The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-22
FIX THE TAX LAW
House Committee Makes Report
This Morning.
Measure Designed to Correct
Faults in Old Bill.
LIMIT ON THE LEVY.
This Is Most Important Feature
Proposed.
Ar. Grattan Opposes Passage OF
Two Cent Fare Bill.
LIMIT ON THE LEVY.

The taxation committee tnlS HUI II
ing reported favorably the bill limit
ing the tax Ievies under the new tax
law. This is one of the emergency
bills" and is considered of great I'M
portance, as a supplement to the state
taA law.
The following is the plan proposed
by the bill for limiting the levies:
''AII officers or boards of levy of any
county. city, township, school district
or other taxing district of the state OF
Kansas who have authority under ex-
listing statutes to levy taxes are hereby
required in making levies for taxes
hereafter to reduce such lev1eS below
the levies of 1907 proportionally as
assessed values shall be increased
above the assessed values or 1SoI Inc
taxing officer or officers of any taxing
district are hereby prohibited from
raising a fund by taxation which shall
exceed the aggregate amount OF taxes
which was raised in such district for
the year 1907. If the officer or officers
of any taxing district shall certify to
the county clerk any levy which. If eX-
tended by the county clerk upon the
tax roll would violate the intent of this
act. it is hereby made the duty of such
county clerk and he is hereby required
to reduce such levy and to extend
upon the tax roll only such part
thereof as will raise the amount of
taxes provided for herein.
"If any board of levy or any officer
charged with the duty of Ievying tax
in any taxing district shall be of the
opinion that the amount of tax limit
ed by this act sh all be insufficient for
the needs of such taxing district, the
question of an increased levy may be
submitted to the voters of such taxing
district at a general election or at "A
special election called for that purpose
in the manner provided by law FOR
calling special elections in such taxing
+T-in
creasing the levy shall be submitted It
either a general or special election,
due notice thereof shall be given for at
least thirty days in advance of such
election by publication in the official
county paper for all taxing districts,
except school districts; but in school
districts. by posting the notice in the
manner provided by law for other
elections or meetings; said notice SHAH
also give the proposed increase in the
levy. If threefourthS of the votes cast
at such election shall be in favor of
the increased levy, as named in said
election notice. then the officers
charged with levying taxes may make
such increased levy for the year voted
upon, and thereafter the limitation of
this act shall apply. unless in
creased levy for a particular year be
voted at another election in like man
ner.
mo county city, township. school
district or other municipal subdivision
shall have power to increase It's bond
ed Indebtedness beyond such an
amount as 1t might have created dur
ing the year 1907.
THE limitation Of this act shall nci
apply to the sinking and interest funds
of any taxing district nor to special
taxes levied by ordinance in any city.
Any officer of any taxing district
who shall violate any of the provisions
of this act shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor and upon conviction thereon
an in q srrrr, Il.
500 nor more than $500. and shall be
subject to removal from Office
w. r. Stubbs this morning introduced
the following house resolution. and the
resolution was adopted:
Whereas, The grain freight rates
fom the wheat belt of Kansas are one
hundred per cent higher than the rates
for like service from all points on the
Missouri river, per ton per mile. and
that said excess of freight rate charges
is working hardshps to the grain grow
ers to the wheat belt of Kansas; there
fore
BE it resolved. by the house of rep-
resentatives in special session assem-
bled. that the board of railroad COM
missioners of Kansas are hereby in
structed to investigate and employ such
measures as will compel the railroads
operating from the wheat belt of Kan
saS to the Gulf of Mexico to give that
section of the country as low freight
rates of grain as are in force from any
other section of the country, based on
the tonnage of business and the actual
cost of transportation
The house committee on Legislative
apportionment this morning reported
favoraply on the Miller rreapportionment
bill This bill takes away one repre-
sentative each from Brown jefferson
and Franklin counties. and gives those
representatives to western Kansas
counties which are now allowed only
one-haf representation
1t is doubtful whether the bill can be
passed at the present session.
G. F. Grattan, attorney for the state
board Of railroad commissioners came
before the house committee on railroad
this morning and spoke against the
passage of 2-cent passenger fare law
at the present session of the legislature
Mr.. Grattan stated to the railroad
committee that the state can not possi-
bly, gain anything by enacting a 2-cent
fare law, as the present situation is
most advantageous to the state He
said that the question is now in the
courts. and that it will be decided lust
rs we'll as though d law We're to be
placed on the statute books. Moreover
he held that the old mileage book law
would still be in effect if the 2-cent fare
order is knocked out,while if the legis-
1ature should pass 2-cent fare law
and repeal the mileage book law. the
state would go back to Scent basis.
J. NJ. Connell. general passenger
agent of the Santa Fe, also came be-
fore the committee this morning to
speak against the 2-cent law Mr..
Conneu and other railroad men saw
that if the 2-cent fare law is enacted
they want a provision allowing the
railroads to collect penalty on cash
fares.
It is doubtful what action the house