The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-18
ON Their TRAIL.
County Clerk Newman After Tax
Dodgers.
Law Gives Him the Right TO
Raise Assessment.
PROPOSES TO DO II.
Says That Many Corporations
Escape Just Burdens.
Believes That Adjustment Will
Make Lower Rate.
PROPOSES TO DO n.

gonal and real estate tax in Shawnee
county Mr. Newman proposes thar
there shall be an equita BILE tax assess
ment and that companies and individ-
uais who have escaped paying their
proper share of taxes shall hereafter
pay into the county treasury what the
law requires them to pay.
AR. Newman said today: Whether
The manner of proceeding under this law
will be carried out I cannot say 7 have
called the attention of the county COM
missioners and the county attorney to
the LAW and MI Nichols is now looking
up the legal points in the matter. The
commissioners seem favorab BILE to this
plan OF action and I believe that it
would be a good thing for the county.
II wiu not only increase the amount OF
money ia taxes to be paid into the
county treasury but it VIII make a more
equitable distribution of the burden of
taXation and it viii increase the total
valuation and therefore decrease the
AJAX levy. which is now five mills in the
city. The decrease viii effect the farm
srs and city people who own personal
property and real estate alike. 1t is
easily apparent. from looking over the
tax rolls. that the taxes as paid by
various corporations are far from being
what they should be Many hundreds
Of thousands of dollars worth OF prop
erty which should be reckoned in the
total valuation, is not there and the
total valuation is smaller by many
hundreds of thousands of dollars than
81 should be. proper return of the
value of all concerns and corporations
means that the moneyed people viii
come nearer pa wing their share OF the
taxes and the taxes Of the poorer peo-
pie. which are now in comparison gross
ly unjust. will be lessened. I cannot
say exactly what / shall do until the
count. attorney and the board of cOuu-
ty commissioners talk the matter over"
AT present the total of the tax roll in
Shawnee county is s16.2S0,000 About
$4,000 900 OF this is in the city of To-
peka and which is assessed at per
cent The total in the country is So
O00.00Q and the rate of taxation i'm the
various townships averages about 4 per
cent
AR Newman believes. and his idea
has been held by other county officers
for several years. that large amount
and that the burden is being borne by
the small property owners. If all per-
cons and concerns in Shawnee county
paid taxes on the amount they own
subject TO taxation or on the value OF
their business holdings, the total of the
tax roll would be greatly increased and
the rate of taxation would be lowered
The state law gives the county clerk
on the county commissioners the right
40 correct the returns made to the as
SCISSORS when il is shown that false
statement or no statement whatever
has been made. The county commission
ers have never done this and County
Clerk Newman now proposes to ma ke
the law active I'm Shawnee county.
The law prescribes the powers Of the
county clerk and the manner Of pro-
Cedure as follows
The tax laws o. Kansas Section TO-
fThe county clerk. or board Of county
comn1- -ss-Clers. If he OF they shall have
reason 10 believe that any person, com
pany or cOr0c ration has given to the
assessor e false statement, or has made
uo statement whatever of his personal
ur n-rty. moneys. credits. invest tments
iu bonds. stocks. Joint stock companies.
corporations or otherwise. and that the
assessor has not returned the fun
amount REQUIRED to be listed i'm his city
er township. or mas omitted any per-
sonal property moneys, credits. invest
rnenfs in bonds stocks joint stock com
gari s. corporations. or otherwise or
has underNalued the same, which are by
Jaw subject to taxation. shall proceed
at any time before the final settlement
with the county treasurer To correct the
returns of the assessor. and to charge
such person. company or corporation on
the tax roll with the proper amount Of
taxes. ro ENABLE him to do which. he is
hereby authorized and empowered to is
sue compulsory process. and require the
nttendauce OF any person or persons
whom he may suppose to have
knowledge Of The value of such articles
OF personal property. moneys. credits.
Investments in bonds. stocks joint stock
companies. corporations. or otherwise
c1d eNa anime such person or persons. on
oath or affirmation. in relation to the
statement or returns And it shall b.
the duty of the said clerk in all such
cases. 90 give at least five days notice
fo such person, company or corporation.
ny the sheriff leaving a COPY of the mo-
o. he ca i'm frr.
county. and if the person does not re-
Eile iu the county then by putting
copy Of said notice i'm the pOstoffice
properly directed to said person. and II
company or corporation by leaving a
copy of the notice at the nearest and
usual place of business of said company
or corporation, before entering the SAID
increased valuation on the tax roll. that
Tho said person, company or corpora
tiou may have an opportunity of show
Ing that the statement or return to the
assessor was correct. And if any person
VINO mas neen summoned to appear be-
fore the clerk for examination. as pro,
'l1ed IN this section. shall Willfully fail
u appear. or, appearing. shall refuse to
answer any question or questions pro-
lou1ufQ 10 rim. concerning the subject
or such examination such person shall
pe deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor. anG
upon conviction thereof before a court
OF competent Jurisdiction shall he fined
ln sum not exceeding fifty dollars. ana
10y imprisonment in the county jail not
exceeding ninety days or by both such
fine and imprisonment. And the county
clerk shall in all such cases file in mis-
office statement cf the facts or evil
dence on which he made the correction
but he shall in no case reduce the
amount returned hv the assessor
Sec H. In any investisat ton or ex-
animation. which The county clerk or
board of county commissioners are
authorized and directed to make. it shalt
be the duty Of the county attorney to