The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-04
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Taxation Committee Agrees
Commission Shall Be Small.
Agree That These Shall Be
Named by Governor.
FUSIONISTS RELENT
Decide to Take a Hand in Tax
Reform Measure.
Agreed That Libraries Shall
Still Be Exempt.

The joint taxation committee held its
first meeting last night to talk over the
tax bill The fusionists did not stand
by their caucus action to refuse to
serve on the committee. They realized
that it wouldn't be good politics to re-
fuse to take advantage of what oppor-
tunities the Republicans allowed them.
Besides Bale Waggener. Senator Ga
briel and Representatives Bowman and
Goebel refused to be bound by the eau
Gus action as soon as they heard of it.
Consequently all the fusionists except
Senator Householder who had been ap-
pointed on the committee decided to
serve. Senator Householder said the
Republicans had not allowed the mi
nority any representation on the tax
commission and he didn't propose to try
to patch up the commissions work.
Two propositions were settled by the
committee last night. First, that there
should be a tax commission of two
members, and, second. that they should
be appointed by the governor. There
was "A sharp division over the latter
proposition It was a question as to
whether the commissioners should be
named by the governor or elected by the
executive council Senator Smith favor
ed appointment by the governor on the
ground that the success of the plan de-
pended largely upon the selection of the
tax commissioners, and as the success
or failure of the plan would be credited
or charged to the administra ton putting
it in force, he thought the governor
would be more likely TO select the right
men for the place than the executive
council. Senator Peterson favored cleo
ton by the executive council because
he thought the judgment of six men
would be better than that or one. When
a vote was taken on the proposition it
stood II for appointment by the COVER
nor to 10 against it.
Then a discussion arose over whether
or not notes and mortgages shall be
taxed. Representative Waggener was in
favor of exemptinS them, on the ground
that by taxing them the rate of interest
would be raised Just that much. thereby
making the debtor pay IKE tax Indirect
ly. and such tzxafe would also ia v.
a tendency to drive capital from the
state He said that at present only II
per cent Of such property is taxed, and
that the trust companies Of Kansas
City st. Joseph and st. Louis have
already devised scheme to enable
money 4oaners to dodge this point II
they wish to do so. Senator Smith IN
sisted that notes and mortgages should
be taxed. and final decision on the sub j.
ject was laid over for future considera
ton.
There was also a difference of opinion
about exemptions, and the only thing
that was agreed to was that all Libraries
should be exempted. as at present.
Waggener suggested an exemption OF
$500 worth of furniture. Smith wanted
to make it $500 worth of household
goods, a thousand bushels of wheat and
200 bushels Of corn. Bowman suggested
that six months provisions for the fam
ily be added. This question was also
laid over.
Another discussion was over the Sc
lection of county and deputy assessors.
One of the strong objections to the tax
commissions bill was the provision
that an assessor should not assess the
township or ward in which he lives.
Smith defended this sort of a proposi
tion on the ground that is assessors
were selected as at present and given
authority to assess the property of the
voters who elect them, some of them
will pay off political debts by light as
sessments. Representative Peck sug-
gested that the county clerks be made
the county assessors and that the town
ship trustees and city assessors be
made the deputy assessors The coun-
ty clerk idea was defeated. but the
other was agreed to and Peck was in
structed TO formulate an amendment
to that effect
The committee will have frequent
meetings until it has threshed over the
entire taxation question and has form
ulated a new bill.