The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-05-31
MISSOURI ASSESSORS.

assessors was held In Jefferson City
last week. Governor Stone in call
ing the meeting to order said that
he had called the meeting at the
suggestion Of the state board Of
equalization, which had found great
inequality in the assessments OF the
various counties. The assessment Of
horses In Barton county made an
average of $18.66 per heed; in Au-
drain, 1851; in Mcdonald, $29. 48; I;
in Ray, s28.92; in Dade, s35.3b; in
Vernon, $21.91; in Warren, $32, ,98; ;
in Wayne, $31.S1. The same ine-
quality existed in regard to land. In
Vernon the valuation per acre was
returned at 5000 and In Barton
at 1888, when the difference ought
to have been the other way. Boone
county land was returned at $S. 10; /;
De Kalb, at $9.45, and Galloway,
at $500. He recommended the
Indiana convention as a model.
j. W. Wilkerson OF Clay county was
elected permanent chairman by
reclamation and John r. Hariston of
Howard and d. W. Stubblefield of
Caldwell were elected secretary and
assistant secretary respectively.
Forty -four counties, most Of them
north of the Missouri river, answered
the roll call. The members of the
state board Of equalization were
requested to take part in the delib-
erations. Messrs. Hall of Boone,
Nichols Of Galloway, Taylor of JAS
per, Walker of Lafayette and Renfro
OF Ray were appointed as the COM
mittee on order of business.
The sense of the convention was
expressed In the first business reso-
luton reported and adopted. 1t
provides that all taxable property
shal be assessed at its actual value
on the first day of next June and
every year following. The remain
der Of the work of the convention
was in line with this policy. An
effort was made to fix schedule for
the valuation of live stock, but after
brief discussion it was abandoned
as impractical, and resolution was
adopted requiring such property to
be assessed at it's actual market
value in the vicinity or county where
it is located.
The same rule was observed in
regard to common personal property.
Money, notes, bonds, bank stock,
building and loan shares and mort
cages must be assessed at 100 cents
on the dollar, and in case of depre-
citation in value, application for
relief must be made to the local
be ards Of equalization. In regard to
the assessment of real estate and
town lots, the committee recon-
mended the assessment by the acre
or front foot with the value of the
improvements added, and in arriving
at such valuations the assessor
should be governed by its market
value at ordinary sale on the first OF
June each year.
1t will be observed that these
changes, while within the scope OF
the law, are most radical departures
from the custom that has always
been in vogue in this state. 1t wat
the unanimous testimony of all those
who talked upon the subject that
with few exceptions, all classes Of
property is assessed at only small
per cent of its actual value. Rea
estate outside the cities is rarely
listed at one fourth of its value ant
personal property frequently escapes
listing entirely.
The assessed valuation of rea
estate and personal property in thu
state at present is 1924 ,oO0,O 900 il
round numbers, and no one seeml
to have any definite idea as to it,
actual value. 1t would certainly b'
more than double, and doubles
much more. With real estate an,
personal property assessed at it
, proper value, the railroad, TELEGRAPH
and bridge property in the stat
, which is now taxed for $65, ,000, ,00'
, In round numbers, would necessaril,
. be advanced in proportion to othe
property.
q The testimony of the assessors wa
a rather sad reflection on huma
a veracity in regard to returnin
a money, notes and other securities
a They united in saying that this clas
a Of taxpayers frequently have yer
:, short memories as to their world
q wealth In the shape OF portabl
property, and evidently have no fea
Of meeting fate similar to that c
Ananias and Sapphira.
The committee on mode of assess
ment reported the following whic
was adopted:
Resolved, That in making sssessmel
Of all property on the first Of June, 1ss
and thereafter, the county and 6wnshl
d assessors be requested and advised
n comply with the strict. letter OF Il
statutes governing the assessment
=" all classes, that the true value in mons
's be placed upon such property to Il
d best Of tteir knowledge and judgment.
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