The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-23
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Senator Nixon il sponsor Tor q bill
making the county commissioners Of
Kansas elective for six year terms The
bill would extend the terms from the
present one of four years and SO ar
range the elections that new COM
missioner should be chosen every two
years. AS now managed, two commis-
sioners are elected at the same time,
the third being elected at the two-year
interval between elections Of the others.
1t looks as though the county commits
sioners of Kansas have organized a
sort of third house" in Kansas for the
purpose of fixing up legislative busi-
ness after their own ideas. They stand
behind Soodly number of bills al
ready introduced at this session and are
represented around the Hobbies OF the
legislature by members of their organi-
cation. In the past few days 1t has. been
reported that county commissioners and
representatives of bridge companies
have been offering endorsements for the
same measures now in the hands OF the
legislature.
Senator Sutton wants to take a CEN
sus Of the bees in Kansas-the honey
bees The senator. who comes from the
great bend of the Arkansas, believes
that each bee who roves over the alfalfa
fields Of his own native habitat, ram
ming his suction pump into the alfalfa
blooms and carrying away valuable
nectar to store into some other farmers
hive. should be registered according to
law. He thinks the bee should carry a
license tag and pay some revenue into
the Golfers of the state in return for
the privilege Of pi-rooting around in
everybody's clover patch and wearing
dangerous weapon amongst his tail
feathers. And the legislature will legis-
late upon the subject in due time
A bill has been promulgated by the
Farmers Union OF Kansas for the
purpose of levying a mill tax on all
the property In every county In Kan
sas. the money to be prorated among
the schools in rural districts and first
and second class cities for the pay
ment OF teachers salaries. At their
request 1t has been introduced by SEN
ator Mcmillan of Ottawa county. The
money SO raised would be available
only for salaries of teachers in ele-
mentary schools and funds for the
erection and equipment of school
buildings must be raised in the ways
now In use. The purpose OF the meas
ure seems to be obscure save that it
is an evident attempt to insure bet
ter salaries for rural teachers by Civ
ing them the benefit of tax of not
to exceed mills on city as well as
rural property.
Inc easy money in tax sale titles tn
Kansas real estate would be eliminated
py bill introduced by Senator Arthur
X. kinkel Of Council Grove, who pro-
poses to knock out the law passed in
1913 which, he declares, has resulted in
trarflc In tax titles which results In
unreasonable profits to few and nm
FAIR hardship upon many hundreds of
property owners. Kinkel says that a
number OF companies have sprung IN
In Kansas in the past two years solely
Hor the purpose of engaging in the pur-
chase and sale Of tax titles and that
their profits run as high an 1000 per
cent above their actual Investments.
The Kinkel bill provides that in coun.
ties adopting the provisions of the act
the county treasurer shall hold the land
pio OH by the county for taxes and
snail not sell it to any person except
us owner during a period OF three
years. Thirty days before the expira-
ton OF the three year period the owner
shall be notified that the land will be
sold. At the day of sale the purchaser
VIII receive certificate upon which
the land will be decided to him after a
laps OF six months provided the orig
mai owner has not redeemed 1t. The
buyer OF a tax title must pay all the
costs OF redemption. The owner may
redeem within the six months period by
relmbursing the purchaser and paying
interest at the rate of Is per cent.