The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-04-09
ALL KINDS OF NEWS
The Wealth OF Missouri.

The State Board of Equalization has
given out the following statement
Having completed the work, the State
Board of Equalization desires to say to
the local authorities that II has expert
enced the usual difficulty resulting
from gross inequalities in the valua-
tions made by assessors and lack of
uniformity in returns. The board
found horses assessed all the way from
S13 S5 in Livingston county to S33. 4S
in Carter county The general aver
age of the assessed value Of horses in all
the counties was S2 &C. The board
endeavored by increases in some cases
and decreases in others to bring all
horses to something near the general
average. In doing this the informa-
ton at hand concerning the compare
N - zbsi of the different counties
ard the general character of the horses
III each was given due consideration.
What is true of horses is equally true
of other descriptions of property, both
real and personal.
1t is very difficult to make an en-
tirely satisfactory equalization under
the circumstances indicated and with
the limited information at hand, but it
is believed that the results reached are
as nearly just to all sections of the
state as they can be made The aggre-
gate values placed upon all property by
the assessors has not been materially
changed by the increases and decreases
made by the board The aggregate re-
turns, as made by the assessors, was
S946, 900, 31S, while the aggregate of
values, as fixed by the board is S945,
071, no. being a decrease Of S2S, G6S.
This, however, is an increase over last
year s assessment of SIS, 3l3, 4sj.
The returns as to the banks are in
adequate, imperfect and utterly lack
ing in uniformity. Some returns were
made under the (old) law as it ap-
pears in the Revised Statutes, and
some were made under the new law
passed in 1895 In as much as the act of
| 1895 did not 90 into effect until June
| 81, 1895, while the returns were made
for June 1, 1895, it is a question of
doubt under which law these returns
should have been made In view of
| the confusion incident to these i'm
perfect returns, and the doubt as to the
law applicable, it is practically impos-
sible for the board to undertake to
equalize the bank stocks of the state
as between the banks themselves or as
between the banks and other property.
There is an utter lack of data upon
which to base intelligent action.
County clerks have been asked in
many cases to correct their returns,
but they say their returns to this
board are based upon the assessment
lists filed in their offices by the asses
sors, and they cannot change them.
iTne board might bring ths assessors,
clerks and bankers, of the state before
it, and by personal examination OBJ
tain data upon which to base action
and correct inequalities, if any exist
but that would require so much time
and entail an expense so large that an
effort of that kind is regarded as
wholly impracticable The board,
therefore, has determined not to dis
turb the bank returns as submitted fol-
this year, but instead to recommend tc
the local boards of equalization that
they so equalize the property of the
banks in their respective counties a:
to place the same upon an equal foot
ing with the values assessed against
other classes of property. The loca
boards can readily and at compare
lively small expense ascertain the true
value of bank stock, etc, and car
easily make the adjustments. In ordel
to secure more exact and uniform re
turns in regard to the banks in future
the secretary of the board has beel
directed to prepare n special blank
under the provis ms of the act of 1895
for the use of the assessors and banl
officials, and it is believed that thes'
returns will hereafter be more satisfac
tory.