The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-24
Two Administration Bills Ap-
pear in the House.
One Provides for Investigation
of State Departments.
TO PROTECT THE FUND
Mr.. Stubbs' Measure Is a Plan
for 1t.
Mead Assessment Bill, the New
Tax Measure.

Two of the big administration
measures were introduced in the house
of representatives. today One was the
bill appropriating $4,000 for an in
vestigation of the state departments;
the other was the assessment and tax
alton law. The first was introduced by
the ways and means committee as a
substitute for the Hackney bill; the
other was introduced by A G. Mead,
chairman of the committee on assess
ment and taxation.
| Another strictly administration
measure, the Stubbs bill for the pro-
lection of the state school fund, was
favorably reported from the commit
tee this morning, ana will come up
Wednesday under general orders.
It is evident that the administration
machine is getting down to rocks now,
and the real business of the session is
about to commence.
In the case of the $4,000 investi-
cation bill, an emergency was declared
and it was given its second reading. 1t
will likely go to the committee of the
whole for consideration, as the ways
and means committee has already
given it careful consideration.
The following is the full text of the
proposed law governing the investiga-
ton of the state departments:
| BE it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Kansas:
Section 1. That the governor is
hereby authorized and empowered to
cause a full investigation to be made
of the state departments.
Sec. 2. That for the purpose of
making such investigation he is au-
thorized to employ such competent ac-
countant or accountants as he maydeem
necessary therefor, and to pay them
reasonable compensation for their
| sstac 2 That ,,,,r,, 44,a ,,,,o;,, +,,,e, >
of such accountant or accountants by
the governor they shall proceed to ex-
anime such departments in the order
prescribed by the governor in writing,
and shall make a report to the gov
ernor showing the result of such IN
vestigation, and deliver the same to
him in person.
s'Sec 4 It shall be, the duty of any
and all officers, their assistants and
clerks to render to the accountants
herein provided for every assistance
and facility in the examination of their
/ respective departments. Any officer,
assistant, clerk or employe who shall
obstruct or interfere with such ac-
countant in the discharge of his duty
shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction shall be
fined in a sum not less than one hun
dred ($100) dollars nor more than five
hundred ($500) dollars.
Sec. 5. If the books and records of
| any department shall be obscure or
shall fail to show, in detail, any trans
action the accountant may submit to
the head Of such department. his as
sistant, or any clerk thereof, written
interrogatories concerning the same,
and the person to whom such interro-
gatories are submitted snail answer the
same in writing and sign and verify the
same by oath and deliver same 20 the
said accountant who shall return such
statement or statements with his re-
port.
''Sec. 6. If any person to whom in
terrogatories are submitted shall fail,
neglect or refuse to answer them, or
any of them, or shall answer the same,
or any of them, falsely, or shall refuse
to sign or verify the same, he shall be
on conviction thereof shall be fined in
a sum of not less than one hundred
| ($100.00) dollars nor more than five
hundred ($500.00) dollars.
! Sec. Z. An accountant whose report
shall show that any officer, assistant
or clerk has been guilty of any offense
against the laws of the state of Kan
saS shall, If so requested by either the
! governor or attorney general, make an
affidavit or complaint against such
! officer. assistant or clerk charging him
with such offense.
Sec. 8. The governor is hereby au-
thorized and empowered to employ a
competent attorney, or attorneys, to as
| competent attorney, or attorneys, to as
under the provisions of this act, and to
pay them reasonable compensation out
of the fund hereinafter provided.
Sec. 9. For the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this act the sum
of ten thousand dollars, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby
appropriated out of any fund in the
state treasury not otherwise appro
priated, to be placed at the disposal of
the governor to pay any legitimate ex-
pense incurred under the provisions Of
/ this act and the auditor of state is
1 hereby authorized and directed to draw
his warrant on the treasurer of the
state for such amounts to be specified
in proper vouchers duly approved by
| the governor.
"Sec 10. This act shall take effect
and be in force from and after its pub
ication in the official state paper
FuU Value Assessment.
| The central idea of the Mead assess
nent and taxation bill is to obtain an
assessment of property at its full cash
value The proposed law provides that
in 1905 a county assessor shall be elect
ed in every county of the state to hold
office for two years. Inc township truS-
tees and city assessors are all made his
denIties. The feature of the Mead plan
is a long and elaborate affidavit which
the assessor must sign after completing
his assessment to the erect that he has
put everything in at It's full cash value,
~ Far az nossible so to do. There is a
sevara Tenalty for failure or refusal to
r1alra ocoI,rate returns. The bill pro-
viGe~ thaf the assessor shall get IS a
TO-, ,a4, in couuties having over 40 600
population with unit OF lzO days on
his services; that he shall get 81 in
1.,, @Ses Lii, from 20,O 900 to 4c, ,000 with
loo dav limit and So in counties of
less than 2O,O00 with 80 day limit The
nav For tle deputy assessors is SO.
= Haskins. OF johnson, has intro
q r,ate for the Mead bill It gives
| oAit.l--S tA------,eI1ir assessor the right to