The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-11
TAX LAW FIXED.
The Provision for County Asses
sOrs to Remain.
Put Back in Bill After a Hard
Fight.
WILL NOT BE ELECTED
Members of State Tax Com
mission to Be Appointed.
Standard Oil Company Again
Receives Hard RapS.

Wednesday afternoon finally passed
Senator Quincy's bill No. 1853, provid-
! ing amendments to the present assess
| ment and taxation law. This is the
bill, it will be remembered, that re-
i ceived such rude treatment when it
was considered in committee of the
whole early last week. The friends of
the measure, however, gained one
| point yesterday over the action of the
committee of the whole, in that the bill
| as passed retains the county assessors
provided for in the present law. In
committee OF the whole, the senate
eliminated the county assessors and
designated the county clerks as the as
Sessing officers in counties having less
than $4,000 population, but the bill
passed does not carry the amendment
eliminating county assessors.
Shortly after converting Wednesday
afternoon the bill came up for third
reading and passage, subject to amend
ment and debate. Senator Anderson
of Bourbon county started the fuss"
amendment designating county clerks
as assessing officers in counties of less
than $4,000, which had been put onto
section 3 in committee of the whole.
At the request of Senator Quincy the
clerk read a communication from the
tax commission which stated in effect
that through the tax law of 1907 the
state has advanced to the first place in
systems. The elimination of the coun-
ty assessors would weaken the system.
which is now being copied by other
states. The commission thought that
good and efficient assessors would not
be elected by the people and it urged
the retention of the appointive plan
Through the work of the county asses
sors, it was declared. the remarkable,
beneficial results have been accom-
plished. The commission admitted
that there may be some inequalities
over the state in the administration of
the law, but it was urged that greater
time be given for a thorough test of
the law and the covering of the ground
properly.
The only kickers in my district
against the existing tax law declared
Senator Carey, ARE the fellows who
have had to pay taxes on all their pro
perty, some of which heretofore has
been concealed
Senator Ganse offered a substitute
for Senator Anderson's motion to strike
out the committee amendment. This
substitute provided that the county
clerk and the three county commission
erS should act as assessing officers in
counties of less than $4,000. Senator
Ganse believed the new tax law move
ment in the right direction, but he held
that the deputy assessors and not the
county assessors should be given credit
for the good accomplished by the new
law. Under his plan the assessing
would be done by a board of four men
from different parts of the county, by
which means he argued the assessment
could be made at a saving to the state
of between $4,000 and 500, 600.
In the debate last week on the bill
Senator Brady of Douglas county. was
one of it's most severe critics. When he
finally obtained recognition from the
chair he spoke in language that was
both strong and lucid. using the agile
index digit of his left hand Industrious
ly to drive home his points. He charac-
commission as a stump speech and
declared he knew a good many people
in Kansas who would like to get after
the commission itself. The county as
huous officer. and to pay for his ser
vices is nothing more than a dip
INTO the state treasury.
Il am glad to learn from the senator
from Reno" he said. that his county
is in such a fourishing condition as
the result of the new tax law. 1 have
before me a paper reporting the GUST
ing of the mayor of Hutchinson for
levying a tax on the jointkeepers.''
Senator Anderson did not want as
SCISSORS in some counties and none in
others. Senator Quincy said that pro-
perty amounting to several millions of
dollars, which had never before been
assessed. was assessed last year be-
cause of the county assessors. Senator
Glenn also favored the retention of
those officers.
OOn care WHAT the Tax commission
says" declared Senator Robertson II
know from personal investigation in 13
counties in the western part of the state
that the county assessors did not bring
out the additional property. The deputy
assessors should be given credit for
that. In the large counties the asses
assessor may be all right, but in the
small counties he is no good
Senator Carey: How many of your
Is county assessors could be elected by
popular vote?"
Senator Robertson: Il don't believe
one of them could be elected town dog
pelter."
Senator Carey: That is because they
dug up the property and assessed it,"
Senator Robertson: '"They did not
dig up the property; it was the deputy
In my humble opinion the county as
SCISSOR in the small counties is an
absolute nuisance"
The Ganse amendment was put to
a vote and it carried by 10 to s.
Senator Quincy then moved to strike
out the provision as amended. SEN
ators Stavely, Ganse and Potter spoke
against the Quincy motion and it was
supported by Senator's Stannard and
Carey. Senator Leidy stirred up an
interesting colloquy with Senator
Hodges.
II have no disposition" he de-
clared, "to overthrow the tax law,
but both political parties in their plat
forms declared for the election of the
taxing officers by the direct vote of
the people and barrels-yeS oceans
of ink were used in writing editorials
in support of the cry to Let the peo-
pie rule The effect of this provision
will be to give to us officers elected by
the people and I am for it."
Il am glad to hear the senator from
Butler county give expression to the
sentiment to let the people elect their
officers by direct vote said Senator
Hodges. The other day we had be-
fore this senate a proposition to elect