The Topeka state journal., 1905-03-07
ONE MORE KILLED.
New Taxation Bill Goes to Its
Last Sleep.
The House viii Agree to No
Makeshift.
1T WAS VERY SHORT.
But the Members Refused to
Take Amy Chances.
Judge Clark Gets a Cane From
the Minority.
TT WAS VERY SHORT.


i The bill was a brand new one, intro
duced as soon as the house convened by
/ c. B. Kirkland of Saline. 1t was put on
second and third reading and at once
came up for discussion. It was the
last grand rally on the part of the house
| to redeem the taxation plank in the
platform, and it failed disastrously.
The bill had one virtue: it was very
short, and merely provided a few
amendments to the existing law.
After the bill had been introduced by
Mr.. Kirkland and rushed to third read
4 ing, Mr. Clark explained the bill. He
said that the only changes in the pres
ent law made in the bill are that asses
sors must verify all property state
ments, and that the section providing
that the assessors of each county shall
agree on basis of valuation be stricken
out.
L do verify believe said Judge
Clark, that this is all the amendment
we need to our tax law, at least for
the next two years.
Mr.. Adams of Sedgwic1 said he had
examined the new bill and believed that
they will make the present tax laws eff
1 fective
j Mr.. Leland said: This is the same
old story: the farmers will pay four or
I uNe tunes WndC lnSy 90 nOWs ana Lne
railroads will pay what they do now"
4 Il believe we can trust our officials
said Judge Clark, ito raise the value of
railroad property to what it is actually
worth
Mr.. Pringle said: What the gentle
man from Clark says is true in theory
4 but I doubt whether it will work in
practice doubt whether any board
will be found which will multiply rail-
road valuations by ten
Mr.. White of Ottawa thought that it
would be unsafe to tamper with the
present law until the state can put the
1 whole matter of taxation under one
board
Mr.. Hackney thought that the legis-
lature should not try to pass new law
in the closing days of the session. Mr.
Allaman said the proposition is too
dangerous unless the tax levy limits
are cut down. Mr.. Brady said he
would like tax bill, but could not
vote for the proposed bill. Mr.. Bird
said the gentleman from Douglas
was right about it,. r-as..
Mr.. Mead of Mitchell. chairman Of
the committee on assessment and tax
alton submitted an amendment to the
bill providing for a blanket. reduction
in all levies to one third the present
rate.
Mr. Robinett moved that the en-
acting clause be stricken out.
Mr.. Bird said that Mead's amend
ment would be unconstitutional
Robinett's motion was defeated.
SIead's proposed amendments to the
bill were as follows:
Add the following to section 1. ''In
any existing statute or law fixing the
rate of levieS of taxes for any purpose,
the rate hereafter to be levied shall
be only one-third of that provided in
any such statute or law. Provided,
where such proportion would involve
a fraction of a mill, the whole mill
next above the fraction shall be taken"
Amend section to read as follows: /
Sections 1911 and 1885 of the Cen
4of44 Of low
rates in any existing statute or law
in so far in conflict herewith, is
hereby repealed
These amendments were passed by
The house then killed the whole
proposition
Where Did Stubbs Come In?
Judge Ansel r. Clark, speaker pro
tenn of the house, was presented by
the minority members of the house on
Monday afternoon with handsome
gold headed cane. The cane was en-
graved Judge A. r. Clark, from the
minority members, 1905"
A resolution was also presented by
the minority and adopted thanking !
Judge Clark and Speaker Stubs for
their fairness to the minority P. W. |
Goebel of Miami introduced the reso- |
luton which was as follows:
Whereas, The Hon. w. r. Stubbs, as |
speaker, and the Hon. A. r. Clark, as
speaker pro tenn of the house of repre- |
presided over the deliberations of this |
session with skill. inpartiality and |
fidelity; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the house of repre- |
sentatives extend to them it's thanks for |
the pleasing and satisfactory manner in
which they have discharged the duties |
deVolving upon them, and for their uni |
formly courteous treatment of the /
members of this house."
Mr.. Goebel said in speaking of the |
resolution: Such resolutions are usual I
ed this resolution at the request of mi 4
nority. The presiding officers have been |
uniformly fair and we sincerely appre- |
ciate it. It means much, that we can |
come here and apply business rules to |
our work instead of partisan feeling. To |
Judge Clark the minority wants to ex-
tend its special thanks"
MIR. Goebel moved the adoption of the |
resolution, Mr.. Lupfer seconded it, and |
it passed unanimously.
Mr.. Al1aman of Atchison, another of |
the Democratic members, paid an elo-
quent tribute to Judge Clark. In clos
ing he presented to Judge Clark the /
gold headed cane.
Judge clark said: This is entirely
unlocked for, but 1 appreciate the words |
which have been spoken never
thought less of a man because he voted |
against me. l have been a Republican
all my life. I cast my first vote in the |
army for Abraham Lincoln. Yet I do /
not believe that there is a Democrat in
the state who can say that I ever
abused him or treated him unfairly.
shall cherish this gift as long as I live.
cannot express to you my feelings"
Mr.. Lupfer then introduced a resolu-
ton authorizing the sergeat-at-arms to
present to each doorkeeper and assist
ton authorizing the sergeant to
This resolution carried
Salary Bill Passed.
BY a vote of n to p the house concur
red in the report of the conference com
mittee on the salary bill This is the bill /
fixing the salaries or all the state Officers
whose salaries have not heretofore been
nxed by law There was some objection