly to face the
problem. III tell you what's the matter
with this bill" he continued. 1T is too
strong and searching. Every tax dodger
would be enough, even if I had not read
the bill to make me vote for it. Defeat
this bill and you will continue to eX-
empt the big corporations from taxation
and make the burden on the farmer
and home owner a little harder.
1T has been suggested that we patch
up the old law. this JOseDh's coat, this
crazy-quilt. and put the penalties a lit
tie sitter upon the person who tries to
escape taxation. You would leave the
private corporations to dodge as they
do now and allow the valuable fran
I chises Of the public serving corpora lions
would sock it to the individual little
harder That is all.
This is the first time that anybody
has come to my assistance in the de-
Tense of this bill. 1t has been subjected
to sneering ridicule and to criticism by
men who never read its provisions.
When the senators got up and spoke
in favor of this bill. I tell you, gentle
men, it almost brought tears to my eyes
Gentlemen, want to say that if we go
home without putting some tax measure
upon the statute books our party Will
suffer for it as sure as the sun rises
And Smith sat down. while applause
was heard from every chair on the
floor and in the galleries
On the motion of Wright of Lyons.
substituting the other motions, the tax
bill was recommended for passage SUB
Ject to amendment and debate. The bill
was then put on third reading, and
with the understanding that no vote
would be taken on it until $50 O'Clock
the members went out to supper while
the reading clerks stayed and read the
bill, in conformity with the law.
THE NIGHT SESSION.
Two motions to amend the bill were
offered in the evening. One by House
holder was to reconsider the amendment
by which idle money was exempted from
taxation. This precioitated a short de-
pate, which Smith closed with one of his
characteristic expressions:
You might as well try to pick up
quicksilver with your barred hands as
to attempt to hold idle money for the
tax gatherer." This motion was lost as
was also another by Morrow to leave.
The state treasurer and secretary al
state off the tax commission. Morrow Of
tered another amendment which was
adopted. 1t gives the county commits
/ slonefs power to raise or lower the as
sessment in their respective counties.
There were speeches by perhaps a dozen
members but they did not much alter
/ the situation as far as the final vote was
concerned.
HOW THE BILL NOW STANDS.
! AS the tax bill now enters the house
/ it contains some important provisions
4 that IT did not have when il left the
4 joint committee What the house will
4 do with them can hardly be guessed
I The principal features as it now stands
are: The exemption of 5000 worth of
! personal property; the election Of the
/ tax commissioners by the executive
council, the exemption of money not
drawing interest. The proposition to
I exempt mortgages from taxation ad-
I vanced by Bale Waggener is not in the
bill
LEGISLATIVE SIDELIGHTs.
The house ways and means commit
tee has recommended an appropriation