The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-16

the plan for long time forwarded by
the Atchison senator.
state revenue agent, with power
to collect tax on personal property
/ that had been either overlooked or
withheld unlawfully, is the solution
of the problem, he believes He would
! have this new officer appointed by the
J governor to serve two years and sit
uated in the state house at Topeka.
! He would have the right of appoint
/ ing deputy revenue agents in counties.
The esta blishment of this office and
an arrangement of the duties are the
contents of Senate Bill No. /.
Under the city commission form of
government in Kansas the mayor and
commissioners have no right to spend
more money than is provided for in
| the budget for the year following the
collection of the taxes. Senator Stave
ly thinks this a good plan. In fact he
is so sure of it that he has presented
a bill stripping from the mayors and
councils of Kansas towns and cities
the power to spend funds not provided
for in the city treasury. The Usage
senator would restrain the city Off
GERS from making contracts or con-
templating purchases ending up
the years with a deficit to be met by
succeeding councils. The commission
form plan is leaking over into other
sections of the statute books.
At last a state legislature has antici-
pated the passage of a bill concerning
the railroads that does not send cold
chill down the backs of these red
dragon corporations. There IS a bill
in the upper house forbidding all en-
ployees, officers and stockholders of
railroads from holding state, county or
township office in the state of Kansas.
1t may be a hard strain on the imag-
nation to realize that employees or
officers or stockholders of railroads
fAr. 1ff lint
they have been doing it in Kansas and
this bill would put stop to it.
Kansas, according to the statesman's
views, has plenty of trouble attend
ing to her own affairs and watching
the railroads and express companies
without harboring ''red dragons in the
family circle.
Senator Stavely the tried and true old
regular from Usage county. jumped
in ahead of the administration crowd
and introduced as bill No. 13-the I'M
lucky piece of legislation-a complete
and inclusive repeal of chapter 24S ses-
sion laws of 1909. You are not ac-
quainted with the law? Surely your
memory has failed you. Dost not re-
mem Der the Inheritance tax pet of pre-
vious reputation and of time honored
heroes support. And Senator Stavely
couldn't wait to send in his singer on
the inheritance proposition. tie d1dn'
fuss around with amendments and re-
visions-not Senator Stavely. He just
waded in with a short bill-but it had
a long meaning. Repeal the entire
shootinmatch, is the Usage senator's ul- |
timatum. He believes it would not only
save time and useless discussion in the
senate but it would bring joy around
the prairie firesides in Kansas homes. |
Farmers who till the soil with ma
year after year and heads of
families who take delight in spending !
comforts for their families, should not !
be required to pay taxes on them,-ac- |
cording to a bill introduced in the sem |
ate by Senator Waggener. He exemptS |
all farm implements in actual use and |
the family household goods from the |
tax rolls.
Undoubtedly Senator Stavely has |
Travelled all day along Kansas country |
roads when the sun beat down upon /
him while he was riding between two
rows of high offensive, breeZe-retarding
weeds. And also at night when the
swarms of bugs flew out to greet him
through nostril, mouth and eye intro
auctions At any rate the senator
from Usage would make a law requir
ing all owners of real estate along pub
lie highways outside the cities, to cut
the weeds from the ground abutting
the roads before August / OF before
they go to seed-the weeds, not the
owners. If they fail to make use of the
moving machine. scythe and sickle
the senator would leave the work to the
the job up to the taxes of the real es-
tate owner. a bill including these
points was introduced in the senate late
Wednesday afternoon.