Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-01-20


den OF taxation. beg to direct your at
tention TO the Increase from year to year
since 1912 in the total taxes levied In
Kansas
Increased in taxes OF. 1918 over
Increase in taxes of 1914 over
1913 1.5o4.2ss
Increase in taxes OF 1915 over
1914 2.S61, 445
Increase in taxes of 1916 over
1915 1.sss, s65
Total increase in four years 81 ,ss1. 92e
The taxes of 1912 totaled $27.so6. SOC
Therefore. the increase in the last four
years has been 2S-7 per cent
The increase last year over the year
previous was follows For state gov
cent; for cities. 16 per cent; for town
ships. 10 per cent; for school districts. 10
per cent
The state tax levy in Kansas is s1.5s
per 81, 600. with few exceptions a rate
lower than other states That you may
know how this s1-So is expended let me
say that 81 cents of it goes to the
support of the state educational institu-
tions; 81 cents TO the charitable institu-
lions; Is cents for prisons and reforula-
tories; cents for homes of soldiers and
their widows; and IS cents for the main
tenance OF all other state Officials. insti-
tutionS and departments, including the
supreme and the district courts the state
printing plant and the legislatures The
about one-tenth of the total funds raised
for all purposes
For the year 1916 the taxes reported
by the county clerks in all of the coun-
ties. aggregated S35. 7Ss. 531.96. an in
crease of nearly two million dollars The
total cost of the state government in
1916 was s5.4S4,712- The principal ex-
penditures were:
Educational institutions. 81 us, SOC. SO
Charita bic institutions. --.- 9I6 673-6
Penal institutions 611.S91-O9
Soldiers homes ..--------- 142111-S4
1t IS plainly evident that any genuine
attempt at retrenchment in public
pense cannot begin and end in economy
in the states business alone. Should
you eliminate entirely the expense of
state government and all the state in
stitutions. you would reduce the tax
payers burden only 10 per cent 1t is for
this reason that the demand grows for
greater simplicity and economy in the
forms of local government-the places
where 80 per cent of the taxes is ex-
pended.
The Tas-Dodgine Evil.
In this connection. 1 wish to call your
attention to the unequal distribution of
the burden of taxation, due to the failure
of citizens to report monies and other in
tangibles for taxation. The increasing
burden of taxation is not equally dis
tributed. 1t is notorious that hundreds of
millions of dollars of personal property
held in this state escape taxation alto
gether- Reputable, high minded, public
spirited citizens. under the specious plea
that everybody is doing it. withhold
from taxation. monies, bonds, securities
and other intangibles. leaving the entire
burden of taxation to fall upon the hold
ers of real estate improvements. corpora
lions, live stock, household goods and
other properties exposed to the view of
the ASSESSOR condition unjust in itself
and demeralizing to the people
In connection with the subject of reve-
nues. 1 again suggest that all fees col
lected by state departments and state in
situations be turned into the general reve-
nue. fund of the state treasury These
fees last year amounted to $3.50. 344 and
while they were all accounted for. they
should in good business practice have been
turned into the general fund and appro-
priated to specific purposes by the legis-
lature. instead of being expended at the
discretion of state officials and superin-
tendents of institutions.
Again 1 urge a uniform system of ac-
counting for the state. the counties and
for the municipalities with an annual
audit of these accounts by the state ac-
countant-
1 recommend the county clerk be re-
quired to take and keep invoice of the
county's assets, including all unsolicited
taxes. with itemize6 statement and
description of the property upon which 1t
is a lien, including the name of the own
err Also to keep a public list of all taxes
/ related, the descriptions of the property
/ and the name of the owner, that the pub
/ lie may know how much of the taxes the
\ county officials rebate and how much of
! Extortionate Fees
| recommend also a general and search
/ ing inquiry into the matter of fees in
! both the state and local courts and in
/ county offices In partition suits in the
/ district court and in the case of small
! estates in the probate court, it sometimes
/ happens that before final settlement, the
/ fees consume the greater part of the
! property involved The administration OF
| justice should not be allowed to bring
| hardship upon the people, and hope this
| legislature will carefully revise the whole
| fee system
| More Practical Schools
| The last session enacted commendable
| legislation in the interest of rural schools
| 1t greatly strengthened our school sys-
| tenn Here are making progress Dur
spent for school buildings and school i'm
/ in our history. We now have $4,000, O0t
| last year spent 81 <, 900. 900 for educa tional
purposes But we should not be satisfied
| even with that showing Kansas is pro-
| gressive. forward-looking state and it is
| especially important and necessary thai
! we shall not fail in any particular in oul
efforts to give the 100000 school children
of Kansas the best possible educationa
| opportunities 1 consideR vocational train
| ing OF especial Importance To that end
| 1 ask this legislature to give especial at
| tention to the common schools that every
boy and girl in the state may have tbs
opportunity to acquire a complete. practi
I cal education that will give him an equa
chance in the world The work of stan