The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-31
fLANIGAN'S WOE
breaches Funeral Sermon OF
the Special Session.
Calls 1t "A Farce, Joke, a
Snide."
IT is ALL OVER NOW.
Amendments to Tax Bill Are
Fixed Up.
Guaranty Bank Deposit Measure
Is Dead.

Flanagan of Decatur-he's the Mark
Antony Of the legislature. While
Bale Waggener was introducing reso-
iutions in the senate ripping Governor
Hoch for calling a special session.
Flanigan of Decatur held the floor in
the house. preaching the funeral SER
mon of the legislature.
Flanagan is a Democrat and as a
Democrat he has been permitted to
view the work of the session from that
splendid isolation accorded to the
minority. His views are unprejudioed
They are also forceful, fresh and enter
tanning AS they come sitting through
the dark jungle of Mr.. Flanigans
Whlskers, propelled by 40-horse
power vocal apparatus they penetrate
even the furthest recesses of Ihs. cloak
rooms, and cut like corn knife into
the buzz and clamor of the loobies.
Ihey told me-" said Flanagan of
Decatur last night. when she last roll
cal or the session was being taken,
they told me that there was an emer-
gency which made it necessary to
come up here and hold a special ses-
sion. And what's this legislatures
done? Nothing. You've passed a fake
primary law; a primary law that don't
amount to shucks. You haven't done
anything worth while to the tax law.
And this bank deposit insurance law
is farce, joke, a snide. 1t isn't
business proposition; it is a scheme
born in political lobbies. and it will
never amount to anything. That's the
way this legislature has met the
emergency for which it was called
together. The only way to get any-
thing done in a legislature is to elect
the right sort of representatives, and
next session, when the Democrats con-
troll this body, we will do some of these
things that the railroads and national
banks and the politicians have sue
ceeded in blocking at the pres ent ses-
sion
'T say that this session is a Joke: It
is the biggest joke of the season: the
biggest joke since the last state elec-
tion-'
Flanagan of Decatur: may he long
wave. If the legislature had more
Flanigans in it, it would be heap
closer to- the people than it has been
during the special session.
The most important bill which came
out OF the muddle of the closing day
of the legislative session in the form
of a law was Kirtland's bill limiting the
tax levtes under the new plan of assess
ment; one Of the principal reasons
which caused the calling Of the special
session.
The law is not in the same shape that
it was when Mr.. Kirkland introduced
it bill. The senate jammed a new
bill in in place of Kirtland's bill, and
left little but the name and the enact
ing clause. AS 1t stands now the bill
provides that per cent Is the limit Of
increase for 1908 on the sum which
would have been produced by the levy
Of the maximum rate in 1907. In other
words, the taxing powers can levy
enough to raise per cent more money
than they would have raised under q
maximum last year.
The state tax commission has the
right to make special dispensatfons IL
after hearing they determine that this
isn't enough leeway for any particular
locality.
This bill being of great Importance
to the people of Kansas, it is herewith
produced in full:
Section THAT 1t shall be unlawful
for any board of county commissioners
or any county. officer; any township
board or any township officer; any city
council, board Of education of any city,
or any officer thereof; or any school
district, or any other taxing district or
any officer thereof that is authorized.
or whose duties it may be under the
laws of the state, to fix or make any
levy on the assessed valuation of prop
erty for the purpose of taxation; to 1x
or make any levy upon the assessed
valuation of the property within their
respective municipalities or taxing dis
tricts that will produce a gum of money
in excess of two per cent more than
sum that would have been produced by
the levy of the maximum rate now pro-
vided by law on the assessed valuation
Of the property of their respective
municipalities or taxing districts for
the year 1907.
Provided, that the state tax commits
sion upon application by the board OF
county commissioners of any county,
the mayor and council of any city, or
the board of education of any city af-
ter such notice to the voters therein as
said tax commission may prescribe, and
upon a showing of the necessity there
for. may fix a greater sum to be raised
by taxation for any lawful purpose In
such municipality or taxing district as
hereinbefore provided, and may make
and fix such additional levy not in ex-
cess Of the limit heretofore PROVIDED
by law for such purpose as will be nee
essary to produce such greater sum-
and provided further, that the electors
Of any county, township. school or 9TH
er taxing district, by a direct vote may
authorize such increase in any levy
for any such purpose as they may deem
best, not in excess of the levy hereto
fore fixed by law for such purpose.
Sec. 2-This act shall in no way
limit the amount of any levy neces-
sary to be made for the purpose OF
the payment of any judgment or
bonded debt against any municipality
or taxing district, and shall in no way
limit any levy made Dy ordinances VI
any city for special purposes.
.'Sec. 3-That 1t shall be unlawful
for the county clerk of any county
within the state to enter upon the
tax roll of the county any levy made
in violation of the provisions of this
act.
s.Sec. 4-Any officer of any board.
commission, or any other officer who
shall violate any of the provisions OF
this act shall, upon conviction, be
fined in a sum not less than one hum
dred dollars or more than five hum