The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-27
THE NEW TAX LAW.

Probably there are some defects in
the new tax law. Just what they are
it is impossible to determine with any
degree of accuracy at this time as the
full effects of its workings have not
been developed and win not be until
the taxes needed have been levied
and paid.
But there is one thing in connection
with it which is undeniable. 1t will
prove to be one of the greatest posi-
BILE mediums for advertising Kansas
as a most desirable place to live in. to
invest in property and to engage in
business.
Under its provisions and through
their proper enforcement the people
throughout the United states will soon
find out that the tax rate in Kansas is
justly lower than 1t is in most every
state in the union. This condition OF
affairs is made possible by the terms
of the law which insist that property
shall be assessed for the purpose of
taxation at a figure somewhere near
it's actual value. The result of this is
made apparent by the returns of the
assessors on the taxable property in
Shawnee county and similar condi-
lions maintain in almost every other
section of the state. In this county
the total assessed valuation of all
property reaches the sum of $72,977,-
913. This is four times greater than
was the assessed valuation of prac-
tically the same property one year
ago. In that year 1907 the tax rate
hereabouts was ga. This year in the
city of Topeka 1t will be IA. In
some school districts in the county it
will be as low as one-half of one per
cent.
Nothing has worked so disastrously
| toward the natural growth of Topeka
in population and other ways, and Of
| all Kansas as well. as the high tax
rates which have prevailed here. Peo-
pie in other communities, who have
been DESTROYS of changing their homes,
have been scared away from Kansas
because of the abnormally high tax
rates which have existed in this state.
They had been used to paying taxes
of and 8 per cent and considerably
less in many instances without a
murmur. But they naturally baked
on going to a place and investing their
money in property where they would
| De SuDJecteQ 10 tdxdtlOn at a rate
double that which they were accus-
toned to pay at home. OF course
there was no opportunity to explain
to these people that the high tax rates
here were due to the fact that the
property in the state was assessed at
about one-fourth its actual value.
They saw merely the tax rates and
those spoke sufficiently strong to keep
them away.
Under the new conditions things
along this line will be decidedly diff
ferent. The property In Kansas will
be assessed at values approaching its
|, real worth and the result in future
I years will be just the same as in this
one. The tax rates throughout the
state will be lower than they are in
, most sections of the country. Ac-
cordingly. they will be a great invita-
, ton for people to come to Kansas and
invest in its property and make their
homes here.
} AS for the tax payers in the state
/ they will have to pay approximately
!. the same sums in taxes that they have
, in times past, although under the as
sessment Of all property at its full
value there will be a more equitable
/ division OF the taxes among all classes
: Of people But 1t Is the tax rate tina,
} the people think about and tall