The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-14
SQUARE DEALERS.
Senator Smith Makes a Bitter
Attack on Them.
Exciting Debate on the State
Tax Commission.


| the senate today by Senator F, Dumont
Smith during a debate in the commit
tee of the whole on the two measures
pending before the legislature provid-
ing for the creation of a state tax COM
mission to have general supervision
| over the assessment of all the property
in the state for the purposes of taxa
tion
One of the measures, prepared by the
house committee on taxation, and
which passed the house. provides in
| brief for the creation of a state tax
commission of three members to be APP
pointed by the governor who shall have
general supervision over the assess
ment on all property in the state for the
purposes of taxation. This bill specifi-
cally abolishes the board of railroad
assessors and gives its functions to the
commission created.
The other bill is the one fathered by
Senator Waggener providing for a
state tax commission of three members
one of whom shall be the auditor of
the state and the other two to be
eventually elected by the people, which
shall have the same general supervision
over the assessment of property for
taxation as is provided in the house
bill. This bill does not abolish the
board of railroad assessors but it seeks
to give the tax commission created ad-
eQu3IG JuTlSQ1ct1On over their acl1OuS
These bills came up for consideration
as special orders in the committee of
the whole of the senate this morning
Senator Fulton was called to the chair
and after the bills had been read Sen
ator Stewart moved that the committee
report favorably on the house bill
Senator Smith said that reformers
and square dealers" were generally
that class of politicians who adopted
other peoples ideas when they found
the sentiment Of the voters strong Tor
them and he added: Governor Hoch,
guess, did not enjoy being reformed
much last summer as he did re-
forming Governor Bailey two years
before. And there is no need why the
senators should be reformed by the
square dealers on proposition which
they originated. say we should
stick to our own bill as it is much
better measure in all of its particu-
lars The house bill will not accom-
pIish it's purpose. 1t only gives the
commission it creates power over as
sessme nts for state taxes, While the
senate bill gives the state commission
power over all the taxes in the state,
their equitable adjustment among the
various counties.
Although he disclaimed being
member of the square DEAL clan,
Senator Getty came to their rescue
good and strong with a speech in favor
of the house bill. He declared that It
was not the time or place TO discuss
the square dealers. It was a question
of measures and not men. 4 am not
a square dealer" he said, but l be-
Iieve the things advocated by them are
right, just and proper, and that the
people of the state demand them"
This remark brought forth lonesome
applause from senator Doiley, al
ardent Stubbite. =
II am in favor of tax commission,
said Senator Getty, whether or not it
is favored by a square dealer or a
round dealer. And this house bill ac-
compIishes a great deal when it wipes
out that iriquitous board OF railroad q
assessors He declared that lots Oh
railroad property in Wyandotte county
had been assessed by the board OF rail-
road assessors at $1,000 and $4,000 an
acre for the purposes of taxation, When
as a matter of fact the railroads had
paid as high as $4,000 and even $1OO,-
900 for acres of this land so assessed.
He believed that the house bill was
much better than the senate bill.
Senator Waggener made long speech
in defense of his measure. He read
from the tax reports of the great me
quality of assessments in the various
counties for the taxation of the same
classes of property and declared that
his bill gave the power to the tax COM
mission, which was to be really elected
by the people to step in and equalize
the assessments among the various
counties This was something, he said,
that the house bill did not do.
1.-THE house BILL said Senator Wag-
gener, sis one of glittering generalities
only in regard to state taxes and the
commission created by it will have
no power to adjust the assessments in
counties.
1.-The inequalities of taxation in this
state are outrageous and intolerable,
said Senator Waggener In conclusion,
"and we believe that the only remedy
for this condition can be found in the
bill which has been presented by me
and that has been twice passed by this
senate and represents the honest and
hard thought of many senators who
are interested in the proposition to re-
wise the tax laws of the state"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Waggen-
er's speech the com mittee of the whole
rose and the further consideration of
the measures was postponed until
2:3O O'Clock this afternoon when the
debate was resumed.