The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-22


current assets and liabilities, value of
property earnings, operating and 9TH
eT expenses, taxes and other charges
ana all other facts which may be
neeoIul or desirable to enable the COM
mission to- ascertain the value and
relative burdens borne by all kinds of
property in the state. y
Cd To summon witnesses from
any part of the state to appear and
give testimony, and to produce rec
ords books, papers and documents
relating to any subject or matter
which the commission shall have au-
thorlfy to investigate or determine.
(S) To cause the deposition of wit
nesses residing within or without the
state. or absent therefrom, to be
taken, upon notice to the interested
parties. if any in like manner that
depoSit1ons of witnesses are taken in
civil actions pending in the district
court In any matter which the COM
mission shall have authority to inVeSti-
gate and determine.
CD To investigate the work and
methods of local assessors, boards of
county commissioners and county
boards of equalization, in the assess
ment equalization and taxation of all
kinds of property, by visiting the
counties of the state.
(1O) To carefully examine into all
cases where evasion or violation of the
laws for assessment and taxation of
property is alleged, complained of, or
discovered, and to ascertain wherein
existing laws are defective, or are i'm
properly or negligentlv administered,
and to prepare and recommend meas
ures best calculated to remedy the de-
fectS discovered
CID To investigate the tax systems
OF other states and countries and to
formulate and recommend such legis-
lation as may be deemed expedient to
prevent evasion of assessment and tax
laws and to secure just and equal tax
alton and improvement in the system
of taxation in the state.
12) To inquire into the system of
accounting and auditing public funds
in use in townships, cities. counties,
and state. and to devise and prescribe
a uniform system of auditing and ac-
counting of the receipts and disburse-
ments of public funds in the munich
palities of the state.
(13) To consult and confer with the
governor and attorney general of the
state upon the subject of taxation. the
administration of the laws in relation
thereto, and the progress of the work
of the commission, and to furnish the
governor, from time to time, such as
s1stance and information as he may
require.
14) To transmit to the governor
and to each member of the legislature,
thirty days before the meeting of the
legislature, the report of the commits
sion, covering the subject of assess
ment and taxation, the results of the
Investigations OF the commission, its
reco concentrations for Improvement in
the system of taxation in the state, to-
gether with such measures as may be
formulated for. the consideration of
the legislature
(15) To make appraisement and as
sessment of all railroads and the prop
erty of railroad corporations except
ing such real estate as is not used in
the daily operation of its railroad of
all telegraph lines and property, of all
telephone lines and property, of gas
pipe lines and property, OF all oil pipe
nhes and property, of all street rail-
roads and electric lines and property
and all express company property
within and without corporate limits of
cities. doing business in the state.
"A rev minutes after the session of the
senate was convened this morning Sem
ator F. DumoI1t Smith made the same
explanation as to- the result of the eff
forts of the conference committee on
the tax commission bill. He said that
the conferees had smoothed matters out
In such way that the house conferees
were disposed to accept the Waggener
tax commission bill In it's main features
If the senate would recede from the
provisions of the bill which retained
the present board of railroad assessors
Senator Smith said that the house con-
ferees were also opposed to the feature
of the bill which gave the state tax
commission the power of supervising
the assessments made by county asses
ferees had insisted that this would des-
troy the purposes of the measure and
that in the conference it had been de-
cided to leave it to the decision of both
branches of the legislature as to how the
compromise on the measure could me
effected. He said he felt sure that if
the senate receded from the provisions
of the bill retaining the board of rail-
road assessors that the house conferees
would recede from their demands about
hn jI1Ti m m fI.a TOW
mission over the operations of the coun-
ty assessors.
Senator Smith then moved that the
senators give an expression of opinion |
by vote as to whether they would be
willing to recede from their position on |
the proposition of the board of railroad |
assessors being done away with and
the senators by a viva voce vote which |
had the sound of being unanimous eX-
pressed themselves as willing to recede |
on this proposition.
House Had celebration
At 1890 o'clock, r. S. Hendricks of
RawIins suggested that the house |
should have on display a picture of
George Washington. W. H. Barnes, |
former secretary of the state board of !
had picture ready, and
it was placed up in front of the read |
ing clerks desk.
Major Tom Anderson of Topeka !
happened to be in the hall, and Chalk |
Beeson called on him to lead in sing |
ing America Beeson was obliged |
to go along, and the two led the house |
in the national hymn.
w. B. Ham of Rocks was then calf |
ed on for a speech. Mr. Ham said |
that the chief characteristic Of the |
father of his country was, when he
had a duty to do, to do it. He thought |
the house should emulate his example |
and get down to business.
Then the house resumed the con- |
sideration of the state militia bill.
'I consider it very appropriate"
said Chairman Mayhem of the COM