The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-15
SHAWNEE HIGH.
Board of Equalization Asked to
Reduce Taxes.
Assessed at Higher Rate Than
Many Other Counties.
OTHER COMPLAINTS.
Sedgwick, Mcpherson and Ford
Want Reductions, Also.
Anderson and Franklin Want
No Changes Made.
OTHER COMPLAINTS.

shawnee county has applied TO the
state board of equalization at its ses-
sion this morning for reduction of
20 per cent. in the value of Shawnee
county personal and real property as
returned by the assessors. The appli>
cation was made by County Clerk New
man. The session of the board was
Wells and Secretary of State Burrow,
State Treasurer Kelly and State Au~
ditor Wells, who compose the board,
We're all present.
the request of Shawnee county, it
means a reduction of $3,156,S16 in the
assessed valuation of the county, which
will all have to be made up by increas-
ing the assessment of other counties.
The present assessment gives Shawnee
county the following valuation, exclu-
sive OF railroad property:
Personal property -.........$ 1881, 1850
Real estate, farms ..-....... 3,941, $500
Real estate, town lots..... $500, 759. 90
Total Observation-Disclosures SIS, 6S4, 0S9 90,
If the 20 per cent reduction is grant
ed, this total viii be cut down to $12,-
527-272 90.
No plea has been made to the board
on behalf of Shawnee county for re-
duction because of the damage done by
the flood County Clerk Newman says
that this will not be urged as a reason
for a reduction
I'VE ask a reduction in our assess
ment,'' said Mr. Newman today, be
cause we have been assessed at a high
er rate on a great many things than
have the other counties in the state.
Our county's totaJ assessment is higher
than any other county in the state, and
we believe that the board will be in
clined to consider our application for a
reduction as fair and right"
Including its railroad assessment, the
total valuation of Shawnee county is
over ST, 100000, but as the board is not
likely to change any of the railroad as
sessments. it is not considered in the
above total valuation.
In 1902, the board of equalization
granted Shawnee county a decrease of
103z per cent on its assessment as re-
turned by the assessors. There were
more counties raised than were lowered
last year. Only eight or ten counties
in the state had their assessment ap-
proved exactly as returned by the coun-
ty clerks.
SEEGWICK WANTS DECREASE.
Serf.swick county was represented at
the meeting this morning by County
Clerk John Chane. He applied for re-
duction of Is per cent in the assessment
of his county. The board may not
grant such a decrease, it seems that
Sedgwick is not assessed very high at
present. Exclusive of railroads, it's as
sessed valuation is only $9,145,026.
County Clerk Harms, of Mcpherson
county, which asks for a reduction of
"a per cent. in it's assessed valuation
Exclusive of railroads, Mcpherson was
assessed at about IS, 600, 900, and the peo-
pie out there think that is very much
too high.
The county clerk of Ford county was
also present, and made an objection to
the figure at which his county was put
down. He said it was higher than sur
rounding counties, and asked that it
be reduced to correspond with those
counties
Senator Crum, representing Anderson
county, asked the board to allow his
county to remain the same, and not in
crease its assessment any He thinks
things are about as they should be in
Anderson county.
VIM Martin and E. NJ. Sheldon, rep
resenting Franklin county, were of the
same opinion about their county, and
asked that things be allowed to remain
as they now are assessed.
RAILROADS SEEM SATISFIED.
So far none of the Kansas railroads
have apDlied to the board of equaliza>
ton for a change in their assessment
They will apparently stand hitched''
to their assessment as determined by
the board of railway assessors.
1t is not customary for the board to
make any changes in the railway as
sessment as determined by the other
board, and there will probably be none
made this year. None were made by
the board in 1902.
Besides hearing the complaints of
county clerks, nothing was done by the
board today. Nothing can be done in
regard to determining the average
valuation for cattle, horses and other
personal property until all the counties
have sent in their reports There are
still three counties missing.
Inventor Garrett Is Dead