The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-10
SMITH TO RESCUE.
Senator Takes Pains to Protect
State Treasury Graft.
Strikes Francis Amendment Out
on Own Responsibility.
KINKEL'S HOT SHOT.
Charges That Improper or Cor
rupt Methods Are Used.
Interest on State Money Il
Worth SIS, 900 a Year.
House Refuses to Give This t
State Treasurer.
KINKEL'S HOT SHOT.

..r+ is evident that naercenary and I'M
nroDer motives enanate from some
sta te office in this state house and con
troll members of this legislature to such
an extent that a meritorious tax meas
,1re cannot be passed. 1t is an outrage
upon the. people of this state that sueh
a. state of affairs can prevail
Such is the declaration made by KEEP
resentative Kinkel of Reno on the floor
of the house today when the Francis I
amendment to the tax bill which Would /
interfere with the state treasurer re-
ceiving interest on state funds came up
incidentally in the consideration OF the
tax committees report
Accompanying this statement OF Mr.
Kinkel. Balie Waggener charged that
Senator Fred Dumont Smith had strick-
en- the Francis amendment out Of the
original tax committees report without
consulting Peck or Waggener, the other
two members of the subcommittee
which got the amendments into shape
when 1 asked him why he did it,
continued Mr.. Waggener, Senator
smith said that the senate would not
pass it with that Francis amendment
in it. and that he for one was opposed
to interfering with the perqulsltes Oh the
state treasurer"
The house sent the tax bill back to the
conference committee with instructions
to insist that the Francis amendment
be included IN 1t, and also 10 Ailsei 80, a
provision for a , per cent tax on the
gross receipts of all stock yafd com
Danies Incorporated in any other STATE
than Kansas This last amendment
was proposed by Mr.. Waggener-
The trouble began almost irnmediately
after Representative Nation, on behalI
of the conference committee on tne lax
9 bill submitted the report OF the com
, 2 ], A 8
/ mort was read O'Donneu of ELLSWORTH
I Jumped up and asked Nation What nau
become of the Francis aulendlneilt.
which provided that state taxes shoulo
= he left in county treasures until called
for monthly by the state auditor, there
! by allowing counties to draw interest,"
9 on these funds in their county treas
Mr.. Nation explained that the senate
had refused to pass the Francls amend
ment when it originally passed the sen
ate. but that the conference comm is. tts'
had insisted upon the amendment Solils
in but the senate members had refused
Mr. Waggener said he wished to cor
rect a statement made by MI NatloH-
."The Joint tax committee of thirty
five unanimously adopted the fIancl
amendments as I remember, but Sena
tor Smith in making up the amend
ie ments left it out without the knoWledg
Is of Mr. Peck or myself. and the senat
ne never got chance to act on 1t.
is Then Mr. Kinkel of Reno took th
MT floor. This is some unwritten histor
Id in connection with this tax blll ques
RS ton" he began. THE house InemDel
of the conference committee insisted 2
rv incorporating the Francis amendment
,le the bill, but some Of the senate mehlpel
- vieorouslv opposed it, and one Of thel
1ecrnae so enraged that he put on 2
hat and coat to leave. but we nnal
oi' persuaded him to stay and we MAJ
three propositions to the senate, one
TO- which was the Francis amendment &
To
for would concede one point. We hoped lh'
ME would concede the Francis amendlnei
his but they would not -
ted 1T is evident. then conJnueu "
nst TSinlxeI that mercenary and improp
motives emanate from some state otl
in this state house and contfol scr
x members of this legislature TO ~ selch
~ extent that a merltorlOuS TAX iheaSu
cannot be passed. 1t is an outrage up
the people of this state that Such d s1e
m of affairs can prevail
'A Mr.. BevingtOn of Jewell had me u
prepared in writing which he Submit
# provided to send the tax bill ba
to the conference committee with
structions to insist on the incorDorat
en- of the Francis amendment IN the Q
nal Jones of Cove raised the point that
oon morton was out of order but Barker
the Douglas said it was all right and spec
con er Pringle held the motion IN oIelel-
Adams of Butler said the flah
Ole amendment meant $500 a year in INFER
for to the credit of Butler county A'1a
I is Of SedeVvicx said it meant 5000 a y
yes gain to his county. Linton SAID II NO
pills be worth $500 a wear to Smltn coui
vas and Revington said it would be W0
fort from s1O0 to $1,4OO a year 10 every co
,on- ty in the state
Mead of Mitchell said it looked
ow- him as though there had been politics
and the tax bill at every turn and II II "
Mo to he Dassed Just for political ends
was in favor of killing
Hill of Russell, member OF the
time the senate members seemed re-
to concede the Francis amendln
'lslC but after they consulted with otI
thew s-ieged back and refused to TT
dent of conceding 1t.
baS A number of speeches were made
+ical the subject and then MI Wag8e
II got the floor. He read cover
and- PaWev' recommendation in his mess
> in that some sort of a law De passed
nol 1,lating in a better manner the b
Dard ness of the state treasury and tneh
un tinued:
t for ''The joint tax committee Of S5 VI
tyS-a ivaouslv adopted the Francis ana'
re in ment but Senator Smith made
thest sonal report to the senate leaving
ougn amendment out. When / asked
isory why he did it, he said the senate "
liking not pass the bill with that proVlslo
rot to it. and that he for one was not IN T
3lined of interfering with the perqulslte
-ker's the state treasurer
Jen- That is the most righteous par
this tax bill. continued Mr. Y
gener. and if it is to be passed 1t
certainly ought to have that prov
nera- in it. The state treasurer IS q pefs
39. friend of mine and I stand read
chi vote to raise his salary If TINS am
matt. ment is adopted, but no man y