The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-01-27

| ""To ooihSu WIN eiCd1 tbduyI dlc
against these petitions to the legisla-
ture to levy five mill tax on us when
we already have a privilege to tax
ourselves to the amount of thirteen
mills. We are little afraid We would
not get our portion since the commits.
sloners shall do the distributing. II
there Is not a scheme in this. then
why not let the Clerk do it.
We Canville township fellows are
perfectly willing for Chanute to build
all the mcadam roads that they want
to pay for themselves, but, we are
most emphatically against being taxed
for Chanute's benefit only. II some
Of Chanute's successful OIL SPECTATORS
nave a swelled purse and also
swelled head, so much so that they do
not feel like travelling good graded
dirt roads, let them take the swelling
out Of their purse and build the roads
to their hearts desire. We farmers
want all q our roads graded up high,
then put on the Rural Advoca. drag.
These drags Will cost less than SIS and
are far better than any ten ton roller
that will nearly cost fortune, for IL
not only packs the dirt but also levels
1t off. L, for one, am much ia favor
of better roads along practical lines
and will favor as large road tax as
any of them but want it levied by the
township board so we will be sure il
will come back to our township, and
If we all take special interest In the
road work and in place OF avoiding all
the work we possibly can, do good
days work add donate a little where
we are espt cially interested, we will
not need burdeusome TAX levy, auu
lust now the farmers Of Neoshu cUuD-
Jy are not very prosperous. l, foI Que,
have worked as bard as ever The past
year, have not whitfield on single
store goods box, but strictly attended
to business, and was only able TO make
ends meet and nothing more, and |
have been told that that is the case
with nearly all Of them, so I think we
had better postpone that Legislative
tax for two years yet, but would like
TO hear from other farmers.
Respectfully,
Independent
The following IL the article referred
to in the above letter:
THAT NEW TAX LAW.
Surely there was no man more pleased over
| the great victory of Roosevelt and Hoch than |,
but | can not help but think that this unpar-
tain danger In it for the most corruption is
nearly always going oil where large party ma
| jorities exist, and we may wei! fear the work
Of grafters in the next Legislature There is
| such a desire for new tax law and we farmers
would better look out. l see special attack is
made on out township assessors. Light is made
over the fact that they come together in the
| spring nd fix the prices OF stock and get gen.
| eral understanding of how to assess everything.
Now is this laughable or unreasonableY For
| the sake of good common sense, tell me what
better plan could be adopted. surely the leg
lslature can not fix standard price on STOCK
for il changes nearly every year. Or, would
one specially appointed officer, likely a man
who never was farmer, have better idea OF
| what our stuff is worth than two or three dozen
township trustees, mostly farmers and elected
by the farmersG
Is it not reas enable that a man living in a
township is better able to assess every thing
| right and fair than a man living outsid-7 Then
| If one township is not up to the figure it ought
| to be. there are the county commissioners to
| see O that and raise 1t to the proper figure.
| think we have an extra good law as f.r as
| townships are concerned and all we need is
| heavy fine for the concealment of any kind OF
property of taxable value: If the law is dehci-
| rtr,ey aft ~ n rnFnnFatlOng
| let them amend it in that line. But l. for one,
see no use of creating new office in every
county. 1t would cost the state from SioOUO0
| to S2OO,OO0; it would only be good for political
| pull and to load little more tax on the farmer
who is already paying more than his portion.
would like to hear the opinions OF others
| who are more BILE to write than l. But before
I close want to say word in regard to the
| better roads movement" am heartily in ia
| vor of better roads, but not for taxing the far
| mer to death. We are not able yet 10 go to ex-
pensive roadbuilding, but with little change
! III the present law we could do much toward
| bettering roads. The first change that should
be made is that every land owner should be
compelled to keep the road free from all OBJ
struction along his land up to within three feet
| of the line, so that when the grader comes
along they will have a clear way and spend
| their time In grading IN place OF trimming
hedge aud chopping trees down. The present
| law in regard to hedges, to cut them down
| within four feet, is too severe ON post supply
| which we can not afford to destroy, and side
| roads. Then an uverseer ought to be allowed
| to use a team at So day, which would be an
| inducement for good working man to take
| the job The township board should also be
| empowered to remove any overseer not attehd-
ing to his business right and appoint one that
| is competent
Every township ought to have two good road
| graders aud slip work should be abandoned
cept around culverts and extra bad mud
holes as it is too costly and too Unsatisfactory
Four teams on agrader can grade mp more with
| "A uood prudar and do il far better than ten
teams could with slips. If all the land tax and
poll tax would be worked out ON a grader 1T
| would make quite good showing, especially
| if public sentiment would change and man
| would do good days work instead OF trying 70
| do as little a. possible.
We all like good roads and while earth roads
can never be very good in flood years, like the
| last two, still if they are graded up we'll they
| will be good enough for quite awhile yet; Bot
| | am afraid l am getting too lengthy and Will
! ,top for this time" Respectfully,
| - FARMER.