The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-03-14

ADVISES A TAX coMMIssIoH.
aase sn the subtees 90 the
Assembly.

Jefferson City, March Gov. Dock
cry sent 20 the general assembly q
message discussing In home detail ano
fiscal situation Ia Missouri end ad.
vising law to provide for the ap-
pointment OF g commission to reSiAe
the revenue laws OF the state as wel
as prompt action toward an increase
In the general revenue by the
passage Of an effective franchiSe-taN
Law. The message was as follows:
To tha Senate and Housc OF Representa-
tives: / respectfully invite yonT ailSn-
ton to the pr0yricty OF ruyiaing the
chapter uf our laws relating 10 The aa-
seAament and collection OF revenue te
maintain the sIate government and ~
various Institutions Tho laws relating
10 assessment and taxation seem 70 -,
In many respects, lhC0nKrhous, uoc4uAi
and defective Taxation. as required By
the constitution. should be levied upon ali
property In proportion t. It's value.
IL L. q matter OF HouiV doubt whether,
under the exiating fsYennn system, thi4
mandate ~ tho eoaAutuhon h fuuy mft.
n ~ urged ny many that the agricultural
wealth Of our state bsars an undue pro-
portion OF the expenses OF government.
and that corporations do not pay their
just proportion. ! do not care, however.
I
tion at this time II Is E-obnC Eioua that the
state requires . larger annual income TO
properly meet the demands upon ~ fOr
the maintenance 9f sgr educational. ei@o-
moNyuaTy TeformatoTy and penal institn"
tions. ] am advised that the contcmplat-
Cd appropriations Tor the biennial pefind
upon which We are lust entering Will cx-
ceed BY more than tg9,e0c our estimated
oHty will deYulve upon me 10 disappruyB
come OF the uEms OF appropriation IN or-
der TO bring our expenditures within tho
estimated Income.
IL reems to be necessary. therefore. In
some practically way. 20 secure additional
revenue without increasing the taxes Ga
the farmers, iAboTera and other great pro"
ducing classes. halieFc that u u prEc-
ticable to doNiso n system Of taxation that
Will eQuAliEg It's burdens and give us the
needed revenue, without adding burdens
20 either u the cllEHes To- which ! have
sdvrrled-indecd, / AM SURF they can be
leaaened
The general assembly s now consldcriax
bills Imposing franchise taxes upon pub-
liC service corporations ! have NO means
Of knowing what additional revenue Will
come to our treasury by reason OF the
operation Of a just end effective srau-
chiso law. ] am apprshsuaive, however,
that tho income will not be as great ~
some have anticipated. iuaHmuch as /
have recently been assured by every mom-
bcr Of the last state heard of equalization
that, while differing somewhat az 20 the
D
~ fact considered the valuation of fran
chiaeA Of public corporations in making
assessments However this may bo am
SURE that tho general assembly VII. be-
fore its Adjournment. place upon the
statute b. okR n cumprshtUsiye franchise
measure, which will enable the rate
board OF equalization tC DO directly what
/ ~ a measure at least EtH heretofore boon
/ done indirectly, by former boards OF equal
| iEation most earnestly hope that a
franchise law Will bring Va tho muCh-
/ needed revenue bat Ha heretofore stated.
] rave no informRti0l to enable mo 20
| estimate the revenue tTat will be- derived
/ from a franchise law
In connection with the suggestion that
provision he made for a revision of our
revenue laws, desire also 10 invite al
| tcniion 20 some facts tEfcn from a recent
! lttlet OF the nttornev general ~ the state
/ ot NrW fork % Attorney General Grow.
/ of our own state. From that commuuica-
/ ton u appears that the state ~ New
| York In iNf8, enacted law providing for
| the taxation of tho capital stock. prem.
/ lums, earnings. etc, Of certain bubble
| service corporations Huring tho Iaxt
/ fiscal year that state collected under this
1 law A.iea AtN from insurance. trAnspor-
tatlon. telegrnph, telephone gas, electric
/ light, water and power. and miscellaneous
| companies, and from license fees on for.
/ elBn corporations anl deposits ~ fnrets n
1 ndhAs, These sources OF Income are in
/ should rot he rouf"unded with what Il
/ known Hs tho Ford Roc saycu frauchtss
! law. enacted in iNu. leyyinF taNcs upon
liar ig ibI bilis ~, p's"',g lo's,inns aln,-
| body The state Of Ne~ York has as Vet
/ derived no revenue from the Ford Ronaa-
| Welt franchise law. as substantially nm ~
the coruorationa affected are contcstiar
In Visw uIbi,na,,,y ,bnl.,n ,,,,.-...
additional Income 20 care Tor opr .fu'.,. I,
dcnf , ibc ibbs'ut3ns, ths poor ihe bllnl the
other unfortunate clnpssr nf our p,opIc
lonn,I. nnH ston 70 sugges the authorization q "a
ths attorney general shall bs ON" ~ 'bs, bsi
~ ~ ,mSif ,. hllIinsa say siN months prior to
40 that a Just ana eoinnrehr1siyS sys,sy,
Dar,s5 tar ssrInt ,b @ and iEAstion may he rs-
Any scheme NJ TAXATION that ma -
tlssa ny sh9n'I b" upon lhc basis of abs7-
mony with that fundauenial Jngtrir, '. w. mar ~
UHlfinE ,hi ,, taxation 70 he l,vied according to
accorded Us. A N Jn nOrEIEi,,y9 ifIi 9ns
AfsrSs f5'1Isrh'r H., othc'' City Of Jcncrsna.
MI hacNneN' OF jasper, introduced
"''' III harmony With the governor =
sage 10 cFeA'e a commission so re.
''"e chnpter l4S OF the Revised stat
u'ss reiaung 70 re'cnne. II provides
.hnt 'he governor shall appoint a
s'ate YAK commission Ia consist oi
'h'ee persons one o. whom shall b"
ine at'orhcy-geh'fnl' to hold thcir
once ~ his pleasure but IN no event
70 nor! once 'eyond April /, 1905
ne'F uuiles Snall DC TO make care
| 80 - "'' t""S ueati"-