Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-11-10
WHO TAXES ARE HIGH

| Topeka Journal. IL TOOK tuIct nASn
salaried state attorneys, five days
and required an expense account OF
S43s. SO to 20 to Washington to see
about having a hearing date set for
advancing the Howat appeal before
the United States supreme court.
After spending three days in the ma
tional capital, the lawyers neither
secured an advancement Of the case
nor did they present a motion to ad-
vance or return home with any defin-
lite information as to when they might
return and be heard on the motion to
advance.
Usually a motion to advance is
presented in about two to three min.
utes. The general rule Of lawyers
who represent private clients-even
public interests at times-is to ask
some attorney in the city where the
court is sitting to present the mo.
ton. But the Howat case called for
three lawyers instead Of one. 1t re-
quired a trip half way across the con-
tinent and back. Now the state has
neither secured an advancement nor
learned when motion for advance
ment may be heard. The state has,
however. paid the $43S.S6 expense &C.
count-plus the salaries Of the state
officials amounting to about 1925 or
$3.50 for the time they were absent.
Richard ]. Hopkins, who seems to
have made the trip on his own motion
and to see that no one took advantage
of the states interests, turned In an
expense account of $183.03 for the
jaunt Judge James A. McDermott Of
the Industrial court also made the
trip. His expenses were $13S.91.
Baxter d. Mccain, attorney for the
labor court, also went. His expenses
were $136.92.
From authoritative sources it was
stated that the case was not ad-
vanced. Neither was 1t on the docket
or in a position for argument as to
advancement. Neither did either of
the three lawyers appear before the
court during any Of its sessions while
they were in Washington, October 10.
"a. Under the rules of the court IL
appears that the case could not have
been presented. The lawyers came
home without knowing when they
would be given a hearing or when thu
appeal proper might be considered.
Salina Union: wv. G. Clugston
our Topeka correspondent, has beer
looking up the records as to why there
is an increase. He finds items tina,
are very disconcerting to us ant
which will be deeply resented by thu
people Of Kansas. 1t appears thai
the tax commission was so exhausted
in increasing the levy that 1t mus
have rest. But, let Mr.. Clugstor
tell the story:
THE records show that soon aftel
, they got through making up the rec
ord-breaking levy, all three of tn,
members Of the commission bought
,, tickets to Breton Woods, N. H., ant
|, spent considerable time and consider
able Of the peoples money in tour
ing the New Hampshire bills, Wash
. ington and other places Of interest II
!, the East. The excuse for the tril
was an appointment by Governo
, Allen to attend tax conference-ant
: the total bill paid by the people To-
. this trip amounted to $765.58. Item
lied, these expense bills appeared OF
the records as follows:
J., Sept 30-Samuel T. Howe t,
Breton Woods, N. H., etc, $129.4S
t Sept. SOW. D. McRowan t,
I Breton Woods, N. H., $119.S3.
: Sept. 3O.-C. d. Foster to Brettor
D Woods, N. H., $104.10.
Aug. 30.-Samuel T. Howe. rail
road fare to Breton Woods, $137.3s
Aug. 30.-C. d. Foster, railroad
: fare to Breton Woods, $137.3s."