The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-03
QUINCY IS DISCONSOLATE
Thinks His New Tax Bill Was I'm
justly Treated.

Senator Quincy of Saline, did not
go a-junketing with the other mem
bers of the legislature to the Kansas
Agricultural college at Manhattan. In
stead he remained at the capitol and
was found at his desk in the senate
chamber nursing and endeavoring to
restore to vigor what is left of his as
Sessment and taxation bill, No. 1913,
which received such gruelling in
committee of the whole.
While the senator from Saline is
disappointed over the manner in
which the majority of senators multi
ated his bill yet he aSsents to the ac
ton with the philosophical view that
cit might have been worse and is
thankful that they retained some pro-
visions that he considers will be of
great benefit to the people.
THE senate cut out two very inn
portant and beneficial provisions" de-
clared Senator Quincy to State Jour
| nal reporter, "but even with what lit
tie is left, the bill is pretty good one
after ALL One good thing retained
is the requirement that in making as
| sessments the assessor shall consult
with the owner of the property, If
such consultat ton is expedient.
81 am sure that the senators who
raised such emphatic opposition to
the provision in Sec. ,. relating to fill
ing of the owners statement giving
his estimate of the value of his real
estate and carrying an agreement to
derstand that provision. The oppon-
ents of the provision took the atti-
tude that in case they objected to an
assessment they would be required
to file such a statement. That is not
the meaning of the provision at all.
1t stipulates that the owner of prop
erty may if he so desires, file such
estimate of the value of his land. That
provision merely gives the property
owner the privilege to do something
in his own behalf. and it does not i'm
pose upon him am requirement. If
he did not desire to place a value on
his real estate and state price at
which he was willing to sell, he would
still be allowed to take up his object
tions before the board of equalization,
and if he were still dissatisfied with
the boards decision he would have
the additional recourse to appeal to
the state tax commission, as is the
case under the present law. The pro-
vision in my bill which was eliminat-
ed did not take away any rights of
property owners, but on the contrary
it gave them an additional privilege
to be exercised according as they de-
sired
"In the amendments to the provis-
| ion in my bill relating to county as
SCISSORS. the senate did not really abo1-
ish the county assessor in counties of
| less than $4,000 population, the
amendments merely changed the
name of that official, for they provid-
| form the duties of the assessor and
shall be allowed a deputy to assist
| in the work. SO in reality the deputy
to the county clerk will take the place
/ of the county assessor"
| Senator Quincy believes the new
assessment law has not been given a
| sufficient test and that while many
people over the state are raising Wig
| orouS objections to it, more time
should be allowed for the purpose of
proving whether or not it is efficient.
Special attention given to children's
savings accounts at the Prudential
| Savings bank.