The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-15
MANY DODGE TAX

Intangible property" bear its share
of the burden of taxation. Mr.. Howe
pointed out that to enable the legis-
lature to make these changes, it will
be necessary for the people to pass the
tax amendment which is to be sub
vember election.
Prominent Speakers Today.
The convention opened Wednesday
evening. The speakers for today are
DR.. H. c. Taylor, chief of the office
of farm management. U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture; Samuel T. Howe;
President w. NJ. Jardine and Prof. F.
D. Farrell of the Kansas State Agri-
cultural college; Gov. Henry J. Allen;
| Charles S. Barrett, president of the
Farmers Union of America, Union
City, Ga: DR.. H j. Waters of Kansas
| City; John A. Whitehurst, president
| Of the Oklahoma Board of Agricul-
ture, and B. T. Harris, Champaign,
Ill.
/ THE tax burden is very heavy in
respect to property which gets on the
! assessment and tax rolls and in the
nature of things must increase further
I unless new sources of revenue shall
by Mr.. Howe. He pointed out that the
annual taxes collected in the state
| from 1908 to 1918 increased nearly
| no per cent-an increase of $23,
SIS. the school tax showing the larg-
| est percentage increase OF 129 per
cent; the county tax next. 124 per
cent. Speaking of the present system
| of including all classes of property
| under g. single tax rate, he said: cit
is absolutely impossible to enforce any
such system, as the failure of strenu-
| Gus attempts to do so have clearly
proven" He declared that the inequi-
ties of such a system encourage the
property owners to swear falsely as to
their possessions. He continued:
Assessors Get Little Help.
Experience teaches that the asses
sor gets in lifelong run very little help
property. Many owners of the kind
who feel that they are unjustly taxed
take advantage of every opportunity
afforded to escape the burden to the
extent Of falsely swearing before the
assessor as to the quantities of in
tangibles owned, they being of a kind
which they can easily conceal"
Twenty states, he stated already
have made laws providing for an
equita BILE classification of property for
taxation, and urged strongly that Kan
sas do so.
Governor Allen and Barrett were on
the afternoon program, which started
at 1880 O'Clock. The sessions are be-
ing held in Memorial hall. Aliens
subject for this afternoon was
State Aid for Farm Homes" while
Barrett talked on Agriculture in
Reorganization"
| The evening session starts at 1880
tonight. The Modoc club will furnish
musical program. The speakers will
be Hattie Moore Mitchell, dean OF
women, State Normal. Pittsburg, and
B. #. Harris, of Champaign, Ill.
At the opening session of the con-
vention last night, DIR. Frank L. Love
land. Topeka churchman and nation
forceful plea against radicalism, bit
terly arraigning the "Red" forces thai
are seeking the destruction of govern
ment. in the United States. The zoe
delegates present at the meeting loud
ly cheered Doctor Loveland's attach
on the Red flag. Nearly 100, 900 radi-
calls, processing to belong to the Rus
sian Communist party, have taken tbs
oath to destroy American democracy
and are spreading Bolshevist propa-
ganda broadcast, the speaker declared
Thompson Talks to- Delegates.
H. S. Thompson, president of ths
farmers. addressed the convention
following speeches of welcome b.
Clyde NJ. Reed. secretary to Governor
Allen. and George McDermott. acting
president of the Topeka Chamber o.
Commerce, representing Mayor Cor
wine, who was ill.
Barrett addressed a joint session o.
the legislature this afternoon. He
also will speak before the Rotary ilut
this evening and q public meeting a.
] the city auditorium tonight.