洪(hong)康(kang)燮字福(fu)(fu)卿,號佛青,江西(xi)婺源縣人(ren)。畢業于安徽(hui)法政(zheng)(zheng)學堂。因(yin)其中(zhong)年(nian)謝(xie)頂(ding),而(er)被揚中(zhong)人(ren)民親切(qie)昵稱為“洪(hong)辣子”(揚中(zhong)話(hua)里,辣子的有謝(xie)頂(ding)的意思)洪(hong)氏(shi)調(diao)任(ren)揚中(zhong)縣長前為句容縣代理縣長。1934年(nian)4月調(diao)任(ren)揚中(zhong)縣長,1938年(nian)日本軍隊攻克(ke)揚中(zhong)時(shi)離(li)開,主政(zheng)(zheng)揚中(zhong)雖只有短短4年(nian),但對揚中(zhong)政(zheng)(zheng)治、經(jing)濟、文化極(ji)具深遠影響,即便生活在今天的揚中(zhong)人(ren)仍能從日常生活中(zhong)享(xiang)受到洪(hong)氏(shi)主政(zheng)(zheng)時(shi)期帶來的福(fu)(fu)祉。
其實(shi)洪康燮(xie)調任(ren)揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)個苦差,受命于危難之(zhi)時。從1931年(nian)起(qi),揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)多處江港決堤(di),水災影響(xiang)嚴重,民不(bu)聊生(sheng),而國(guo)民政(zheng)府(fu)在(zai)這種情況下反(fan)增加(jia)賦稅(shui)(shui)(shui),引起(qi)民眾強(qiang)烈(lie)不(bu)滿(man),島內全境掀起(qi)轟轟烈(lie)烈(lie)的(de)(de)抗稅(shui)(shui)(shui)風(feng)潮(chao),經(jing)久不(bu)息(xi)。1931年(nian)任(ren)期(qi)的(de)(de)國(guo)民黨揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣長畢(bi)靜(jing)謙、1933年(nian)任(ren)期(qi)的(de)(de)國(guo)民黨揚(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣長包(bao)允恭都因抗稅(shui)(shui)(shui)風(feng)潮(chao)而下臺。1933年(nian)10月剛剛繼任(ren)的(de)(de)縣長馮(feng)沛三認為(wei)前任(ren)澤區長軟弱無能,采(cai)取鐵(tie)腕政(zheng)治,強(qiang)行開征(zheng)附加(jia)稅(shui)(shui)(shui),所征(zheng)項(xiang)目比前任(ren)還(huan)多出十余種,并且(qie)過期(qi)不(bu)交要加(jia)收十分之(zhi)一的(de)(de)滯納金。
一時(shi)間揚中島內民(min)(min)不(bu)(bu)聊(liao)生(sheng)(sheng),十室(shi)九空。窮(qiong)苦的(de)揚中農民(min)(min)在走(zou)投無路,忍無可(ke)忍情況下。再(zai)(zai)次發(fa)(fa)起(qi)拒繳田賦附加稅風潮,火燒國民(min)(min)黨(dang)縣黨(dang)部常務委(wei)員(yuan)張子(zi)誠、區保衛團(tuan)團(tuan)長劉煥章、大地主(zhu)杜(du)三(san)(杜(du)楚(chu)卿)等(deng)7家的(de)房屋,此后(hou)萬余農民(min)(min)繼續向(xiang)縣政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)沖(chong)擊,途中與(yu)軍警發(fa)(fa)生(sheng)(sheng)沖(chong)突,死4人,大批農民(min)(min)被(bei)捕、通(tong)緝。一時(shi)間抗稅運動震驚全省,江(jiang)蘇省政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)以“江(jiang)洲火案”、“赤匪(fei)暴動”罪名,上報國民(min)(min)黨(dang)政(zheng)務院(yuan)。政(zheng)務院(yuan)迫于(yu)當(dang)時(shi)形勢,作出“對農民(min)(min)暴動,應(ying)持(chi)慎重態(tai)度,不(bu)(bu)宜(yi)鎮壓(ya),防再(zai)(zai)激民(min)(min)變”的(de)批示。揚中縣政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)不(bu)(bu)得不(bu)(bu)釋放被(bei)捕人員(yuan),撤銷通(tong)緝令(ling)。
1934年春,馮沛三應(ying)召(zhao)赴省城述職(zhi)。馮沛三自料此(ci)去厄運難逃,在(zai)船(chuan)行至鎮江甘(gan)露寺江域時(shi),投江自殺。
這種(zhong)情況下,剛剛代理句容縣(xian)長二(er)個月的洪康燮,臨危受命,改(gai)任(ren)揚(yang)中縣(xian)長。以此(ci)安撫揚(yang)中民心,平息(xi)抗(kang)稅風潮。
建國(guo)后,因做過國(guo)民(min)(min)政(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)縣長,政(zheng)(zheng)治上越發難(nan)過,晚景十分凄(qi)涼。上個(ge)世紀五、六(liu)十年代,上海(hai)(hai)有(you)關方(fang)面曾幾次派人(ren)來揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)調(diao)查洪(hong)康(kang)(kang)燮(xie)在揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)情況,揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)人(ren)民(min)(min)政(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)、百姓都(dou)念其(qi)對揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)功,都(dou)客觀公(gong)正給予以評價。但(dan)那(nei)個(ge)年代政(zheng)(zheng)治運動(dong)一個(ge)接一個(ge),象洪(hong)康(kang)(kang)燮(xie)這種身份的(de)人(ren),很難(nan)置身外,只得離開上海(hai)(hai),投奔四(si)川親友艱(jian)難(nan)渡(du)日,1965年在四(si)川成都(dou)病逝。為此(ci)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)縣志曾這樣(yang)評價:洪(hong)康(kang)(kang)燮(xie)在揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)任職期間,常微服私訪,考察政(zheng)(zheng)情民(min)(min)意(yi),并能積(ji)極采取措施(shi),懲治腐敗,壓抑豪強(qiang),減輕賦稅,興辦(ban)教育,緩解(jie)群(qun)眾疾苦。