The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-23
Senate Fairly Wears ITSELF Out
on This Subject.
Working Hard to Fix Up the
State Law.
SENT TO COMMITTEE.
All Measures Will Be Thus
Fully Considered.
No Changes Will Be Made Until
Mature DeliberatiOn.

Questions relating to taxation occu-
pied the time of the senate this morn
ing to the exclusion Of almost every
other subject. The first hour of the
session was a quiet one, the members
devoting it to consultation upon pend
ing measures, to the reports of stand
Ing committees, to the passage of sew
eral bills of local nature, which were
omnibused through upon the recon-
mendation of the committee appointed
yesterday to consider and recommend
action upon such bills. and to routine
work generally.
The senate afterwards resolved itself
into committee Of the whole, Senator
Brewer in the chair, to consider several
orders, and in this work the committee
busted itself until the noon hour, when
1t rose, reported progress, and it's re-
port was adopted.
Matters relating to taxation are re-
garded as among the most important
on the calendar, and with a view to do
Ing i bills on the calendar relating to
this subject full justice, and at the
same time expediting the work of the
senate, the various measures coming
under this head have been referred to
the committee on taxation, upon whose
report final action will largely depend.
A bill which, it is conceded, is one
of the most important that will come
before the legislature this session,
came up when the senate was in COM
mittee of the whole this morning.
This was senate bill No 6, by Young,
to provide for the maximum levy
that may be made upon the assessed
valuation of property in the several
municipalities or taxing districts of
the state for the year 1908, for the
various purposes now provided by
law, and prescribing penalties for the
violation thereof.
The bill provides that it shall be
unlawful to fix or make any levy upon
the assessed valuation of the property
within any municipality or taxing
district for the year 1908, that will
produce a sum of money in excess OF
two per cent more than sum that
would have been produced by the levy
of the maximum rate now provided
by law on the assessed valuation of
the property of such municipality or
taxing district for the year 1907
This act shall in no way limit the
amount Of any levy necessary to be
made for the purpose of the payment
of any judgment or bonded debt
against any municipality or taxing
district as described IN section I OF
this act; it shall be unlawful for the
county clerk of any county within the
state to enter upon the tax roll of the
county any levy in violation of the
provisions of this act
Senator Stewart moved an amend
ment to section 2, providing that the
act shall not limit taxes for special
improvements, such as sidewalks,
guttering etc.
Senator Waggener offered aa sub
stitute for the whole bill, but the bill
was after an extended debate referred
to the committee on taxation, to re-
q av1in lost otto HI
In committee of the whole, senate
bill No. Z, an act in relation to the
purchase of bonds by the school
fund commission, was recommended
for passage. This bill provides that
1t shall be unlawful for the school
fund commission of the state of Kan
sas to purchase any state, municipal.
county, township. school district or
other bonds wherein the bonded in
debtedness in any case of any munich
pality or taxing district issuing bonds
shall exceed the rate now fixed by law
on the assessed valuation of the prop
erty of any such municipality or tax
ing district for the year 1907.
Senator Griffin's bill amending Sec
ton 10, of chapter 4O8 of the session
laws of 1907, relating to the appoint
ment and duties of county assessors
and their deputies was referred to the
com mittee on taxation.
Senate bill No. AZ, to provide for
a recording tax on mortgages on real
property, and for their exemption
from taxation after being recorded.
regulating the effect of non-payment
Of recording tax. and providing for
the apportionment of the proceeds of
the proceeds of such taxes went to
the same committee, after some dis
cussion. This measure was introduced
at the last session, but now comes
back with Senator Brewer as its
sponsor, although he is opposed to it.
Senator Smith predicted that the
effect of its passage would be to drive
capital out of the state and to in
crease the rate of interest. Referred
to committee on taxation
Senator Smiths resolution, senate
concurrent resolution No. g. was finall,
disposed of this morning. It was called
up on a motion to reconsider the yott
by which it was defeated yesterday anC
the senator, before the roll was called
offered the following substitute for sec
ton l:
Section 1. The legislature shall pro
vide for the taxation of all propert,
by uniform rule. All property uset
exclusively for state, county munici
pal, literary. educational scientific re
ngious, benevolent and charitable D1r
poses, and personal property to tn,
amount of at least 5000 for each family
shall be exempted from taxation. TIL,
legislature may tax Intangible propert,