Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1905-01-12

L
to find an ultimate sepulcher In the base
ment of the state house or other recepta'
cles for useless matter. At the last cleo
ton an amendment to the constitution
office of state printer elective by the
| people-a measure that should have beer
| adopted years ago. There Is some doubt
as to the time when this amendment
the tenure Of Office Of the present state
| printer will expire at the expiration OF
the term for which he was elected. and
that upon you will devolve the election
good policy for the state to purchase
a printing plant and put a manager over
Il upon reasonable salary. think
the value Of such a plant could be saved
to the state In short time.
TAX REVISION.
Every session of the Kansas legislature
for many years has been called upon
to wrestle with propositions for the re-
vision of our system of assessment and
taxation. Its imperfcctions are univer-
sally recognized and It's inadequacy to
the needs OF the state generally conceded.
Four years ago the legislature provided
for the appointment of a commission to
be composed of two members of the
senate and three members OF the house
who. together with the state treasurer.
should undertake the task of the revi-
sion of these laws and to formulate bills
for submission to the next legislature.
The commission under this law met on
ject OF taxation. They secured the tax
laws of many. II n0 most OF the states.
and they attended In body national
tax conference which met at Buffalo. N.
full study of the laws of other states and
of the conditions in this state. this COM
mission formulated a bill covering all
the subjects enumerated In the act which
ted to the last legislature and exhaus--
lively discussed. but finally failed of
passage. so that the present legislature
faces the same conditions faced by its
predecessors. Like Banquo's ghost this
question will not down. The laws we
now have sadly need revision. The inc
qualities under the present system N the
various sections OF the state. even In
counties adjacent to each other a:,n and
are fragrant and ridiculous. while the
whole stare suffers in reputation abroad
as well as In practical effect at home
by this imperfect system OF assessment
and taxation. For instance. while the
law as II now exists provides for the
assessment of property at its full value.
the entire assessed value of all the per-
sonal property In the state only aggre-
gates $G6,CO0,C90 while the bank commits
sioner reports over sl00O0O.Oc0 in the
banks alone, and the secretary of the
state board of agriculture reports the
value of farm products and live stock for
the year at $351 ,30l goo, and there are
many other forms of personal property
not included In these figures. Not only
does this assessment make our aSgre-
gate statistics look Insignificant abroad.
but II makes our rate of taxation appear
so enormously high as to brighten home
seekers and to deter investments by those
unfamiliar with the facts. l think II no
exaggeration To say that the real value
of the personal property of the state is
n0GaGGn1
Such statistics do the state great injus-
ticc abroad and give the outside world
no proper conception OF financial condi-
tons here. In addition to these absurd
valuations, purposely made by the va
rious assessors which belittle the state.
many millions of dollars worth of per-
sonal property escapes taxation alto
gether. II this legislature can devise
two results namely: The honest listing
of personal property for the purpose of
taxation, and the taxation of II at its
real value when listed. 1t will have done
in vain TO do. and which will be of in
benefit to the state. But while
doing this, one danger should be averted
the danger Of extravaEant expendi-
lures which this largely increased vol
ume of taxable property would make pos
sible unless the power of levy Is re-
duced in proportion TO the increase of
values. for public officers. usu-
money the law allows them TO levy In
the form OF taxes. think few simple
changes In the present laws will greatly
improve them along the lines discussed
attempt to do these things than to imi-
tate the last legislature In an attempt |
to pass so voluminous law as was sub |
mitted to that body. For instance, ! |
present law fixing n severe penalty for |
failure to assess at full value should be |
adopted. / have given the subject much |
thought and believe that county as |
would be great Improvement over the |
present method. Then. provision should |
be made for the taxation of franchises. |
car line. telegraph. telephone. |
pipe line. express and other similar COM
panies, at their full value. l think these |
improvements can be more easily agreed
upon than can a more elaborate attempt |
at legislation along these lines, and,after |
all. they affect the vital defects In our |
present system.
GAS AND OIL.
The marvellous development of the gas
and oil resources of the state. placing /
his commonwealth in the front rank OF |
Kind of wealth. imposed a duty upon
his Legislature which no former legisla-
.ure has had to meet. Monopoly threat
ms to rob our people of the chief bene-
)rlate the profits to itself. How to save
his wealth to the state and its people
md secure them It's greatest benefits Is
serious problem. One phase of the sub
ect Is of vast immediate Importance, and
hat is. how to save the gas for the de-
'elopment of manufactures on Kansas
oil. Schemes are already on foot to pipe
out of the state for the development
# manufacturing industries elsewhere.
rhc desire to keep this wealth at home
o furnish fuel for manufactures that
hall pay taxes into our own treasures,
live employment to our own laborers
ind enrich our own commonwealth Is a
latural and laudable one, and II this
legislature can find some legal method
o preserve this great source of wealth
o the people of this state. II will have
a great duty and will receive
rom the people the plaudit. we'll done.
Whatever may be the limitations Of pow
r of the state in reference to piping
he gas beyond its borders, one duty
learly within its power demands imme-
late performance. Vast amounts of gas
re constantly going to waste In all the
as fields Of the state-a condition which
indiana and other states have learned,