The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-04-10
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
STATE OF MISSOURI,
.JEFFERSCG CITY. March %. 1897.

E~XECUTIVE APARTMENT
STATE OF MISSOURI,
FER CITY, March g, 1891.
To the Secretary of State:
SIR have the honor herewith to forward to
you, without my approval Endorsed thereon,
house bill No. lag, entitled. Ar act to amend sec
ton three 81 of an act entitled An act to repeal
sections I5l3, 75l5 Of article /, chapter i3S, en-
titled The assessment and collection of rev.
enue,' and sections 1881, 1852 and 1910, of ar
ticle 2, chapter 1873, Of the Revised Statutes of
1859, entitled Assessors and the assessment of
property approved March IS, 1898, by striking
out certain words in section three OF said act
and inserting certain other words in lieu there
OF, and by adding at the close OF said section
three certain other WORDS which reached me
within the ten days next before the adjourn
mept Of the general assembly.
RAISED A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION.
There is a plain contradiction between the
purport of the bill as signed by the president
and secretary OF the senate and speaker and
chief clerk OF the house of representatives and
the record as it appears in journal Of the houses
respectively.
1t seems that on March 9. 1897, house bill No.
lS was read in the house q third time and
passed, emergency clause not adopted. The bill
was then sent to the senate and went through
the constitutional formula. and on the 10th in
slant it was passed by the senate, the vote be-
AA- IL - dIu . d-ilhNl- IN ClLltIBCECy C1iuSc
in this instance not being voted on at all. but
this bill as presented to me for consideration
for the emergency clause attached. This raises
n very serious question, which. as 1 have noted,
brings out an Inconsistency that can not be har-
monized.
INQUISITORIAL n U~N-AMERICAE
Its main features are inquisitorial and I'M
American. Under our existing assessment laws
an affidavit is already required from the owner
pF notes bonds and rDorturouaS aovariprr Tho ~
tent of his holdings and their present value.
The statute provides n remedy against the af-
ftant for perjury when a false statement is rem
dered the assessor. In addition to this. the
county boards of equalization have authority to
increase the assessment where it has been made
too low, and to impose a penalty in addition.
AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK
The proposed operation of this law would in
course of time deface a note or bond which had
been held for any period of time almost beyond
recognition. In addition to this, the listing of
the voluminous mass of Indebtedness which is
represented by notes, bonds and mortgages,
would be an impossible task for the assessors
using the machinery which they have hitherto
employed. As easily might the law require q
merchant to furnish to the assessor . complete
inventory Of his stock of goods and accounts,
requiring the assessor at the time to make q
complete copy of such inventory upon his re-
turns. As easily might the law require a farm
er TO furnish to the assessor for listing. stamp
ing and branding every head OF stock owned by
him. with penalties annexed for failure to list
each animal by class. age, color, marks, brands,
etc.
THE PRIVACY OF CREDIT AFFAIRS.
Successful and enterprising business men are
usually very anxious TO keep their credit affairs
private, and their success in Il great measure de-
ponds upon not taking the general public and
business rivals into their confidence. And. be-
sides. there is a universal desire among men for
privacy in their affairs, and especially of their
credit matters. If possible. Now then. if all notes,
bills of exchange and evidence of debt are ac-
curately described and placed upon public rec
ord, business men will find nearly the whole of
their commercial Indebtedness made public.
especially local Indebtedness for the scrutiny
and criticism of business ~revivalS and enemies.
OF course many obligations due from business
men will not be made public because held in
other states and by banks, banks not being re-
quired to list their notes, as they pay taxes on
their capital stock; but enough will be shown
in many instances 70 diScourage the man Operat-
ing on credit, who is doing well in business and
rapidly reducing his Indebtedness.
OUL CATCH E BAD MEN.
TIL constitution of the United States recog-
niZeS the desire men have for keeping their pri-
waite affairs TO themselves, and provides against
the unreasonable search of papers and effects.
Now then, when it is proposed. once Il year, for
a man to expose to the curiosity of the county
and city assessor all his evidences of debt, this
idea of privacy will be violated. Some men
would rather pay double taxation. perhaps, than
once Il year to disclose all of their business. As
for preventing property from escaping taxation
this bill will have little if any effect. for those
who intend to avoid taxation will invent more
certain methods than they have now. The
law will injure the good men and catch very few
OF the bad. a fair return of personal property
will always depend upon the vigilance. cOmDe-
trncy and good sense OF assessors. no matter
what may be upon the statute books. Many
good men who now give in a fair list will leave
the state before they will have their private af-
fairs made public every l. months. and place
themselves at the mercy OF those who wish to
take advantage OF the knowledge thus derived
of their business. Private individuals will ask
why should our business be exposed and placed
upon public record when trISt companies. banks
and corporations are not subject to this annoy
ance and exposure.
WOULD AGAINST HOME ZAP