Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-04-21
Regarding Assessments.

! BELLEyIEw, Mo-, April y, 1898.
Editor Reqister-In your last week S
paper I read an article in regard to
what ought to be done for the improv-
ment of the laws for assessing personal
property.
As / intend to be candidate for
representative to the next General AS
sembly, | am desirous of learning
some good opinions on this subject,
that in event of my success I may
present bill which will prove pan
acea for the evils whereof your other
CORES spondent complains. Having had
the honor of representing this county
in the 39th General Assembly, | can
speak from experience in regard to
what was done at that session. That
| the same condition of affairs exists all
over the State no one need deny. and
in proof of this statement refer you to
the dozen bills which were introduced
on this subject. A large per cent of
the best paying property in every
county is not reached by the Assessor,
and in consequence it escapes its share
of just taxation, while the small own
ings of the average citizen, which pro-
duces little or nothing, must bear more
than their share of the burden and are
assessed for more than they would
bring if offered for sale.
a short history of some of the bills
which were proposed for the revision
and improvement of the laws for As
SCISSORS and assessment might be of
interest, and at least show that if
nothing was done, the blame was not
for the lack of effort. Some of the
bills were reported unfavorably from
the various committees, for reasons
best known to themselves. A few in
fluential members on a committee may
decide the fate of bill in short order.
One which seemed quite practicable
was held IN Committee for sixty days
without report; and as the session
was near its end, the bill was lost in
the general rush of the closing scenes.
And just here l am constrained to re-
mark that although seventy days seems
a long time, and legislatures are il
variably accused of doing nothing, l
am satisfied that before results which
the public demand can be attained the
length of sessions will have to be in
creased. In proof of my opinion,
refer you to the journals of the last
session, and add that they are con-
densed, ana that frequently line of
type expresses what has taken perhaps
hours of discussion and labor An
other bill which passed the House was
not reached on the Senate calendar
before adjournment.
The only bill which did pass both
branches of the legislature was
promptly vetoed by the Governor.
This bill was the Slate bill, and was
introduced by Republican Jack Slate
of Maries county, than whom a more
conscientious man never lived. /
know him well, and know the struggle
which he had to make from first to
last. This bill originally provided
that all notes, mortgages and securi-
ties should be stamped by the Asses
sor each year or the interest would be
nou-collectable. The wall from the
bankers and money-lenders, through
their representatives-for there are
champions for everybody and every
thing-was something appalling. They
said that the whole financial prosper
ity of the country would be ruined,
and the poor farmers bould not borrow
any more money. 1t is amusing to
hear the appeals for sympathy for the
poor farmer whenever the money
lender is aimed at. So the bill must
accept an amendment or two, to save
the cOuntry's credit and keep the local
capitalists from finding other fields
and pastures new.
\ score of amendments and substi-
tutes were defeated; and the bankers
were placated by changing the penalty,
from the forfeiture of interest. to
misdemeanor and fine. if caught in the
act. Twice was the House adjourned