The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-22
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Democrats Concentrate Fire on
New Tax Law.
Spending Time Checking Up the
Tax Rolls.
ONE OF CIRCULARS.
Now Being Circulated Broadcast
in Dickinson County.
Brownsville Buttons for Negroes
9 OF CIRCULARS.
Brownsville Buttons for Negroes
Make Appearance.


central committee has arranged with
the county chairman in each county
of the state to go to the county rec
ords and dig out of the records a list
OF all the property holders in the
county who will have to pay more
taxes this year, under the new tax
law than they did under the old tax
law.
The Democrats will make public
this list for the purpose of prejudice
ing the voters against the Republican
party, which is charged with respon-
sibility for the new system of assess
ment and taxation which prevails in
Kansas.
1t is not the purpose of the Demo-
Gratis to give any publicity to the
names of property owners whose taxes
have been decreased by the new law.
The Democrats expect to prove by
this system that the taxes of the
farmers in Kansas have been mate
rally increased by the new law. They
will then say to the farmers. that
Stubs is responsible for the passage
OF the law, and should be beaten for
favoring it.
The record of the 1907 session of
the legislature shows that the assess
ment and taxation bill was drafted
by the committee on assessment and
taxation, and was known as "Substi-
tute for House Bill 55." This bill was
supported in the house by all the
Democratic members, as well as all
the Republican members. The debate
in the house on February Z, 1907.
was remarkable for the fact that it
was one of the most friendly and non
partisan discussions of the entire ses-
sion. The only thing the Democrats
wanted in the bill which they did not
get was a provision requiring the
governor to appoint one Democrat on
the commission, and this the Repub-
licans voted down because they did
not want to make it appear that the
question of partisanship should gov
ern the selection of the board. Gov
ernor Hoch, however, in selecting the
board, did not appoint one Demo-
cratic member as the Democrats de-
sired. The final vote on the adoption
of the conference committee report on
the bill showed clearly that there
was no partisan feeling, and that
Democrats as well as Republicans
were doing their best to enact a good,
safe assessment and taxation law.
There were only four votes against the
bill, and one of these was a Demo-
crat.
1t is very likely that some amend
ments should be made in the assess
ment and taxation law. 1t would be
impossible to enact a perfect law on
such a complex and much-disputed
subject at the first trial. Some amend
mentS were made at the special ses-
sion of the legislature. More amend
ments will probably have to be made
for many years to come. The tax
commission itself will recommend a
number of amendments to the next
session.
the county assessment records are be-
ing circulated by the Democrats in
the form of campaign circulars. Each
county prepares its own circular.
In Stafford county the Democratic
circular shows that the taxes of the
Santa Fe have been decreased $1,000,
of the Missouri Pacific $4.100. a total
of $11.100 decrease for railroads,
while real estate is decreased $4,000.
The Democratic circular points out
that this is typical of other counties in
the state.
The following is a copy of the cir
cular which is being circulated in
Dickinson county:
'To the taxpayers of Dickinson
county:
DO you know your taxes will be
increased this year?
do you know the taxes of the
railroads will be decreased?
yes, almost 100000 in Kansas.
Who pays the deficit? The farmer and
merchant.
Read This
'In 1907 for state and county pur-
poses only, Dickinson county raised,
4,706.2S in taxes.
Under the new Stubs tax law
with appointed assessors the county
will raise $94,S6S.6S.
IAN increase of $10,162.40 in Dick
inson county. The railroads will pay
less.
'In 1907 the railroads in Dickinson
county paid for state and county pur-
poses $22,529.
Under the new tax law. fathered
by w. R. Stubs, in 1908 they will
pay but $20.551.
"A decrease of $1.97S.
1.-The last legislature was Re-
publican and was controlled by w. r.
Stubs.
wv. r. Stubs admits he took