洪(hong)康(kang)燮字福(fu)卿(qing),號佛(fo)青(qing),江西婺源縣(xian)人(ren)(ren)。畢業于安徽法政(zheng)(zheng)學堂。因(yin)其中年(nian)(nian)(nian)謝頂(ding),而被(bei)揚(yang)(yang)中人(ren)(ren)民親切昵稱為“洪(hong)辣子(zi)”(揚(yang)(yang)中話(hua)里,辣子(zi)的(de)有(you)(you)謝頂(ding)的(de)意思)洪(hong)氏調(diao)任(ren)揚(yang)(yang)中縣(xian)長(chang)前為句容(rong)縣(xian)代理(li)縣(xian)長(chang)。1934年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月調(diao)任(ren)揚(yang)(yang)中縣(xian)長(chang),1938年(nian)(nian)(nian)日本軍隊攻克揚(yang)(yang)中時離開(kai),主政(zheng)(zheng)揚(yang)(yang)中雖只(zhi)有(you)(you)短(duan)短(duan)4年(nian)(nian)(nian),但對揚(yang)(yang)中政(zheng)(zheng)治、經濟、文(wen)化極具深遠影響,即便(bian)生(sheng)活(huo)在(zai)今天的(de)揚(yang)(yang)中人(ren)(ren)仍(reng)能從日常(chang)生(sheng)活(huo)中享受到洪(hong)氏主政(zheng)(zheng)時期帶來的(de)福(fu)祉。
其(qi)實(shi)洪(hong)康燮調任(ren)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)是(shi)個(ge)苦差,受命于危難(nan)之時。從1931年(nian)起,揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)多(duo)處江港決堤,水災(zai)影響嚴重,民不聊(liao)生(sheng),而國民政府(fu)在這(zhe)種(zhong)情(qing)況(kuang)下反增加(jia)賦稅(shui),引起民眾強烈(lie)不滿,島內(nei)全境掀起轟轟烈(lie)烈(lie)的抗(kang)(kang)稅(shui)風(feng)潮,經久(jiu)不息。1931年(nian)任(ren)期(qi)的國民黨揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)縣長(chang)畢靜謙、1933年(nian)任(ren)期(qi)的國民黨揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)縣長(chang)包允(yun)恭都因(yin)抗(kang)(kang)稅(shui)風(feng)潮而下臺。1933年(nian)10月剛(gang)剛(gang)繼任(ren)的縣長(chang)馮沛三認為前(qian)任(ren)澤區長(chang)軟弱無能,采(cai)取鐵(tie)腕(wan)政治,強行開征(zheng)附(fu)加(jia)稅(shui),所征(zheng)項目(mu)比前(qian)任(ren)還(huan)多(duo)出十(shi)余種(zhong),并且過期(qi)不交要加(jia)收十(shi)分之一(yi)的滯納金。
一(yi)時間(jian)揚中(zhong)島內民(min)不(bu)(bu)聊生(sheng),十室九(jiu)空。窮苦的(de)(de)(de)揚中(zhong)農(nong)(nong)民(min)在(zai)走(zou)投無路(lu),忍無可忍情況下。再次發起拒繳田賦附加(jia)稅(shui)風潮,火燒(shao)國民(min)黨(dang)縣(xian)黨(dang)部常務(wu)委員(yuan)張子誠(cheng)、區(qu)保衛團團長(chang)劉煥章、大地主杜三(杜楚(chu)卿)等7家(jia)的(de)(de)(de)房屋(wu),此(ci)后(hou)萬(wan)余農(nong)(nong)民(min)繼(ji)續向縣(xian)政(zheng)府沖(chong)擊,途中(zhong)與軍警發生(sheng)沖(chong)突(tu),死(si)4人(ren),大批農(nong)(nong)民(min)被捕、通緝。一(yi)時間(jian)抗稅(shui)運(yun)動(dong)震驚全省(sheng),江(jiang)蘇省(sheng)政(zheng)府以“江(jiang)洲火案”、“赤匪暴(bao)動(dong)”罪名(ming),上報國民(min)黨(dang)政(zheng)務(wu)院。政(zheng)務(wu)院迫于當時形勢,作(zuo)出(chu)“對(dui)農(nong)(nong)民(min)暴(bao)動(dong),應(ying)持慎重態度,不(bu)(bu)宜鎮(zhen)壓(ya),防再激民(min)變”的(de)(de)(de)批示(shi)。揚中(zhong)縣(xian)政(zheng)府不(bu)(bu)得不(bu)(bu)釋放(fang)被捕人(ren)員(yuan),撤銷(xiao)通緝令。
1934年春,馮(feng)沛(pei)三(san)應召(zhao)赴省城(cheng)述職。馮(feng)沛(pei)三(san)自料此去(qu)厄運(yun)難逃,在(zai)船(chuan)行至鎮江甘露(lu)寺江域時,投江自殺。
這(zhe)種情況(kuang)下(xia),剛剛代理句(ju)容縣長二個月的洪康燮,臨(lin)危受命,改任揚中(zhong)(zhong)縣長。以此安撫揚中(zhong)(zhong)民(min)心,平息抗稅風潮。
建國后,因做(zuo)過(guo)國民(min)政(zheng)(zheng)府縣長,政(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)上越(yue)發難過(guo),晚景十分凄(qi)涼。上個世(shi)紀五、六十年(nian)代,上海有關方(fang)面曾(ceng)幾次(ci)派人來揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)調查(cha)洪康燮(xie)在揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)情(qing)況,揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)人民(min)政(zheng)(zheng)府、百姓都念其(qi)對(dui)揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)有功,都客觀公正給(gei)予以評(ping)價。但那(nei)個年(nian)代政(zheng)(zheng)治(zhi)運動一個接一個,象(xiang)洪康燮(xie)這種身(shen)份的(de)人,很難置身(shen)外,只得(de)離開上海,投奔四川(chuan)親友艱難渡日,1965年(nian)在四川(chuan)成都病逝。為此揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)縣志曾(ceng)這樣評(ping)價:洪康燮(xie)在揚(yang)(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)任職期間,常微服私訪(fang),考察政(zheng)(zheng)情(qing)民(min)意,并能(neng)積極采取措施,懲治(zhi)腐敗,壓抑豪強(qiang),減(jian)輕賦稅,興辦教育,緩解群眾疾苦(ku)。