The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-10
IN new PROBLEMS
Governor Aliens Address q
Real Message To People.
Outlines General Legislative
Program For 1921 Session.
NEED OF new INDIRECT TAXES
Increase of S4,OOO,O0O In State
Revenue Possible, He says.
Laws Under Farm Tenantry
and Highway Amendment.

INAUGURAL SPEECH HIGH SPOTS.
Recommendation for new indirect tax
revenues.
(n) Revenue of $s,OOO.OoO year thru
oil production tax law.
(b) Increase of $1,OOO.OOO year thru
lowering of exemptions under In
heritance tax law.
Arguments for division of court of indus
trial relations and creation of new public
utilities commission.
Creation of state department of agriculture
and consolidation of numerous boards
and departments.
Better rural schools.
Enactment under new farm tenantry
amendment and passage of laws putting
measure in operation.
Highway legislation.
Revision of leasing laws.
When Governor Allen walked to the
front of the speakers stand at noon
today and began his inaugural speech,
he was talking right to the state leg
islature thru the big crowd that had
gathered for the first word of the gov
ernor'S program. Practically the en-
tire speech was given over to a discus
sion of new problems to be met by the
present legislature. Division of the in
d1striaf court was brought to the front
and made an important part of the
governors speech. f;f
Persons who attended the inaugural
ceremo onies today were confident the
governors speech outlined the general
program which he will seek to- have
enacted into law during the winter
Practically every member of the house
and senate was in representative nan
when the address was delivered. There
was the keenest interest in the COVER
nor's discussion of his feature policies
Need OF Better Taxation.
Need in Kansas of new indirect
taxes to relieve property owners of
payment of more revenues thru direct
taxation was strongly urged early in the
governors speech. He pointed out
that the production of 30,000,0 900 bar
rels of oil a year in this state should
provide a return to the state of $3,-
100000 a year under an oil production
tax law. l.
Changes in the present inheritance
tax law were urged. In spite of the
fact that the stS+e legislature of 1913
wiped out the law. Governor Allen to-
day urged a big reduction in eXemp-
tions under the law. He said amend
ments lowering exemptions would give
the state an additional million dollars
q year.
Creation of a state department of
agriculture was recommended. The
governor urged that the state agri-
cultural organization be brought under
more direct state control and that
number of agricultural. horticultural,
livestock and kindred organizations be
consolidated.
Legislation under the new farm
tenantry amendment and laws cover
Ing state highway building We're asked.
Better rural schools and revision of
existing lease laws were also covered
by the governor in his speech.
The Governors Address.
I take again the oath of office with a
profound realization of my obligation to
the people CT this state for their patience,
forbearance and confidence.
Their gracious suffrage has given to me
a deep sense of my responsibility to meet
in devout spirit the continuing duties of
the office.
think we all realize that the past two
Years have increased our problems, and
we encounter the need of wise and con-
gtructiVe economy
We must find added revenues Of govern
,ment without taxing too extensively the
forms of property now bearing the heavy
burdens.
In Justice to the legislature. should
keep in mind the relation of state laws to
other taxes. Last year, out of every dollar
of taxes paid into the county treasury by
the citizen. only ten cents were required
TO meet the appropriations made In the
lures. In addition to township, city and
county taxes the heaviest burden has been
in Federal taxes The legislature took
from the taxpayers for the first years of
this biennium $6.0O0,0OO to meet state ex-
penditures. The Federal government for
The same period collected $35.o00,000
In establishing our economies. this win
ter we should realize that we might de-
Of the sustenance its growth demands
without actually saving the taxpayer any
considerable proportion of his total bill
We should be saving at the sptgot while
ofhers were wasting at the bunghole.
do not urge this an argument for care
iessness merely as an emphasis upon the
relatively small responsibility which YOU
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