The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-28
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Bale Waggener Has Plan to
Fix Tax Law.
No Special Session of Legis-
Iature Is Necessary.
MIR. TUCKER is HAPPY.
returns From Trip Over the
District.
MR.. TUCKER is HAPPY.
Thinks He Stands Good Chance
of Defeating Miller.

bane F. Waggener, state senator
from Atchison and general attorney
| Tor the Missouri Pacific railroad from
| Kansas, has plan to avoid a special
| session of the legislature to amend the
| TAX law and prevent the city councils,
| boards of education and county COM
m1ss1oners making exceptionally large
increases in the amount of taxes Kan
sas people will have to pay. His plan
is to have the state tax commission
limit the amount which may be levied
against the taxing boards.
Il believe" said Senator Waggener
VINO was in the city on Saturday with
w. j. Bailey, former governor, that
the section of the law which gives the
commission power to regulate taxes in
Kansas gives the board the power to
say how much money or value may
be levied against. I believe this is an
inherent power, as it is not express
ly stated, and I do not believe there
would be any serious objection to
adopting it. 1t appeals to me as fair
enough that no one would attempt to
fight it in the courts until the next
regular session of the legislature could
meet and make the proper amend
mentS.
1T appears to me that what the COM
mission ought to do is to make an or
der that all property should be listed
at its full cash value, as is required by
law, and then make an order that as
SeSsmentS for taxes should be based on,
say, 20 per cent of the actual value.
This would put the amount of taxes
to be paid on the same basis as at
present. For instance, the actual value
of the property in a county may be
million dollars. If the commission
would make this ruling the property
would be assessed a 100000.
1.-The usual basis over the state is
now about one-fifth of the actual value,
60 ha INF a
about as much money as Usual. If
things are left alone, and all property
is listed at its full value and the same
rates of levies are maintained the taxes
will be increased two, three, four, five
or six times as much as at present and
the people will demand the repeal of
the law. The law is a good one. 1t is
fair to everyone, but without this pro-
vision is dangerous"
George H. Tucker, state senator from
Greenwood, and who has announced his
candidacy for congress from the Sixth
district and will make fight for the
nomination against j. NJ Miller. the
present congressman from the district
who is also agcandidate for renomina-
ton. was in the city for brief while
on Saturday afternoon. He devoted
most of last week to trip through pOr-
lions of the Sixth district, taking a pre-
liminary survey of the ground where
the battle for the congressional nominal
ton will be waged.
Senator Tucker, seemed to be in the
best of spirits. In fact he looked so
buoyantly happy that he must have
found things decidedly favorable on
this preliminary survey. He had moth |
ing to say on the subject. however, ex-
cept to smile broadly when he was ask
ed how things looked.
J. N. Dolley, the state senator from |
Wabaunsee, and who is for w. Roscoe |
Stubs for any and all offices that the |
Lawrence statesman may go cunning |
for at any time was also a visitor in
the city Saturday. Mr.. Dolley also wore |
a smile of contentment. He did not |
have any secrets, state or otherwise, TO |
fiVlllge however.