The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-01-12
GOV. STONES MESSAGE.
MlsscCris Governor Communi-
Gates With the Legislature.
"A Resume of the Condition of the State
Finances and Public Institutions, with
Recommendations for Remedial
and Other Legislation.

1oIhe Senate and House of Representation OF the
ThirIg-tfgafh General assembly Of Missouri:
inc revenues OF the state are derived from a
9irtct TAX OF twenty-five cents on the one hun
ored dollars levied upon the real and personal
property OF individuals and corporations. from
license taxes, a tax on premiums received by
insurance companies, 4 tax on merchants and
manufacturer, an Incorporation tax, taxes
against expires companies. interest on depos-
us and from several minor miscellaneous
sources. All the moneys derived from state
taxation are primarily divided into two funds.
namely, the state interest fund" and the rev
ehue iund. by the act OF April Is. 1889. it is
provided that a tax Of ten cents on the hundred
dollars shall be levied TO meet the interest on
the public debt, and TO provide a fund fo- the
reduction OF the principal Of the debt. in COM
pllance with the constitution, which REQUIRES
me annual payment Of at least S25O.0O0 thereof.
All sums arising from this tax. together with
two-hfths OF the merchants taxes. are first
pald into the interest fund" After deducting
so much thereof as may be necessary 90 pay
the interest accruing during the year for which
the taxes were levied. the remainder is, by
order OF the fund commissioners transferred
to what is called the sinking fund" which is
a fund specially set apart for redemption OF
bonds
ply the act of March 81, 1892. it is provided
that the sum Of fifteen cents on the hundred
dollars valuation shall be levied for state rev.
enue. All sums arising from this tax. toge ther
with the license tax. the insurance tax. the in
corporation tax. three-tfths Of the merchants
tax. etc, are paid into the revenue fund. -
Out OF the moneys covered by this fund the en-
TIRE current or running expenses of the state
government are paid: that Is, out of this fund
are paid the salaries of all legislative. execu-
tive and Judicial officers; all departmental ex-
penses: all sums necessary for the consrruc-
ton and maintenance Of eleemosynary. educa-
tional and penal institutions: all sums re-
quired to pay criminal costs; in short. every
current demand OF any description coming
against the public treasury. 1t is also provid-
ed by the constitution that not less than y per
cent. of the state revenue shall be applied an
nuaIy to the support of the public schools, and
for some years past one-third Of the ordinary
revenues have been appropriated for that pur-
pose so that the current expenses of the
government have really been met by LuSing
only about twO-thirdS Of the revenue
fund" The tax levied for current expenses
upon real and personal property, and upon the
property Of railroad. bridge and telegraph
companies. is only ten cents on the hundreddOl-
lars. the remaining five cents. levied under the
act of lsG2. being set apart for the support Of
public schools, and thus returned TO the
people.
During the years 1884 the total revenue re-
celved into the state treasury from all sources
OF taxation amounted TO the sum OF s. 800 $50. 10.
OF this aggregate sum. 1888, 026. Is were re-
ceived in 1893 and S3.037. 523. 46 in 1891. 1t was
divided as follows: