洪康燮(xie)字福(fu)卿,號(hao)佛青,江西婺源縣(xian)人。畢業(ye)于安徽法政(zheng)學(xue)堂。因其中(zhong)(zhong)年(nian)謝(xie)頂,而被揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)人民(min)親切昵(ni)稱為“洪辣(la)子”(揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)話里(li),辣(la)子的(de)有(you)謝(xie)頂的(de)意思)洪氏調任(ren)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)長前為句容(rong)縣(xian)代理縣(xian)長。1934年(nian)4月調任(ren)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)長,1938年(nian)日(ri)本軍(jun)隊攻克揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)時離開(kai),主(zhu)政(zheng)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)雖只有(you)短(duan)短(duan)4年(nian),但對揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)政(zheng)治、經濟、文(wen)化極(ji)具深遠(yuan)影(ying)響,即便生活在(zai)今天的(de)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)人仍能從日(ri)常生活中(zhong)(zhong)享受到(dao)洪氏主(zhu)政(zheng)時期帶(dai)來的(de)福(fu)祉。
其實洪康燮調任(ren)揚(yang)(yang)中是(shi)個苦差,受命于危難之時(shi)。從1931年(nian)起,揚(yang)(yang)中多(duo)(duo)處(chu)江港決(jue)堤,水災影響(xiang)嚴(yan)重,民(min)(min)不(bu)聊(liao)生,而(er)國民(min)(min)政(zheng)府在這種(zhong)情(qing)況下(xia)反增加賦(fu)稅(shui),引起民(min)(min)眾(zhong)強烈不(bu)滿,島內全境(jing)掀起轟(hong)轟(hong)烈烈的(de)抗稅(shui)風潮(chao),經久不(bu)息。1931年(nian)任(ren)期(qi)的(de)國民(min)(min)黨揚(yang)(yang)中縣(xian)長(chang)畢靜謙、1933年(nian)任(ren)期(qi)的(de)國民(min)(min)黨揚(yang)(yang)中縣(xian)長(chang)包允恭(gong)都因抗稅(shui)風潮(chao)而(er)下(xia)臺。1933年(nian)10月(yue)剛(gang)(gang)剛(gang)(gang)繼任(ren)的(de)縣(xian)長(chang)馮沛三認為前(qian)任(ren)澤區長(chang)軟(ruan)弱無能,采取鐵(tie)腕政(zheng)治,強行開征(zheng)附(fu)加稅(shui),所征(zheng)項目比前(qian)任(ren)還多(duo)(duo)出十(shi)余種(zhong),并且過期(qi)不(bu)交(jiao)要加收十(shi)分之一(yi)的(de)滯納金。
一時(shi)間揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)島(dao)內民(min)不(bu)聊生(sheng),十室(shi)九空。窮(qiong)苦的揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)農(nong)民(min)在(zai)走投無路(lu),忍無可忍情況下。再次發起(qi)拒繳田賦附加稅風潮,火燒國民(min)黨(dang)縣黨(dang)部常務(wu)委(wei)員(yuan)張子(zi)誠、區保衛團(tuan)團(tuan)長劉(liu)煥章、大地主杜三(san)(杜楚卿(qing))等7家的房屋,此后萬余農(nong)民(min)繼續向縣政府(fu)(fu)(fu)沖(chong)擊,途中(zhong)與軍警發生(sheng)沖(chong)突,死(si)4人,大批農(nong)民(min)被捕(bu)、通緝(ji)(ji)。一時(shi)間抗稅運(yun)動震驚全省(sheng),江蘇省(sheng)政府(fu)(fu)(fu)以“江洲火案”、“赤(chi)匪暴(bao)動”罪名,上報國民(min)黨(dang)政務(wu)院(yuan)。政務(wu)院(yuan)迫于當時(shi)形勢,作出“對農(nong)民(min)暴(bao)動,應(ying)持慎重態度,不(bu)宜鎮壓,防再激民(min)變”的批示。揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)縣政府(fu)(fu)(fu)不(bu)得不(bu)釋放被捕(bu)人員(yuan),撤銷通緝(ji)(ji)令。
1934年(nian)春,馮沛(pei)三應召赴省(sheng)城述職。馮沛(pei)三自料(liao)此去厄運(yun)難逃,在船行(xing)至(zhi)鎮江(jiang)(jiang)甘(gan)露(lu)寺(si)江(jiang)(jiang)域時(shi),投(tou)江(jiang)(jiang)自殺(sha)。
這(zhe)種情況下(xia),剛剛代理(li)句容縣長二個月的洪康燮,臨危受命(ming),改任(ren)揚中(zhong)縣長。以此安撫揚中(zhong)民心(xin),平息抗稅(shui)風潮。
建國后,因做過國民(min)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)縣(xian)長,政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)治上越(yue)發難過,晚(wan)景十(shi)分凄涼。上個(ge)世紀五、六十(shi)年代(dai),上海有關方面曾幾次派(pai)人來揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)調查洪(hong)康(kang)燮在(zai)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)情況,揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)人民(min)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)、百(bai)姓都念其對揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)有功(gong),都客觀公正(zheng)給予以評價(jia)。但那個(ge)年代(dai)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)治運動一(yi)個(ge)接一(yi)個(ge),象(xiang)洪(hong)康(kang)燮這種(zhong)身份的人,很(hen)難置(zhi)身外,只得(de)離開上海,投(tou)奔(ben)四(si)川親友(you)艱難渡(du)日,1965年在(zai)四(si)川成(cheng)都病逝(shi)。為(wei)此揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)志曾這樣評價(jia):洪(hong)康(kang)燮在(zai)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)任職期(qi)間(jian),常(chang)微(wei)服私訪,考察(cha)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)情民(min)意(yi),并能積極采取(qu)措施,懲治腐(fu)敗,壓抑豪強,減輕(qing)賦稅(shui),興(xing)辦教育,緩解群眾疾(ji)苦。