The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-23
STUBBS TELLS IT.
Gives Out Letters of Complaint
About Tax Commission.
One From Chairman Wyandotte
County Commissioners.
RAP JUDGE GLASS.
Say That He and Drummer
Favored Railroads.
Give Specific Instances in Kan
sas City Hearing.
RAP JUDGE GLASS.

saS City Hearing.
Governor Stubbs has added more
fuel to the fire blazing around him on
account of his dismissal of Judge w.
3. Glass from the state tax commits
sion- When Judge Glass and his
friends severely criticised the COVER
nor for his action and accused the
executive of deceit and being a SLAM
derer and an attempted assassin of
reputation, the governor replied that
he removed Judge Glass and failed to
reappoint S. c.. drummer because seri-
GUS complaint had been made against
both these men. The governor did not
tell, at that time, what the complaints
were or who made them.
The governor gave out today two
letters from Kansas City, Kan, in one
of which Judge Glass and Mr.. Crum-
mer are in effect referred to as the
tools of the corporations. One letter
is from A ]. Hoffman, chairman of
the board of county commissioners of
Wyandotte county, and the other is
from Keplinger & Trickett, attorneys
employed by the board in fighting sew
eral tax cases before the tax commits
sion and through the courts.
The letters all express pleasure at
the dismissal of Judge Glass and
drummer. The Keplinger & Trickett
letter follows:
Kansas City, Kan, March 81, 1911.
Dear Governor: We note with sat
iSfaction that you did not reappQint
two of the old members of the state
tax commission. Having been of coun-
sci in many cases pending before that
commission on appeal from Wyandotte
county, it would possibly be improper
for US to make comment upon specific
acts, but permit us to say that actions
and decisions of that board impressed
us with the belief that at least two
members thereof were in close SYM
pathy with the corporations and espe-
cially the railroads and packing
houses. By reason of such belief We
are glad indeed that change has been
made.
For Mr.. Howe, the chairman of the
state tax commission, we wish to say
however, that he was always courteous
and fair towards us and we do not IN
clude him in any criticism made
Respectfully,
KEPLINGER & TRICKETT.
Mr.. Hoffman's Letter.
Kansas City, Kan, March 21, 1911.
Dear Governor:-The members Of the
board of county commissioners of Wy
andotte county are exceedingly pleased
with your action in not reappolntlng
two of the members of the state tax
commission.
For Is years, the undersigned has
had more or less connection with the
assessment of property in this county
and during the last three years as
chairman of the board of county COM
missioners. We had great difficulty
with reference to the assessment OF
railroad property and it was not until
1907 that anything like decent assess
nent was made: that assessment was
made by Attorney General F. S. Jack
son, Lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald
and others composing the board of rail-
road commissioners. They increased
the assessment of railroad properties
to an extent that netted this county
S34 600 after a full hearing as to val
ues After the making of that assess
ment a representative OF the Atch1son'
Toueka & Santa Fe Railroad company,
said TO the writer of this letter: You
won ont this time but next year a state
tax commission will right this wrong.
You will find that the farmer has not
beeu paying his share of the taxes" "
In 1908 the state tax commission did
lust what the tax commissioner OF the
Santa Fe Railroad company threaten
ed.
Wyandotte county assessed all pro-
nerty full value, which was large
increase over the percentage valuation
of the preceding year but 10 and be-
hoIdi The state tax commission reduc-
ed the assessment or the rallroaos TO
such an extent that this county recelV-
ed in taxes from the railroads $4,000
less than in 1907. The tax commission
declined to review it work but prom
hearing
annealed to the state tax commission,
with reference to the assessment OF
railroad property and we were met
with the statement: eve have made
orr findings and there is no appeal
+berefron . The assessment for 1909
S,,as such as to lessen the income of
this county by $4,000 over that even
of 19O8 In 1910 we again appeared be-
fore the state tax commission and IN
sisted upon the proper valuation of
,nR.fry n
tv. we further insisted th1I under
the law all terminal facilities We're to
he localized in the county. Judge Glass
argued the railroad case as though he
refused any relief. We requested that
they make their findings in time SO
that the matter could be taken before
the supreme court but instead OF DO
ing so. they withheld their report un-
Til all taxes were extended and collec-
tions commenced, so that 1t was i'm
POSSIBLE tc ask the supreme court for
q writ of mandamus against the state
tax commission. to compel proper as
sessrnent of the railroad property IN
In the hearing for 1910 this. county
was represented by counsel who filed
printed briefs and made special re
quest that the board announce their
findings in time so that SUIT coulo e pe
instituted There was no excuse Tor
the Withholding of their findings dur
inc the weeks and months following
and it can be only accounted for on the
ground that it was for the express pur-
pose of preventing such suit.
Their action regarding packing houses
and other corporations was equally
fragrant The board of equalization ol
this county raised the assessment Ct
the packers and appeal was taken 70
the state tax commission. At the hear
ing before that body, Mr.. Shukers as
sistant attorney general, appeared on
behalf of our county until he was
a n