The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-17
County Clerk Asks Authority to
Inspect Bank Books.
Declares That Rich Are Hiding
Property From Assessor.
WOULD ADD 4 BIG REVENUE
Cites Several Instances Where
Funds Were Covered Up.
Wants Tax Burden Distributed
on Shoulders of All.

Because there is no law to guard
against it, hundreds of thousands of
dollars of Shawnee county s. wealth is
going untaxed. The result is an un-
just burden upon the poorer classes
and a steady increase in taxation that
is becoming oppressive.
This was the statement made today
by Douglas A. Graham, county clerk,
in discussing the ultimate outcome of
steadily increasing taxation. Scores
of wealthy men, Graham asserted, are
making insufficient returns to the as
SCISSORS, who have no authority. to veri-
fy the statements by an inspection of
bank accounts. This means, he pointed
out, that while many substantial bank
accounts are going untaxed, the poorer
classes who cannot hide the little
property they own are paying a rate
of taxation made unreasonably high
because of this condition.
Wants Law to Inspect Bank Books.
Graham thinks the solution of the
tax problem lies in a law which would
give county assessors authority to in
spect bank books and ascertain just
how much money every person has
that is subject to taxation. While
there is, of course, considerable money
! tied up in nontaxable bonds of various
kinds, there is nevertheless many
thousands of dollars subject to taxa
ton and upon which no return what
ever is being made. If this money
could be taxed, the county clerk as
serts it would have the effect of re-
dueing substantially the rate of taxa
ton under which the county is now
staggering.
'3Such a plan, if it could be brought
about. would add an amazing amount
of revenue to the county treasury,
Graham declared. 1--WE have come to
an age when it costs more to operate
gOvernments-not in Salaries, but in
labor, materials and the construction OF
great works like hard surfaced roads
and concrete bridges. OF course, they
are better and more economical in the
long run. Shawnee county is develop
ing one of the finest highway systems
in the country. They facilitate trans
portation and promote. industry, but
they cost money. And where are we
going to get the money?
Tax Figures Run High.
$50 far it has been raised by taxa
ton. but the tax figures are running
so high that they cannot be made
much higher. Taxation is mounting
steadily in spite of the fact that the
county commissioners are putting
forth every effort to keep it at a mini
mum. And still it is going to take
more money. What are we coming
/ to?
II don't know. But I do know that
| one immediate. effective and just DIS
posaI of the problem lies in taxing the
| great mass of wealth that is now lying
| hidden away and which the assessors
are never able to put on their BOOKS
| That would help to bring the tax rate
| back to where it should be-
Suppose a man has 100000 in
the bank. The assessor come around
on March l and asks him how much
money he has on hand. Say the reply
! is $1,000. What can be done? The
assessor must take his word for it;
! or, if he should go to the bank and
inquire on the subject the banker
| would be quite justified in telling him
that it is none of his business. Which
| it isn't under the present system
But 1 think it is the publics business,
| because the public is digging into its
pockets deeper and deeper every year
| to defray the cost of government.
Poor Man Bears Burden.
| at is positively amazing-and re-
| voIting-to look over the returns made
| bv some of Topeka's rich men-men
who are looked upon as good citizens
! and many of them good church mem
bers. Recently a man died and 1t was
revealed that his estate was worth
more than 100000; yet never in his
life that I know of did he make returns
to the assessor on more than $4,000
worth of property. This means that
the rich man. is paying an extremely
I low rate Of taxation and the poor man
is paying an extremely high one.
| This statement may pinch some
! where, but We must look the facts
in the face or admit that the cost of
! government proposition IS getting
away from US. Equal taxation is not
an existing tact in Shawnee county,
nor in the state of Kansas. Similar
conditions prevail, l am informed.
thruout the country. Give US a law to
lempower county assessors TO inspect
i bank accounts and the tax burden will
not only be shifted onto the shoulder
of all men equally, but it will be light