The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-05-06

the specihc duty or the state Audi
tor to make an Official estimate,
stating specifically the needs of each
institution and department of the
state for each ensuing two years so
that the legislature may have full
information as to the actual needs
of the state.
1t is the duty of the governor to
see that every dollar appropriated
by the legislature is wisely, judie
ieusly and economically expended
for the purpose for which it was APP
proprlated.
If the taxes were excessive 1t
would be simply and solely because
the Legislature appropriated too
much money. It's plainly to be
seen and I know from past expert
enee that you Messrs. Mulvane,
Fitzpatrick, Albaugh and your as
socistes, and the interests which
you represent, well know that the
real issue for "Revision of Taxes
Downward" can not be successful
without you control the majority of
the next legislature.
Just why you make no reference
to this, the vital and most lmpor-
'tant part of your program, l am
not advised.
Now if you represen. .atives of the
railroads and trusts actually have a
working majority of our next legis-
lature who are in sympathy with the
Cannon and Aldrich methods, which
you gentlemen also represent, might
they not be tempted to amend the
railroad laws, the antitrust laws,
the anti-pass law, and the primary
election law, which takes from your
old machine dynasty the caucus
and conveRtlon system where you
political power was supreme, and
many other good laws which you
have fought WITH such energy, de-
termination and skill during the
past few years. Would the people
OF Kansas have any reasonable hope
for a Legislative, which you and
your associates would select, of sc
curing Legislation that would prevent
the Federal courts from interfering
with laws enacted by our Legislature
of an eatirely domestic character in
which the Federal government has
no rightful interest under the con
stitution2
Would such Legislature be likely
to establish public utilities com
mission, to replace our present rail
road commission, vested with am
pie power to control in an up.to-
date way not oaly the railroads bu,
all the statewide corporations to the
end that they shall be servants and
not masters of the people?
The statement Revision of Taxes
Downward" is catchy proposition.
OF course you gentlemea who are
promoting this great movement
ought not to deceive the public by
statements that are so geaeral that
they have no specific or practical
meaning. That has, | know, been
the old machine idea In conventions
of-the past. Resolutions that were
SO Indefinite that no one could say
positively what they meant have
been past time and time again to
catch votes. In your philanthropIc
effort to bring about "Revision of
Taxes Downward" l must caution
you gentlemen against the magnitude
of your work. 1t means that you
must exercise your influence in
every county, city, township and
school district of this state; for by
far the largest burden of taxation is
levied for the support of local
communities. The state taxes are
only about SI.oo on 81, 900. 90
valuation. A progressive city of
the first class, like Topeka, has a
local tax of SI4.75 on the 81 600, 90.
l must also suggest to you that the
entire state tax in Kansas is approx
-, ,talw huf fhraa .nilltoo dollara