Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-06-06
AN INCREASED
Other Work of the 35th Gen.
eral Assembly.

Hen. Champ Clark has returned
to his home in Pike County, after
an almost continuous absence of
nearly FIVE months. In conversa-
ton with a LEDGER reporter on the
work of the Thirty-ffth General
Assembly, Mr.. Clark said:
"The law of most importance
financially to the people is the one
cutting down the State tax for in
terest and sinking fund purposes
ten cents on the hundred dollars.
This reduces the total tax for that
purpose by something over eight
hundred thousand dollars per year
in other words, leaves that
amount in the pockets of the tax
payers. If the Thirty-Fifth Gen
eral Assembly had done nothing
else good this would be enough to
entitle it TO the grateful remem-
brance of the people of the State.
To form any idea Of the financial
situation in this State, two or three
facts must be borne in mind: First,
the constitution divides the reve-
nues into two parts-the interest
and sinking fund revenue, and the
general revenue. The first can be
used for only Two specific purposes
to pay the interest on the public
debt and to pay the debt. Not a
dollar can be used for anything
else. The constitution requires
that at least Il quarter of a million
of the debt be paid annually. As
most of the debt is funded at three
per cent, it seemed to us ridiculous
to pay it off any faster than nee
essary with money worth eight or
ten per cent. in the market. Then
to buy in u own bonds faster than
they fall due can only be done at
an enormous premium.
THE general revenue fund is the
pack horse of the State. Since it
has apparently become the settled
policy to give one-third to the pub
lie schools and since the
of our State institutions increase,
with our population, the general
revenue fund was heavily burdened.
This was largely cured by this leg
lsla,ure by levying a two per cent.
tax on gross receipts of express and
insurance companies. These two
laws will increase the general rev.
enue fund by at least one hundred
thousand annually. This added to
the eight hundred and twenty-five
thousand saved by the first bill
mentioned lifts from the shoulders
Of the taxpayers q load of nearly
one million annually. This cut
ting down of taxes was strictly a
Democratic party measure. No
measure was more bitterly fought
by the opposition. 1t is gall and
NORWOOD for them to think of it
yet. l predict that a "No" vote
on the proposition will be the po-
litical epitaph of every man who
voted against it and who has less
than five hundred majority at his
back.
The law to regulate the ballot
ON the Australian system places
us among the most progressive
States in the Union. My only re-
greet about it is that it does not APP
ply to the whole State. [ came
within four votes of getting it
through the House and could have
gotten the other four but for the
well known position Of the Senate
mot to pass it except in its pres
ent form-applicable to cities of
five thousand and up.
"The Anti-trust bill, the bill
against option dealing and the bill
regulating grain inspection, are
among the very best laws ever en-
acted by any legislature in the
United States and are all directly
in the interest of the bulk of the
people and will do a world of good.
The low creating a bureau Of i'm
migration and the one providing
for a new and perfect geological
survey of the State have been long
needed and will bring tens of thou
sands of good people and untold
millions of dollars into the State.
All this magnificent State needs to
enable her to overtop and outshine
all her sister commemorative is to
have her vast resources made
known. These laws will accom-
plish this and accomplish it thor
oughly.
POLITICALLY, I think the history
of the Thirtv-ffth General Assem-
bly, will rebound to the good of the
Democracy. The action of the Re-
publicans in maintaining an unva-
rying policy "obstructing'' all leg
islation, good or bad, ought to en-
able the Democrats to carry every
close county in Missouri-which
would give us from thirty to forty
majority in the next lower house.
Another thing it ought to dot
ought to induce every Democratic
constituency III Missouri to nomi-
nate for the next Legislature only
men of intelligence, courage, in
dustry, sobriety and strict party
tealty. One weakened, lazy, ig-
%norant, unfaithful Democratic alb
sentee is worse than two loud
nnnthad Ral1nal rr1ctionict J,