洪康燮字福(fu)卿,號佛青,江(jiang)西婺源縣(xian)人(ren)。畢業于安徽法政(zheng)學堂(tang)。因(yin)其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)年(nian)謝頂,而被揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)人(ren)民親(qin)切昵稱為“洪辣子”(揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)話里,辣子的(de)有(you)謝頂的(de)意思)洪氏(shi)調任揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)長(chang)前為句容縣(xian)代理(li)縣(xian)長(chang)。1934年(nian)4月調任揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)長(chang),1938年(nian)日本軍隊攻(gong)克揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)時離(li)開(kai),主政(zheng)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)雖(sui)只有(you)短短4年(nian),但對(dui)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)政(zheng)治、經濟(ji)、文化(hua)極(ji)具深遠影(ying)響(xiang),即便(bian)生活在今天(tian)的(de)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)人(ren)仍(reng)能從日常生活中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)享(xiang)受(shou)到洪氏(shi)主政(zheng)時期帶來的(de)福(fu)祉。
其(qi)實(shi)洪康燮調(diao)任(ren)(ren)揚(yang)中是個苦差,受命于危難之時。從1931年(nian)(nian)起,揚(yang)中多(duo)處江港(gang)決堤,水災(zai)影響嚴(yan)重,民(min)不聊(liao)生,而(er)國民(min)政府在(zai)這種情況下反(fan)增(zeng)加賦(fu)稅(shui),引起民(min)眾強(qiang)烈不滿,島內全境掀起轟(hong)轟(hong)烈烈的(de)抗(kang)稅(shui)風潮(chao)(chao),經久(jiu)不息。1931年(nian)(nian)任(ren)(ren)期(qi)的(de)國民(min)黨揚(yang)中縣(xian)長畢靜(jing)謙、1933年(nian)(nian)任(ren)(ren)期(qi)的(de)國民(min)黨揚(yang)中縣(xian)長包允恭都因抗(kang)稅(shui)風潮(chao)(chao)而(er)下臺。1933年(nian)(nian)10月剛剛繼任(ren)(ren)的(de)縣(xian)長馮沛三認為前(qian)任(ren)(ren)澤區長軟弱無(wu)能,采取(qu)鐵腕政治,強(qiang)行開征(zheng)附加稅(shui),所征(zheng)項(xiang)目比(bi)前(qian)任(ren)(ren)還多(duo)出十余種,并且過期(qi)不交要加收十分之一的(de)滯納金。
一時間揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)島內民(min)(min)不聊生(sheng),十(shi)室(shi)九空。窮苦的(de)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)農(nong)民(min)(min)在走投無路,忍無可忍情況(kuang)下。再次發起拒繳田賦(fu)附加稅風潮,火燒國民(min)(min)黨縣(xian)黨部常務(wu)委員張子誠、區保(bao)衛團(tuan)團(tuan)長劉煥章、大(da)地主杜三(杜楚卿)等7家的(de)房屋,此后萬余農(nong)民(min)(min)繼續向縣(xian)政(zheng)府(fu)沖擊,途(tu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)與軍警(jing)發生(sheng)沖突,死4人(ren),大(da)批(pi)農(nong)民(min)(min)被(bei)捕(bu)、通緝。一時間抗稅運動(dong)震驚全省,江蘇省政(zheng)府(fu)以(yi)“江洲火案”、“赤匪暴動(dong)”罪名,上(shang)報國民(min)(min)黨政(zheng)務(wu)院。政(zheng)務(wu)院迫于當(dang)時形勢,作出(chu)“對農(nong)民(min)(min)暴動(dong),應持慎重態度,不宜鎮壓(ya),防(fang)再激民(min)(min)變”的(de)批(pi)示。揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣(xian)政(zheng)府(fu)不得(de)不釋放(fang)被(bei)捕(bu)人(ren)員,撤銷通緝令。
1934年春,馮(feng)沛三應召赴(fu)省城(cheng)述職。馮(feng)沛三自(zi)料此去厄運(yun)難(nan)逃(tao),在船(chuan)行(xing)至(zhi)鎮(zhen)江甘露寺江域時,投江自(zi)殺。
這種(zhong)情(qing)況下,剛剛代理句容縣長二(er)個月(yue)的(de)洪康燮,臨危受命,改任揚中縣長。以此安撫(fu)揚中民心,平息抗(kang)稅風潮。
建國(guo)后,因做過(guo)國(guo)民(min)政(zheng)府(fu)縣長,政(zheng)治(zhi)上(shang)(shang)越(yue)發(fa)難(nan)過(guo),晚景十分凄涼。上(shang)(shang)個世紀五、六十年代(dai),上(shang)(shang)海有(you)關方面(mian)曾幾次(ci)派人(ren)(ren)來揚中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)調查洪(hong)康燮在揚中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)情(qing)況,揚中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)人(ren)(ren)民(min)政(zheng)府(fu)、百姓都念其(qi)對揚中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)功(gong),都客觀公正(zheng)給(gei)予以(yi)評價(jia)。但那個年代(dai)政(zheng)治(zhi)運(yun)動(dong)一(yi)個接一(yi)個,象洪(hong)康燮這(zhe)種身份的人(ren)(ren),很難(nan)置身外,只得離(li)開上(shang)(shang)海,投奔四川親友艱難(nan)渡(du)日,1965年在四川成都病逝(shi)。為此揚中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣志曾這(zhe)樣評價(jia):洪(hong)康燮在揚中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)任職期間,常(chang)微服私訪,考察(cha)政(zheng)情(qing)民(min)意,并能(neng)積極采取措(cuo)施,懲(cheng)治(zhi)腐敗,壓抑(yi)豪強,減輕賦稅(shui),興(xing)辦教育,緩解群眾疾苦。