The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-29
LEGISLATURE UPHELD
Says That Appropriations Did
Not Require Increase.
There Will Be a Half Million
More Than Needed.
This Will Be Under Control of
State Treasurer.

publican state central committee
charges that State Treasurer Kelly has
laid plans to collect 100000 in state
taxes more than is necessary to run
the state government during the COM
ing year. He makes this charge in re-
ply to Mr.. Kelly's allegation that the
excessive tax levy and the great raise
made in the assessed valuation in some
counties in the state was necessitated
by the large appropriations made by
the recent legislature.
Mr.. Albaugh, as chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee, comes
to the defense of the legislature, as the
legislature was strictly Republican and
1t will have to be defended by the Re-
publicans. His charges place Mr. Kelly
in very bad light and will be as diff
cult of explanation as the charges
made against Mr.. Kelly in Miami
county last fall In brief, Mr. AL
baugh charges Mr.. Kelly with increas-
valuations in many counties in order to
raise a half million dollars more state
taxes than will be required to paw the
appropriations made by the legislature
and then Mr.. Kelly attempts to saddle
the blame for the raise on to the legis-
latura.
This NAV furnish a key to the fact
that Mr.. Kelly put up such a strenuous
night in the legislature last winter
against the now famous Francis
amendment" which provided that state
taxes should be left in the county
treasures except as called for by the
state auditor at the first of each month
TO run the state during that month
which would give the various counties
the interest on this money instead of
giving It all to the state treasurer. Mr..
hely also put up just as vigorous a
nght against the Goebel bill providing
that the executive council should de-
post the state funds in approved banks
ana that the interest should go to the
state. Both of these measures were
Killed IN the state senate and some of
those who voted against these meas
ures said they did so because they did
not believe in interfering with the per-
QuislteS OF the state treasurer"
Mr. Kelly gave out a prepared state
1neltt on august l stating that the ap-
propriatlons of the legislature for 1904
were $2,SIs, 22S,7O Yet to pay this
a4 ~ oel STATE taxes amounting to S.
eefo5c mas been levied by Mr. Kelly and
DIS associates, in addition to the states
revenues from other sources-by Mr.
hellys own figures. - 80
~ Su 1T II must be remembered that from
$SoO'OOO TO S450,000 of the approximations
are unexpended each year but are turned
pack into the state treasury. and this
amount should be deducted from the to-
tai appropriations in figuring on the
amount which il is necessary to raise nv
taxation. Another thing and M AZ
paugh does not mention this. of the an
prlations made last winter $3.50 600 was
Tor the revolving fund of the peniten-
tlary binding Irvine plant. This was
the fund. All that was necessary vas
10 Inappropriate it, so that it does not
nave TO be raised by this years taxes
Another item not mentioned by Mr. AL
pauBn Is that $4,000 appropriated for the
militia Is paid by the national eo,,e,.n
ment and not by state taxes. and this
TOO, should be deducted from the amount
20 be raised by this years tax levy
1nese two appropriations, $4,000. and
tne amount which will probably be
turned back into the state treasury,
100000 make a total of $4,000 vhiro
should be deducted from the aDproorja-
tons Then the fees which the stare
derives from various sources amount TO
at least S250OO0, and these go into The
general revenue fund to paw the states
expenses. Then there was in the treas
ury on June 80. 1903 1899, 1851. and All
OF these should be deducted from the to-
TAI appropriations in order to find the
amount which ought to be raised fo nav
the states expenses during the 6sc.,1
year 1904. This'would give the following
table: rs
Turned back to treasury ....... zoe o0e ca
Irvine plant revolving fund $50 ono 70
Militia fund from national
government ...... ....... 25 900 90
oAdle IeeS ............... 250 600 90
balance in treasury June 30,
last ".......... ........... ss9,s15.91
Iotal .......... ............S 81 1854 Sl5 81
Deducting this total from the total an
preparations made by the last legisia-
ture Tor 1904, which. according TO Mr.
heliys figures, amount to $2.37S. 22S 90
leaves a balance to be raised by taxa
ton of $1,213 412.79.
Of course it would not be best to 6g-
ure too closely and plan to raise Just
barely enough to run the state through
the year, but allowing a margin Of
S4Oo0O0 for any shortages and to have a
small balance at the beginning of anoth-
er year. which is certainly enough. il is
sun evident that Mr.. Kely's tax levy
VIII raise more than 100000 more thar
necessary to pay the states expenses.
MI Kelly ingeniously says that the
appropriations for 1904 are a half mil
lion dollars in excess of those for 1gn3
but he does not explain that the last
legislature had to appropriate $500 9O9 II
Tor the latter part of 1903, and that this
In addition to the S1.S40627 appropriats5
Tor 1903 two years ago. making a total
OF S2,443, "a paid with last years levy
and still balance of over 100000 was
leIt IN the state treasury. This year
with total appropriations amounting 10
$z3fS,226-lO, including the revolving fund
and militia appropriations. Mr.. Kelly in
creased the state tax levy from ria
mills as II was last year, to s 40 mills
for the coming year, and in addition in
creased the assessed valuation 25 mil
lion dollars.
Mr.. Albaugh's statement goes into
these figures with careful detail. 1t is
as follows:
MIR. ALBAUGH'S STATEMENT.
Il care nothing about the statement
Of State Treasurer Kelly that he de-
creased the valuation in his own coun-
~, in order to strengthen himself polit-
ically there, but the late legislature was
Republican in both branches and it
becomes important to the Rem bIicans
Of the state to know whether the legis-
lature Of 1908 was prohigate with the
peoples money and whether that body
or some one else is to blame for the
increased burden of taxation. that has
been laid upon the people: Mr. Kelly
IN repeated newspaper Interviews and