The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-26
IT LOOKS BRIGHT.
Future of the Tax Bill Is More
EncOu raging.
Vote Will Be Taken in Senate
Late Today.
SMITH MAKES APPEAL.
He Asks the Senators for Fair
Play.
Nav Be Trouble Over Size Of
Commission.
SMITH MAKES APPEAL.

The senate will in all probabtli take
a vote on the final passage Of the tax
bin late this afternoon and chances now
are very good for its passage. Senator
Fred Dumont Smith the special cham
pion Of the bill, is not letting any
chance slip to force its passage. He has
probably done more work on the tax
bin than any other two men in the Iegis-
lature, and he has a personal interest IN
having the senate indorse his work
That is why he made a personal appeal
to members whom he has favored in the
past to do something for him now.
Il really do not think I have had fair
treatment about this bill from some of
the members said Senator Smith I
have helped most Of the other fellows in
every way / could. 1 have drawn up
bills for them and aided them in every
way could. No bill has ever remained
in my committee without action when
member has been anxious for report
on it. I have always supported the local
bills of the members unless I was con-
hdent they were wrong
That is why 1 now think I have
right to appeal to them to vote for the
/ tax bill 4 have put the best work Of
my life on that bill and I don't like to
have it go out that the Republican par
4 ty was not able to cope with the taxa
When I discovered that a secret
movement was on foot to beat the bill
1 made up my mind to appeal for fair
/ plav I do not claim that the bill was
perfect but I think the members ought
1 to do what they can in the way of sug-
gestions and amendments to make il
better and not kill it outright without
consideration
Now I think the sentiment has set in
the other way, and there is a good
chance to pass It in the senate am
not afraid but what the bill viii stand
on its merits I think it Is a good meas
ure and it ought to become law
Before the senate takes the vote on
the bill the house will have begun its
consideration. but before It gets very
far it viii probably know the fate Of the
measure in the senate II It passes in
the senHte the house will then quit
& sparring and viii get down to real WORK
OH the bill. II will undoubtedly make
amendments to it different from the
ones made in the senate Then il the
senate does not concur, conference
committee win be necessary before tbs
bill viii be finally passed. Consequent
" the enemies of the bill have every ad-
vantage.
There viii undoubtedly be trouble over
the size of the tax commission Some
Of the members of the legislature think
that a commission Of seven members Is
too large to be effective. They say that
nearly all the power and responsl blltty
for carrying out the provisions of the
law should be placed on the appointive
commissioners whose duty it will be to
look after that matter alone and Moth
ing else. There seems to be no doubt
but what the amendment to nla Ike the
commission I'D Of the state board OF
railroad assessors and the two appoint
i've commissioners was adopted by tns
tax committee at its last meeting, a.
J though it does not appear IN the report.
This would make commission Of seven
members
r-be bsJI has M er,el, cl,a,,,r,fc,, i,7 +ha
house as Senator Smith in the senate
The only one of the house members OF
the taxation commission who was re-
! turned to the legislature was John
/, Francis and he has had so much work
as chairman of the house ways ana
means committee that he has not lbeeh
able to give the taxation bill much per-
senal attention
Representative Peck has done more
general work on the tax bill than any
other member Of the house. unless it
is Bale Waggener Waggener is an
undoubted authority on taxation ques-
tions, but he has been making special
fight for certain provisions in the bill
more than for the bill as a whole.
A new idea on the subject of the tax
alton of notes and mortgages viii be
sprung by Waggener in the discussion
in the house. His idea is to make notes
and mortgages bearing more than .
per cent interest uncollectible in the
courts unless they have been listed for
taxation This, he believes, would
have tendency to keep down the rate
of interest.
The provision which he wants to tack
on to the note and mortgage section
Z containing this feature reads as fol-
, lows: sws
/ Provided all notes. bonds. and evil
dences of Indebtedness drawing or pur-
porting to draw on their face a grea ter
rate Of interest than per cent per
ann1lrn, shall be uncollectible in any
court in this state unless the same has
t been properly listed for taxation as
2 hereinafter provided"