The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-13
Senate Resents r.. X. Adminis-
tratiOn's Attitude Rebate Bill.
Smith Letters Urge Tax Meas
ure Be Killed Promptly.
BIG, BLACK STORM IN SIGHT
Charge Santa Fe Using Federal
Authorities as Lobby.
Supporters To Cite Inefficiency
Govt Control as Answer.

Democratic members of the Kansas
senate and that part of the national
Democratic administration that has
had charge of the operation of the
railroads viii lie wise if they begin to
prepare their feet for a bliStering
without delay. ''roe-toasting" such
a. they have not had since the legisla-
ture convened is being prepared for
them.
The wonderful lack of efficiency
that has been shown in the operation
Of the railroads, the inglorious expen-
diture of untold millions and the in
eXtrica BILE tangle into which McAdoo
is alleged to have gotten the roads are
to be told to the senate and elabor-
ated upon with all the oratory and
eloquence the body is able to muster.
Just when the outbreak is coming is
not known, but the plans for it began
today when members of the senate
began to receive letters from William
r. Smith. solicitor for Kansas for the
Santa Fe, urging that the bill to do
away with tax rebates be killed.
The Smith letter urges the defeat
of the tax rebate bill because it is as
serted the United States railroad ad-
ministration urges it. John Barton
Payne, general counselor for the adj
ministration, is quoted as specifically
urging the defeat of the bill and Nc
Adoo's plea to the governors of all the
states to see that railroad taxes be not
disturbed in an upward direction is
also referred to.
Bill Has Passed House.
The tax bill doing away with re-
bates was originated in the senate by
Anspaugh of Coffey county. He had
a similar bill introduced in the house,
and when the house bill passed he had
it substituted for his measure in the
senate. 1t is this substitute that the
Santa Fe solicitor asserts the national
administration wants killed.
Anspaugh. Montee, and practically
every member of the committee on
fees and taxation have received a let
ter from Smith and it seems to be the
general opinion that the railroad is us
ing the railroad administration to lob
by against the passage of a bill that
is intended to take a special privilege
away from the big corporations Sem
aIor Anspdngh says that the effort
will do more to insure the passage OF
his bill than anything else possibly
could and a number of other senators
have asserted that these letters will
give them good excuse to tell the
senate something about the railroad
administration that it should know.
The Smith Letter.
The letter Smith has sent to a large
number of senators reads as follows:
1 am in receipt of a telegram dated
February IL from Hon. John Barton Payne
GeieFdl cOuHSeI OF the states rail-
road administration, Washington, d. C.,
urging that substitute for House Bill No.
30. recommended for passage by your COM
mittee on assessment and taxation. which
repeals the law allowing rebate of 5 per
cent on the second half of taxes paid De
cember !, be not passed.
The railroad administration expresses an
earnest desire that the repeal of this priv
ilege be postponed at this time. 1t is the
policy of the federal government now op-
Grating the railroads to pay its taxes
promptly, and it desires to save the amount
of this per cent rebate, which would be
cut off by a repeal of the present law.
Some time since Hon. W. G. McAdoo, di-
rector general of railroads. addressed
letter to all the governors of the different
states. urging them to keep down railroad
taxes to the minimum, inasmuch as the
federal government is In need of all the
money it can get
l earnestly hope that you will give con-
sideration to this appeal on behalf of the
federal government, and postpone the pas
sage of the repeating act above mentioned
until the next session of the legislature.
Respectfully, w. r. SMITH.