The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-03
Proposed Amendments of Quincy
Started the Trouble.
PLAN OF VALUATION.
Would Have Forced Farmers to
Sell at Assessment Price.
Provision Is Killed After Lively
Debate.

Consideration OF q bill providing
amendments to the existing assess
ment and taxation laws started
something" in the senate at the ses-
sion late Tuesday afternoon. and be-
fore the session ended the present as
sessment laws were dealt some re-
sounding body blows and wicked
short-arm jabs that sent certain feat
ures Of the law to the szwdust for
the full count In fact, IL the action
by the senate in committee Of the
whole is finally approved the exist
lng law will be pretty badly d1shg-
The division OF friends Of the pres
ent law and its opponents was decid-
eddy close and that added to the in
terest OF the hight on the door. There
were no party lines drawn and Re
pubHcanS and Democrats took sides
together according to their personal
opinions and the wishes OF their con-
st1tuents- In the end the opponents
OF the law were victorious, but every
inch OF ground was warmly contested
The attack on the present law was
preclp1tated by consideration in COM
mlttee Of the whole Of Senator Quiu-
cyis bill, No. 163. providing various
amendments to the laws on assess
ment and taxation in the state. Sena-
tor Glenn Of Greeley presided and the
quincy Dill was the first measure on
the calendar
Section 1 was passed without a
sign Of objection. but when Sec. was
reached the castor was SHE'D into the
ring by Senator Brewster and the bat
tie was on Senator Brewster hap
tons because he displayed greater
agility in getting onto his feet and OBJ
tanning recognition from the chair.
There were several others equally as
% = At Fa
senator from Dontphan raised ebjec-
ton TO the provision in Sec. 2. stip-
ulattng that Il any owner of real es-
tate shall be dissatisfied with the as
sessment placed upon his land. he
may file a statement with the county
clerk containing the owners estimate
of the actual value of the real estate,
together with an agreement legally
any purchaser at the price named
Senator Brewster wanted this proviS-
ion stricken from the bill
Senator Potter made q speech
struck homeIy. sentimental note of
heart interest
This provision he feeIingIy de-
eIared. would break Up the homes OF
from the sod myself. many years ago
On that farm 7 have some splendid
trees which I planted with my own
hands: on that farm all my children
is clustered about that home some Of
the tenderest associations that ever
come to a human being And do you
think could put q cash value on that
memories2 I could not No money in
the world could buy it SO long as am
able to keep il Yet under this pro-
vision I would be GmpeIled- in case
of an unjust assessment. to put price
upon my home and sell it at that price
IL anyone offered to buy it
Quincy Defends Himself
Senator Quincy defended his bill
He declared that the provision was not
designed to take away the peoples
homes, but it was intended TO prevent
land owners from placing the valuation
OF their property too low IN order 20
beat the county out of Just taxes 1t
meant nothing Of the sort suggested
hy Senator Potter
IF it means nothing. why put It in 30
demanded Senator Brewster
1T does mean something rstorted
the senator from Saline If a man
has a piece of property on the market
a value of $500, the owner under
this bill is given chance to get the
land assessed at the value he places
on it,"
should be no penalty threatening a
man who appeared before the board of
equalization TO protest against an
over assessment
Robertson that the provision is Uucon-
stitutfouaI because IT is not right TO
have one method for assessing person
al property and another method for
assessing real estate Senator Ganse
argued that the provision would &C
caSion a multitude of lawsuits
Several other senator's argued
against the provision and Senator
Cambern desired the bill referred to
the judiciary committee for report
At this point Senator Staveiy arose
to defend the bill He admitted in his
talk that he was not personally very
greatly in favor Of the provision How
ever he said IL is desired to prevent
dodzfug of taxes and the principle
Contained in the provision under dis
cussfou was a new one IN Kansas and
ne thought the senators should be
given a chance to discuss IT, Such q
provision, he said, is contained IN the
Assessment laws Of New Zealand at
present
Senator Hamilton thought IL a good
idea to devote some time to discuss
ing a new principle. but he thought
tire plan of assessment should apply
70 personal as well as to real proper
" If adented at all
A vote was taken on the proposition
to refer the bill to the judiciary COM
rr1ittee and the motion was lost Dur
ing the discussion something was said
concerning farmers being in favor OF
the bill
IF you want To learn what the far