洪康(kang)燮字福卿,號佛青,江西(xi)婺源縣(xian)人(ren)。畢(bi)業(ye)于安(an)徽法政學堂。因其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)年謝頂,而被揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)人(ren)民親(qin)切昵稱為“洪辣(la)(la)子”(揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)話里,辣(la)(la)子的(de)有謝頂的(de)意思)洪氏調任揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)長前為句容縣(xian)代理縣(xian)長。1934年4月(yue)調任揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)長,1938年日本軍(jun)隊攻克(ke)揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)時離開,主政揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)雖(sui)只有短(duan)短(duan)4年,但對揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)政治、經濟(ji)、文化極(ji)具深遠影響,即便生活在今天的(de)揚(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)人(ren)仍能從日常生活中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)享(xiang)受到洪氏主政時期(qi)帶來的(de)福祉。
其實洪康燮調(diao)任(ren)(ren)(ren)揚(yang)中(zhong)是(shi)個苦(ku)差,受命于危難之(zhi)(zhi)時。從1931年起,揚(yang)中(zhong)多(duo)處江港決堤,水災影響嚴重,民不(bu)(bu)(bu)聊生,而國民政(zheng)(zheng)府在這種情況下反增加賦稅(shui)(shui)(shui),引起民眾強烈(lie)不(bu)(bu)(bu)滿,島內全(quan)境掀起轟(hong)轟(hong)烈(lie)烈(lie)的抗稅(shui)(shui)(shui)風(feng)潮,經久不(bu)(bu)(bu)息。1931年任(ren)(ren)(ren)期的國民黨(dang)揚(yang)中(zhong)縣(xian)長畢靜謙、1933年任(ren)(ren)(ren)期的國民黨(dang)揚(yang)中(zhong)縣(xian)長包允(yun)恭(gong)都因抗稅(shui)(shui)(shui)風(feng)潮而下臺(tai)。1933年10月剛(gang)剛(gang)繼任(ren)(ren)(ren)的縣(xian)長馮沛三認為前任(ren)(ren)(ren)澤區(qu)長軟弱無(wu)能,采取鐵(tie)腕政(zheng)(zheng)治,強行開征附加稅(shui)(shui)(shui),所(suo)征項目(mu)比前任(ren)(ren)(ren)還(huan)多(duo)出十(shi)(shi)余種,并(bing)且(qie)過期不(bu)(bu)(bu)交要加收十(shi)(shi)分之(zhi)(zhi)一的滯(zhi)納金。
一(yi)時(shi)間揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)島(dao)內民(min)不(bu)聊生,十室(shi)九(jiu)空。窮苦的(de)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)農(nong)(nong)民(min)在走投(tou)無路,忍無可忍情況下(xia)。再(zai)次發起拒(ju)繳(jiao)田賦(fu)附加稅風潮,火燒國民(min)黨縣(xian)黨部常務(wu)(wu)委員張子誠、區(qu)保(bao)衛團(tuan)團(tuan)長劉煥章(zhang)、大地(di)主杜三(杜楚卿)等7家的(de)房(fang)屋,此后萬余農(nong)(nong)民(min)繼(ji)續(xu)向縣(xian)政(zheng)府(fu)沖(chong)擊,途(tu)中(zhong)(zhong)與軍警發生沖(chong)突,死(si)4人,大批農(nong)(nong)民(min)被捕(bu)、通緝。一(yi)時(shi)間抗(kang)稅運(yun)動震驚(jing)全(quan)省,江蘇省政(zheng)府(fu)以“江洲火案(an)”、“赤匪暴動”罪名,上報國民(min)黨政(zheng)務(wu)(wu)院。政(zheng)務(wu)(wu)院迫于當時(shi)形勢(shi),作出“對農(nong)(nong)民(min)暴動,應持(chi)慎(shen)重態(tai)度,不(bu)宜(yi)鎮壓,防再(zai)激民(min)變”的(de)批示。揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)政(zheng)府(fu)不(bu)得不(bu)釋放(fang)被捕(bu)人員,撤銷通緝令。
1934年春,馮沛(pei)三(san)應召(zhao)赴省城述職。馮沛(pei)三(san)自料此去厄(e)運難逃,在船行至(zhi)鎮江(jiang)(jiang)甘(gan)露寺江(jiang)(jiang)域(yu)時,投江(jiang)(jiang)自殺。
這種情況下,剛剛代(dai)理句容縣長二個(ge)月的洪康燮,臨(lin)危受命,改任(ren)揚(yang)中縣長。以此(ci)安撫揚(yang)中民心,平息抗(kang)稅風潮(chao)。
建(jian)國后(hou),因做過國民政(zheng)府縣(xian)長,政(zheng)治(zhi)上(shang)越發(fa)難過,晚景十分凄涼。上(shang)個世(shi)紀五、六十年代(dai),上(shang)海有(you)關方面曾幾次派(pai)人來揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)調查洪康(kang)燮(xie)在(zai)(zai)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)情況,揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)人民政(zheng)府、百姓都念(nian)其對(dui)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)功(gong),都客觀公正給予(yu)以(yi)評價(jia)。但那個年代(dai)政(zheng)治(zhi)運動(dong)一個接(jie)一個,象洪康(kang)燮(xie)這(zhe)(zhe)種身份的人,很難置身外,只得離(li)開上(shang)海,投奔四川(chuan)(chuan)親(qin)友艱(jian)難渡(du)日,1965年在(zai)(zai)四川(chuan)(chuan)成都病逝。為此(ci)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)志曾這(zhe)(zhe)樣評價(jia):洪康(kang)燮(xie)在(zai)(zai)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)任職期間(jian),常微服私訪(fang),考(kao)察(cha)政(zheng)情民意(yi),并能積極采取措施,懲治(zhi)腐敗,壓(ya)抑豪強,減輕(qing)賦稅(shui),興(xing)辦教育,緩解群眾疾(ji)苦(ku)。