The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-14
Governor Stubbs Kills New In.
heritance Tax Law.
Evidence That the Bill Was
Juggled.
Il TrKuN nTrrNH HnIEH MNCrIH a HElHNCN
LET OUT BIG ESTATES.
This Provision Inserted After
Bill Left Committee.
Executive Says Wealth Must
Bear Just Burdens.

Governor Stubbs today vetoed the
bill amending the present inheritance
tax law. In denying his o. K on this
law the governor declared that it was
nothing less than discrimination in fa-
vor of big estates at the expense of
the little estates. That it was retro
active, in fact, and rather than fasten
this unjust law upon the state he
would prefer that the old law should
stand.
Had the legislature been satisfied
with raising the exemption on direct
heirs to $25, 900 or $4,000 as was de-
manded by the people that would have
met the approval of the chief exc
cutive, but the bill was juggled with
and amended until it exempted all di-
rect heirs entirely and cancelled the
claims of the state against the big
estates now in process of settlem ent
that should pay under the law. Rep
resentatives of these big estates ap-
peared before the legislature and COM
mittees as lobbyists in behalf of these
estates and the amendment they
wanted in the law was placed there.
Senator Quincy today gave to the
governor a written statement to the
effect that one of these lobbyists ap-
peared before the senate tax commit
tee to try to get this cancellation
amendment in the bill. The commit
tee voted to keep it out, but when the
bill appeared before the senate the
obnoxious amendment was still one of
it's provisions.
The fight over this amendment was
held on the floor of the house and it
was voted in in spite of the efforts of
Keene and others to show it's injus-
tice.
The Veto Message.
The governor sent his veto to the
legislature at noon today as follows:
ITO the House of Representatives.:
House Bill No.616.-An act relat-
ing to the assessment and taxation of
to chapter 248, laws of 1909, the same
being article Z, chapter 116, general
statutes of 1909, and amendatory to
sections 1856, 1867, 1868, 1868 and
927O of the general statutes of 1909,
the same being respectively 1, 8. 4. 5
and 6 of said chapter 24S, laws of
1909, and repeating the original Sec
tions hereby amended is herewith
returned without my approval.
"The retroactive parts of this bill
which exempts wealthy estates from
paying an inheritance tax are repug-
nant to every law of justice and de-
cency.
Section s, which contains this vi
cious provision was voted unanimous
ly by the senate committee to be ex-
cluded from the bill after having
heard the argument of the attorney of
one of the big estates in favor of such
a provision. Through accident or
otherwise this provision was reported
to the senate as a committee recon-
mendation and became part of the
amendments passed by the legisla-
ture
ct am earnestly in favor of exempt
ing from the provisions of this bill di
rect heirs of all persons of small es-
tates up to $3.50 I am also in favor
of the state refunding to the small
estates the inheritance tax money that
has already been collected on accounts
below that exemption, but believe it
would be long step backward to de-
eide the wealth of this state shall not
bear its full share of the burden of
taxation.
THE inheritance tax law is the only
law upon the statutes of this state that
attempts to tax wealth according to
modern thought and sense of justice.
If the states do not pass an inheri-
tance tax law and maintain it the fed
era1 government will, and am In IA
vor of Kansas enacting an inheritance
tax law that will not be burdensome to
the small estates, but that will prop
erly tax large accumulations of wealth
which have been protected and fos-
tered and made possible by the laws
and with the aid and support of the
people of this commonwealth. Only a
few days ago the little state of Utah
collected an inheritance tax from the
Hartman estate of three-fourths of a
million dollars. Why should Kansas
be excluded from participating in her
rightfu1 share of the wealth created
by the commerce of this state?
"Respectfully submitted,
tFW. r. STUBBS, Governor"
Vetoes Salary Increase.
The governor today vetoed the bill
raising the salaries of certain heads of
departm of the state institutions.
He wanted to make an exception in
favor of Mrs Perry of the Beloit
school for girls, but could not do so.
He states his reasons for the veto as
follows:
ITO the House of Representatives.:
'I return herewith without my ap-
proval senate bill No. 627 entitled:
An act fixing the salaries of the
superintendents of the various state
charitable institutions, and amending
sections S439, 1886. 1854, S67s of the
general statutes of Kansas of 1909,
and repeating said original sections
ct am advised by the president of
the state board of control that the
above officers and their families are
provided with living apartments, sep
arate dining rooms. all heated and
lighted; meals cooked and served by
the employees of the institution; food
furnished and paid for by the state !;
furniture, beds and bedding, washing
and ironing. furnished by the state;
carriages and horses are furnished by
the state: which accommodations are
estimated to cost in a private family
not less than $1,000 per year, which
added to the cash salary of the super
fntendents receiving $1,000 per year,
makes it equivalent to a salary of So
This Is nT71xy e1nn
year less than is paid to the president
of the state board of control, secre-
tary OF state, the attorney general