The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-16
KELLY'S SECRET.
His State Board Of Equalization
Did Some Trimming.
Auditors Report Shows the
Tax Changes Made.
L
Railroads Not Molested, but the
Land Increased.
Douglas Also Forced Board to
Make Concessions.
THAT L TROUBLE

Make Concessions.
It pays to kick.
People who followed the discussion
concerning the state tax controversy
last summer will remember that it was
started by Riley county making trouble
because its assessed valuation was
raised by the state board of equaliza-
tor 81, 1855, 1876, making it pay a total
state tax of $31,233. The increase was
chiefly on real estate-on the farms of
the county-and that is VIA made the
trouble. The railroad assessment was
actually reduced nearly 10000. The
railroad assessment in 1902 was fixed
at S66g.38S. while in 1903 it was fixed at
$649, 512.
The valuation of land in Riley coun-
ty was returned by the county clerk to
the state board of equalization at 1886
an acre and it was raised by the board
to $6-16 an acre. At the same time the
valuation of land in Clay county, adj
joining Riley, was returned at $4.65
an acre. and the board left it at that
figure. When the Riley county people
found it out they made a complaint.
That the agitation was effective is
shOwn by the fact that the state audit
or's report for the fiscal year ending
July 1, 1903, as finally made up, shows
that the total raise on Riley county
property was $717,0 43, instead Of $780,
1876, as originally fixed by the board.
The state tax for Riley county is ac-
cordingly reduced from $31, 233 to $685.
365.
According to the statement of the
work of the board of equalization as
given out last summer after the board
had completed it's equalization, there
were six other counties besides Riley
in which the assessment had been in
creased over a million dollars. They
were as follows:
Atchison 1900 81, $50, 43S
Convey -- 1'o9o'edc
Douglas concurrence. --..-.-.-.- LODI $50
MarshaH --..-..-- .--...--.--.- 1,loo,5oo
Nemah& $4,000 -------...-..- 1,5oo,zot
Saline ......... .......-......-- 1,353,025
In addition to making a change in
Riley county, the board has apparently
made a still greater one in Douglas
Just why is not known. In the audi
tors report as finally made up the IN
crease for Douglas county is only $780,
sS6, instead of 1851, 696, as originally
fixed by the board last summer, and
the state taxes for Douglas county will
be $37. 649 instead of $42,0S0.
These and some other minor changes
which appear to have been in the
equalization after the final adjourn
ment of the board last summer, show
that the gross raise in valuation over
the state was $28, 830,07S instead of $2e,-
81, 299, as given out by the board soon
after it's adjournment. The gross de-
crease remains the same, $5,977, 040. This
leaves the net increase $22, ,O38.
TIC prove his side of the old state tax
controversy, State Treasurer Kelly has
given out a statement that $664,57O of
the 1904 tax money has already been
used up in paying warrants for 1908
which were not paid at the time for
want of funds.
This same thing happens every year.
It is not stated, however, that this mon
ey was used in meeting the approprla-
tons made by the last legislature for
the fiscal year ending june so, 1904, the
purpose for which it was levied. The
big end of the appropriations for the
current fiscal year have already been
paid. Seven of the twelve months in
this fiscal year are already passed and
the current expenses for them have been
met. In addition a number of big ap-
preparations. such as 800. 900 for the new
Parsons asylum, n $4,000 for new
land for the Topeka asylum, have al
ready been used.
The total appropriations for the cur
rent fiscal year were approximately 81
400. 600. Without counting the big extra
appropriations for improvements at the
various institutions which nave already
been used, or rather, counting them as
current expenses, seven-twelfths of the
appropriations for the fiscal year 1904
have already been paid, or $1,400, 900,
leaving one million still to be met.
The state board Of equalization raised
the assessed valuation nj the state tax
levy to raise approximately the amount
| appropriated for this fiscal year, ST.
400, 900. And of that amount only 1864, $40
has been used. leaving approximately
! 81, 735, 600 to pay the balance, 81, 600, 600.
Therefore at the close of fiscal year on
June 80 next there should be. from the
state taxes alone, a balance OF about
$735, 600 from the current tax levy.
~ AIls4so~ 70 this 4Inr0 will hn fh0
fees which have been received by the
state from various sources, which were
last year, according to the state audi
tors report, $347, 370.96, and also the I'M
expended appropriations amounting on
June 80. last, to S319, 1876. x. If the fees
and u~nexpended balance are about the
same for this year., there should be
either balance in the state treasury, or
due on state taxes, of approximately
81, 400, 900 on June 80 next.
Ed Hackney, of Wellington, one of
the prominent Democrats of the Sew
nth district, has sprung a guberna-
toriaI boom for Judge D.. NJ. Dale of
Wichita, for the Democratic nomina-
ton in case Senator Harris will not
run. Hackney also says the Democrats
in the Seventh district will get togeth-
er with the Populists on S. P. Gephart
of Pratt for congressman.
The wholesale grocers of Kansas
have endorsed the candidacy of ]. c.
George of Hutchinson for railroad COM
missioner. They held a business ses-
SIGN at The Copeland hotel Monday af-
ternoon, at which thirty of the thirty
six wholesale grocery firms in the state
were represented, and incidentally they
passed the following resolution with
reference to Mr.. Georges candidacy:
Resolved, That the wholesale gro
GERS of the state of Kansas, having i'm
plicit confidence in the ability and in
tegrity of J. C. George of Hutchinson,
and believing that he will treat boil
shippers and railroads with absolute
fairness. do hereby endorse his candi-
dacy for the office of railroad commits
sioner. and promise him our united
SrpDorf