The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-02
RBVENUB AGENT
UNDER ASSESSOR
SUBSTITUTES is PROPOSED FOR
BILL ABOLlSHING OFFICE.
Move ment is Started 10 Give Men,
bcrs Of the Legislature More
Pay.
BIG MONEY FOR THE SCHOOLS

I Frankfort, Ky, Feb. 2.-There
have been introduced in the legisa-
ture two bills providing for the abol-
ishment of the Office of revenue
agents. One offered by Representa-
tive W. F. Klair, of Lexington, affects
only the Office of revenue agent for
the stateat-large, while the other, of
which Senator L. NJ. Taylor, of Full
ton, is author. does away with the
state agent and also the county reve-
nue. agents. All of these agents are
now appointees of the state auditor
1t is pointed out by the advocates
of the abolishment of the Offices of
these tax fer-ets," that the system
has been carried to extremes and be
come a nuisance, competition having
become so keen among the different
agents as to who would be the first
TO locate sequestered property and
bring the suit to enforce collection
1t is also alleged that many citizens
have been put 20 great Inconvenience
and loss by defending suits instituted
w toA iciiteS tudS Httu uo utTl-
Substitute Measure Proposed.
Many members who favor the abol-
ishment of the Office OF state revenue
agent as useless and unnecessary, in
sist that there SHOULD be in each coun-
ty an official to look after such mat
ters as should come within the pur-
view of revenue agent. With this
purpose in view, a measure has been
drafted as a substitute for both bills
and has met with considerable sup
port.
The compromise measure provides
for the appointment of a revenue
agent in each county not by the state
auditor, but by the county assessor.
and the abolishment of the Office of
state revenue agent. Lodging the ap-
pointment in the hands of the county
assessor, it is argued by friends OF
the plan. would be in the nature of
home rule and place the collection of
back taxes in The hands of local Off
ciais. In Democratic counties. the
revenue agent would be a Democrat,
and Republican IN those counties
where the assessor belonged TO that
political faith. The substitute bill
carries an emergency clause and will
become effective after its passage.
Big Money for Schools.
The house committee on State uni
versity and normal schools, of which
Representative L. b. Harrington, of
Madison county, is chairman, has re-
ported favorab'y on his bill carrying
appropriations of $4,000 each for
State university at Lexington, East
em State Normal school at Rich
mond. and the Western State Normal
school at Bowling Green. These sums
are intended TO bring the equipment
OF these institutions up to the basis
when they were estab-
lished. Representative Harrington is
an ardent advocate of everything that
Will improve educational conditions
in Kentucky, and takes especial pride
in the development of the normal
school system.
Contest Fees Delay Report.
The special committee to which
was referred the contest case OF
Lykins, Democrat, against j. w.
Perry. Independent Democrat, for the
seat IN the house from the Morgan
Wolfe district, is still wrestling with
the matter of an allowance for the
PARTIES to the contest. Lykins with
drew his contest and Perry will hold
the seat. but the committee has never
agreed on the allowance for expenses.
The usual custom has been TO allow
both parties to a contest $3.50 to pay |
for attorneys fees and other ex-
Denses incurred in the contest.
Ryan Plays in 'sTough Luck"
Senator Mark Ryan, or Louisville,
played in "tough luck" when his
,pium bill was placed on fits passage |
m the upper branch. The measure \
;arried by a vote of Is to 8, but not II
eceiying the constitutional two-fifths II
majority vote, was declared rejected. Il
motion to reconsider was quickly
and Senator Ryan is conf
lent of its passage when the matter
S again brought up. The absence OF II
many senators from their seats is
'iven as the reason OF the failure of II
he bill TO receive the required votes
o insure its pissage. Quite a fight
vas made on the measure, which is
DaCked by the pharmaceutical And III