The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-06
Measure Provided for the AbOli-
ton of Tax Rebates.
Also 1t Sought to Put in Force
a Semi-Annual Penalty.
NO REASON FOR A CHANGE
That Was Opinion of Those
Who Led Opposition.
Getty Argues Present Law Puts
Premium on Wealth.

BY vote of is to 16 the senate to-
day killed a bill by Moore of Cowley,
a house bill fathered in the senate by
Terrell of Chautauqua, abolishing tax
rebates and providing a penalty OF
per cent upon both the first and sec
end halves of the annual tax. The bill
was killed, apparently, because it aboi-
ished the present tax rebate. 1t had
been passed by the house.
AS soon as the bill came up for
consideration under special order, Fer
rel of Chautauqua moved an amend
nent changing the whole aspect of the
measure. His amendment provided
for a progressive penalty per cent
the first month after failure to pay
the first half and l per cent for each
succeeding month, then per cent
upon failure to pay the second half the
first day of July. His amendment also
provided for the distribution of the
penalty among the different county
funds Immediately upon collection.
Satterthwaite of Butler opposed the
amendment on the ground that the
latter provision would necessitate
lot of extra bookkeeping in the county
treasurer's office to distribute money
the county really should have for its
general fund.
Snyder Fights Measure.
Snyder of Leavenworth opposed
both the bill as originally drawn and
with the amendment offered. He con-
tended there is nothing wrong with
the present law and that the only eff
feet the Terrell bill and amendment
would have would be to mess up"
taxation matters.
The brunt of the fight for the
amendment was carried By Getty of
Wvandotte.
II hope the amendment will carry
he said. THE one per cent a month
it provides for is a progressive penalty
and will be of real value to a county.
The county treasurer always has more
money than he needs after the 21St
of December, when the first half of
taxes becomes due. AS the law now
stands the county pays ten per cent
interest on taxes paid in advance-in
the form of rebates-then puts the
surplus in the banks and draws only
three per cent upon it."
Plumb of Lyon stated his opposition
to the bill as a whole and declared
that the amendment offered defeated
measure had He declared the pro-
posed bill would work a hardship on
the poor man.
On the motion of Satterthwaite of
Butler, the senate struck out that pro-
vision of the amendment providing for
the distribution of the penalty.
Amendment in Wrong Place.
Terrell of Chautauqua, then dis
covered that he had offered his
amendment in the wrong place and
declared it was not his intention to
cut out the five per cent penalty for
failure to pay the first half of the
taxes in advance-that his amend
ment merely added one per cent a
month to the penalty.
With that explanation the senate prompt
" killed his amendment. Kimball of La
bette, followed that up with a motion to
report the bill back to the senate with
the recommendation that it be not passed,
That was a substitute TO a motion al
ready made by Getty of Wyandotte that
the bill be recommended back for passage.
There is no good reason for abolish
ing the discount" said Senator KimbalL
If. has been stated here the amount
lost by the county in rebates must be made
up, levy a sufficient tax to cover the prob
able total of rebates
Hickey of Usage county. declared he
could see good reason why a man who
paid his debt when due should receive a
discount for doing.
Under the present law said Doerr of
/ Pawnee, you may settle your debt to the
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