The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-20
PEOPLE EPAY BILLS
Their Taxes Increased = The
Railroads Decreased.
Facts About Action of State
Board of Equalization.
OVER S22,SOO,OOO MORE
That Is What Increase In Valu-
alton Amounts To.
Boosts the State Taxes Almost
$5OO,OOO.
LESS FOR RAILROADS.
They Pay on Nearly Half Million
Less Valuation.
Mr.. kelly's Board Saved Them
$1S2,S19.IS.
Boosts the State Taxes Almost
$5OO,OOO.
LESS FOR RAILROADS.
They Pay on Nearly Half Million
Less Valuation.
Mr.. keIly's Board Saved Them
$1S2,S19.1S.

State taxes in Kansas were raised
last year. Who raised them?
In the first place, taxes are levied to
meet the appropriations made by the
legislature. The last legislature was
Republican in both branches, but one
body, the senate, was controlled by one
faction and the other body, the house,
by the other. The records show that
every appropriation bill was passed by
unanimous practically a unani-
nous vote in each house. That is to
say, both factions of the Republican
party are responsible, equally and alike
for the appropriations. and the Demo-
Gratis and Populists concurred by their
votes.
But the increase in taxes last year
was peculiar in that it was made by
raise. in the assessment of property.
That is to say, the state board of equal
ization increased the taxable valuation
of the counties as returned by the
clerks. The state board says this raise
was necessary. Other state officers say
it was not. The future will prove
which is right. But the taxpayers in
every county are interested in knowing
if this raise was made equitably and
fairly, without discriminating one
county against another or one class of
property against another.
4 E WHO MADE THE INCREASE?
The state board of equalization is
composed of State Treasurer Kelly
! Wells. This board took the assessment
of the property in the counties as Te-
! ported by the county clerks and raised
it about per cent making a net in
crease of $22,S53, OBS, and increasing the
| total state tax to be paid into the
state treasury from 81, ,997, 1854 in 1902 to
| 81, ,480, 495 in 1903, an increase of $4S3, ,141,
or Of 24.1 per cent
Why was this increase? It brought
! into the state treasury, and under the
! control of the state treasurer, nearly
a half million dollars. Remember, in
4 this connection, that bill to provide
! that the state should receive interest on
bank balances, and a bill to allow the
county treasurers to retain state taxes
at home, where counties get the inter-
est, until needed by the state, were
| passed by the house, and were defeated
| in the senate by the efforts of Treasurer
Kelly in the branch which was con
J trolled by his faction.
But if this tax were fairly and equit-
ably distributed over the state there
might be no serious objection in the
long run. For, if the money were not
needed next year it would still be in
the treasury, and the only loss would
be the difference between the money
being i'll the county treasures or the
|
credit Of the state treasurer in the
banks. And there, might also be less
criticism if all parts of the state and
all classes of property were dealt with
eQuitably.
HOW THE RAILROADS FARED.
But look at this: The valuation of
the railroad property was made by the
board of railroad assessors, composed
of the three members of the board of
equalization and of the lieutenant gov
ernor and the attorney general. The
property of the farmer, the merchant
and the working man was raised in
assessment by the board of equaliZa-
| ton. The assessed value of the rail-
road property in the state was actual
ly decreased by the board of railroad
assessors Both boards were made up
of state officers who belonged to the
faction with Treasurer Kelly and the
senate. The comparative statement of
| the assessment of railroad property in
the state for 1902 and 1908 as shown
by the printed reports of the auditor
of state, taking into consideration the
is as follows:
Total railroad assessment,
1903, including Pullman
cars ....-..- :.............s s5s. .4s2. .Os7. 90
Deduct new railroad prop
erty and additional Pull
man cars reported in 1903
over that of 1902. 2........ 8S7, 7,131. 81
Total railroad assessment
1902, including Pullman
cars 49,. ............$ $50, ,o45. .O5s. 90
s5s, ,6O4, ,s55. SO
Reduction 1908 over 1902. $40, ,os7.8 81
Why was the assessment of railroad
property decreased?
That is question between the tax
payer and the board of railroad asses
Sors.
Why was the assessment of other
property increased while the assess
ment of railroad property was actually
/ decreased?