Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1901-01-31
CLAYs AMENDMENT ENDORSED
1t is Meeting Favor With Many in
Jefferson City Attorney Jud-
sons Remarks.

House and Senate, Attorney f. n.
Judson, Of st. Louis, member Of the
Executive Committee Of the Public
welfare Commission, Endorsed last
night the proposed Constitutional
Amendment submitted by Represen-
tatlye b1Ules Clay, Of Audrain, pro-
viding for the sepation Of corporation
and real and personal property taxes.
Mr.. Judson's address has aroused
widespread interest in the method Of
taxation suggested and as result the
Ways and Means Committee TO which
the question was referred will prob
ably report fayorably on Mr.. Clay's
proposition.
While Clay's amendment will cover
a great deal of ground Mr.. Judson de-
clared that Constitutional Conven-
tion to entirely realrange the present
system of taxatimTis is imperative.
Among other things he said;
"In the matter of taxation | think
we have about reached the point ap-
preached in the middle ages. At that
time the rule was that taxes should
be paid by the poor and those abso-
lutely unable to pay. In st. Louis
this is literally true. A large part of
the taxes are paid through the pro-
bate court. The widows and orphans
and those executors who do not care
to fight for Others are about all who
pay personal taxes. The unscrupulous
and the rich, who enjoy the comfort
and protection and blessing possible
under the State law, escape taxation.
"The law is so shaped now that
those who cannot afford to pay or will
not attempt to dodge must bear the
lions share Of taxes.
"The best and most available rem
edy, therefore, to put us on an equita-
BILE taxation basis is a Constitutional
Convention. There are so many
material and technical difficulties to
be overcome that complete revision
alone will give popular satisfaction.
"Missourl fares no worse in this re-
spect than many other states, though
it is hard to realize how it could be
worse.
"The Clay amendment goes to the
basis of an intelligent revision of the
revenue laws. In few states, nota-
bly, Pennsylvania, it has been adopted
and met, with general favor"
Mr.. Judson then explained how the
State assesses railroads and appor-
tions taxes on mileage basis through
out the State. IL is correct for the
State Board to asses the railroads
operating in the various counties, but
the apportionment is not so equitable.
The thing to do, he argutd, is to let
the State collect this tax on rolling
stock and roadbed for itself with this
individual system Each locality
would be free to tax as it pleased.
'It would give you," he added,
''homerule of the most admirable sort.
1t would let each county say whether
it would raise much or little out of
taxing real and personal property.
"The State would get taxes from
that which the State taxes. No
rational system Of taxation can be
adopted which fails to separate the
sources of revenue. Neither can full
Justice be accorded all, while one man
pays in State taxes four times as much
according to his property as his neigh
Dor, a condition which now exists.
"While | heartily indorse the pro
posed amendment l also desire to say
this amendment connot give com
plete relief for the present financial
difficulties in st. Louis or other parts
or the State. Nothing short of
Constitutional Convention that will
, effect sweeping changein thecurrenl
/ lxation system can accomplish com
plete reform. If we cannot get new
/, Constrtution, we can patch the old on'
as We have patched it already, though
III 10 not believe the Third Amend
mert, relative to mortgages, adopted
: last fall, was a wise measure, becaus,
it added new burdens to the very peo
, pie whom it was intended to relieve
"Our people have found tina
while money and credit may disap
pear land cannot, and, as before, tn
burden has fallen ON those who cannO
escape it."
At the suggestion Of Mr. Judson
Representative Clay has decided T.
d prepare a substitute for his amend
e ment providing that only public o
e quasi-public corporations shall b
= taxed for State purposes and thei
+ local holdings for city or county pun
!, poses. For the benefit of the Stat
/, rolling stock, road beds, TELEGRAPH
# poles and wires, franchises and so o
i shall be taxed. Depots, shops, telt
i graph offices and property of simila
T character, together with all unoccI
:. pied real estate, are to be taxed local
for local purposes.