The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-09
TAX BILL AGREEMENT.
One Is Patched Up by Conference
Committee

The majority of the tax conference
committee has agreed on an amended
tax bin, but it is very doubtful if either
house win accept it as amended. Some
of the members of the conference COM
mittee will vote against it. Adams of
Butler and Hutchinson. two house mem
bers, are against it. and Senator Fitz-
patrick is SO dissatisfied that he gigged
back on the propositions already agreed
to and submitted others on the part of
the house.
After the house members submitted
three propositions to the senate mem
bers Saturday. the senate members
agreed to. coneede the first proposition
and the house members agreed to con
cede the other two The senate mem
bers agreed to allow the governor to
appoint the two appointive tax COM
missioners. and the house members
agreed to leave the secretary of state
and state treasurer on the commission,
and to allow the state treasurer's graft
of depositing state funds remain as at
present This agreement did not suit
Fitzpatrick and Saturday night he sub
mitted the following on behalf of him
self and some of the other senator's:
''Since the manner in which the two
state tax commissioners shall be name
Is the principal bone of contention, and
since it is becoming apparent that the
bill will be defeated if this patronage is
not given to the governor. we propose
that the state tax commission shall con-
sist OF the auditor of state, attorney
general and secretary Of state to do the
work of the commission, with the help
OF clerk, hereby giving the taxpayers
$500 a year.
I'VE also agree to vote for the house
amendment providing that the state
funds shall be left in the hands Of the
county treasurers until called for, If the
I -,-fv, re-Il
reducing the cost of state printing
$4,000 a year. in accordance with the
request of the governor, and also pass
the stockyards bill now before the house.
which viii reduce the exorbitant cost OF
handling the stock Of Kansas farmers
and if the house viii also concur in the
senate amendments to the bill making
an appropriation for the Kansas exhibit
TO the St Louis exposition"
This shows the sentiment of some of
the senators on the subject It is a
well-kn0Wn fact that many members
| Of the house are opposed to the pro-
posed new system of taxation, and it
! is doubtful If a constitutional majority
of those in favor Of the bill can be kept
here even if there is really majority
for the bill
Already % or 30 members Of the
/ house have slipped away home and
others are going daily. To be sure a
sergeant alarms can be sent for them
I and they can be compelled to return,
/ but it is doubtful if this will be done.
The amendments to the tax bill re-
ported by the original tax commission.
as agreed on by majority of the con-
/ ference committee, are as follows:
The heterogeneous are knocked out
and the state tax commission is author
/ lied to prepare some interro gatories not
quite so searching
The clause taxing grain dealers upon
/ the average amount of business they do
in year was stricken out. Grain deal
ers will be taxed upon their capital
stock
The tax commissioners are to be ap-
pointed for the first two years by the
governor instead of by the executive
council. After that, they are to be elect
ed.
The secretary of state and state treas
urer are made members of the state tax
commission.
Township trustees are made deputy
assessors.
Property will be taxed at one-third
its true cash value.