Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-02-21
M. Clzys view ss to His Proposed
Amendment

An important change in taxation in
Missouri is embodied in Hon. Rhodes
Gays resolution for a Constitutional
Amendment providing for the sepaEz-
ton Of State and local taxes.
The resolution is one Of the most
monentous measures that has been
presented to this Legislature. It's sub
stance is that all revenues for State
purposes shall be collected only from
corporations engaged in public ser
vice, including taxes upon their fran
chiseS, from licenses and inheritance
taxes, from fines and forfeitures and
from fees Of public officers. No pri-
vate corporation is to be taxed for
State purposes and the local property
OF c0rparations engaged in a public
service maybe taxed-such as depots,
water tanks, real estate, etc, Of rail-
roads.
The question has been raised as 70
whether the State taxes 50 raised
would be sufficient for State revenue.
Mr. Clay asserts that they would and
has coilated the following figures
fUm the report Of the State Auditor
for 1850 10 establish his assertion:
Total demand on State revenue fund,
q, $4,000
Total taxes charged against railroad.
bridge and telegraph companies, 81, :
81, ,2lA.z5.
Taxes for incorporating companies
sll7,sJ0.
Taxes charged against foreign in
sursnce companies s274,47As9.
Taxes charged against express com
pznies, s7.ss5.ss.
state taxes mot county or local,
amounting TO 81. .9ls. 1880 from dram
shop licenses s3sl, $3.50.
Total = 2-554 .553-s2
Low estimate On franchises hereto
fore untaxed- $4,000.
Fines ana forfeitures paid into state
treasury, $4,000
Fees Of public officers paid into state
treasury So, ,6ls-s7.
Cost Of collecting state revenue In
1900, saved under Amendment szOo.-
900.
Total, 2 s54,l7s.I8
Excess q receipts over disburse-
ments, s57ol7O.ls
This does not include State license
taxes On merchants and manufacture
sE amounting in 1900 10 sI57. z2s. B.
nor does it include any tar On inheri-
tanoes, the law authorizing which is
nov being contested in the courts
AT. Clay further says that the fear
that the proposed change would lessen
the revenues Of cities is grOundless.
As an illustration, the real and person
d taxes levied and collected from real
md personal property In st. Louis
,ity for State purposes In 1895 was
80, ,2j5.25. None of this would be
-O1ehed If the proposals Of the Amend
nent we're 70 be put in practice. On
he other hand, the taxes collected fn
,t Louis for municipal purposes ln |
-sss from railroad, bridge and tele-
yraph companies was s242, 1884. This
EOusd be lost 10 The city, but the net
sain under the wording Of the Amend
nent 70 the city WOuld be s847, "a. .0l:
hat is, the sources Of the city revenue
jould be increased Just 70 that extent
without in the least increasing the
BURDENS Of the people. So far as We
NOV Mr. Clay has not made the cal
'ulatiOn as 70 Kansas City, but no
ioubt it would show similar results
OF course the Donsensleal objection
hat to raise State revenue from cor
Sorations would compromise the State
and its officers as being in
sense in partnership with the cor
'orations does not deserve serious con
liberation. Revenue Is raised from
Orporati0ns now without any such
Ire results, and there are a great
nany taxpayers who would like %
ee the question Of equalization elimi-
ated from the situation, and the cor
practically support the State
0yemment, provided that the pro-
ess viii Dot reduce the revenues Of
he counties and cities. For this
sas0n Mr.. Gays figures are Of great
lterest at this tine.