The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-08
PAY TOO MUCH.
Private Car Line Companies
Make This Claim.
Accordingly Ask to Have Kansas
Taxes Reduced.
THEY MAY FIGHT II.
Threaten Not to Pay at All If It
Isn't Done.
Board of Railway Assessors in
Session Today.
THEY MAY FIGHT IT.

Four of the biggest private ear line
companies in the country sent their rep
resentatives before the state board of
railroad assessors today for the purpose
of asking the board for a reduction in
the assessed valuation of their property
in the state of Kansas.
The representatives of the private car
lines think that their last year assess
ment was about one-third too high. It
was on basis last year of $500 per car;
they want it reduced to $500.
If the board of assessors declines to
make the reduction. the private car
lines may refuse to pay any tax at all.
The present system of assessment has
been adopted because of the difficulty
of enforcing the private car line law
enacted by the last legislature, and 1t
depends for its continuance upon the
consent of the car line companies. Con-
sequently the car line companies have
got the state where it will either have
to grant it's request or adopt a strict
construction of the statute The board
of assessors may decide that it is the
best plan to order a reduction. and call
upon the next legislature to fix up a law
which viii work.
The four companies represented be-
fore the board today were SWifts, Ar
mours, the Continental Fruit company
and the Western Cattle Car company.
Last year the Armours paid on an as
sessed valuation of $24, $50, making the
total tax $1,053. The other companies
paid smaller amounts.
1t is likely tha- the property state
ments for this year win show that the
private car line companies have more
cars in use in Kansas than last year
and this might serve to offset any de-
crease in the assessed valuation. One
of the members of the board this morn
ing expressed the opinion that the board
will order no reduction in the valuation
agreed upon last year. The total
amount of tax collected by the state on
the private car companies last year was
$6.392, and this on a valuation of only
S151,493- This entire amount was turned
over to the general revenue fund Of the
state. This is not exactly the system
which the law provides. The law says:
''Such assessments shall be included
in the records and proceedings of the
board, and shall be proTated among
the several counties traversed by rail-
ways carrying said cars in proportion
to the entire main track mileage of rail-
ways carrying said cars in said county,
and statement transmitted to the
county clerk of each county as provided
in the case of other assessments made
by the board"
It is stated that under this plan, a
good many counties would be entitled
to only a very small amount and that
the bookkeeping involved in making
the computations would be excessive
The plan of turning the entire fund in
to the general revenue of the state was
adopted to simplify matters.
Huffman Makes a Complaint
A. J. Huffman, assessor at Kansas
City, Kan, came before the board this
morning. and made a plea for an in
crease in the railroad assessment of
Wyandotte county. He said that other
property in WyandOtte county was be-
ing assessed on cash basis, and that
railroad property should share the same
fate.
The assessment of the railroad pro-
perty in Wyandotte county last year
was 50, OBJ 874
Mr. Huffman started in on his pre-
sentation of the subject this morning,
and did not have time to finish before
dinner He win complete his remarks
this afternoon.
Huffman is the man who was ap-
pointed city assessor to succeed Capt.
Hayes, who was ousted by the mayor.
capt. Hayes still contends that he is
the legally acting assessor, but Huff
man seems to be making the most
noise like an official in that capacity
There were only three members of
the board Of railroad assessors present.
at the meeting this morning. They
were Secretary of State Burrow, Treas
urer Kelly and Auditor Wells. Lieuten-
ant Governor Hanna and Attorney Gen
eral Coleman were absent.