The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-03
Secretary Cook Shows That the
Taxpayers Bore All Bur
dens for Six Years.
CORPORATIONS NOT TAXED.
Under Democratic Rule State De
partments Annually Earn
More Than Half a Million
Dollars in Fees.


REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Jefferson City. Mo. April THE follow
ing chapter from Secretary of State Cooks
forthcoming political handbook strikingly
Illustrates the difference between the soft
snap" conditions which prevailed during the
six years the Republicans ruled in Mis-,
souri, and the businesslike methods which
prevail under Democratic management
Here Is a brief chapter from the official
records Of Missouri which gives striking
contrast between the businesslike methods
which prevail under Democratic rule and
the soft-snap reign which existed during
the six years the Republicans filed the Of
fees In Missouri.
Attention has been called TO the fact
that during the entire six years the Repub-
leans had control Of Missouri they did not
impose one dollar of taxes on the railroads.
The injustice OF this policy was all the more
fagrant because taxes then were
ly high ana the burden which Individual
property had 10 bear was made doubly ex-
cessive by the rank favorItisn shown cor
porate interests.
Republican Favoritism.
This favoritism was not limited to the
railroads alone. Other great corporate in
terests were permitted TO escape any part
OF the burdens of taxation.
Not one dollar reached the State Treas
ury from the various State departments
during the six years the Republicans held
control. In those days the fees of the
Secretary Of State. in addition to his salary,
all went into the pockets of Count Rod
man. The office earned s40,G4 annually,
but the State got no part Of it.
The same Is true of the Treasury De-
partment. The States moneys were then
used as the personal perquisites OF the State
Treasurer.
The records tell the same story of the
Insurance Department. The most search
Ing investigation Of the records fails 10
show a single dollar reaching the Treasury
from any of these departments during the
entire period of Republican control.
what are the conditions to-day?
Present Conditions.
Not only are TIE railroads required to
pay taxes on an assessment of over $4,000
GU, but other great corporate interests are
made to bear a fair proportion of the States
burdens.
THE Insurance Department now collects
from insurance companies in fees and taxes
annually S25.OC0.
Under Republican rule not one dollar
was paid into the State Treasury by these
great money-making corporations.
In addition to these large sums. a DEM
ocratlc Attorney General compelled the in
surance companies, which violated the an
THRUST law. to pay into the State Treasury
In fines in a single year over $4,000.
Has any Missourian ever heard of any
Republican Attorney General imposing a
penalty on these corporations, however
openly or defantly they may have violated
the laws OF the State?
Inherent on Deposits.
me interest on the state deposits amount
ed to over $500 last year and every dol
lar went to the credit of the people.
The most vigilant and persistent expert
accountant that could be secured within
TRACE a single dollar of Interest on de-
posits' to the Stale Treasury during the
six years the Republicans handled the pub
The earnings of the Secretary of State
last year amounted to s15l, 63S.05 and every
dollar was paid into the Safe Treasury.
IF the Republican Secretary of State.
Count Rodman, ever let go a single dollar
OF fees, the records at the State Capitol
fail to disclose the rash act.
Practically all of this large sum came
from corporations which almost wholly es-
capped taxation during the six years of Re- |
publican rule, when individual property
bore the burdens Of a most profigate State
government.
The earnings of the Insurance. Treasury
and state departments in fees. special +,
taxes and commissions under Democrats
methods amounted to more than half a
million dollars annually.
Fees Now Received.
missouri to-day receives each year in
tees ana taxes on corporations which
wholly escaped taxation under Republican |
fule nearly three-fourths of a million dol |
The revenue from corporations has en- |
abled the State to reduce taxation on the l
yToperty OF the individual citizen, until to- |
gay the tax rate for State purposes Is only
half OF what It was when the Republicans |
wealth.
This chapter. brief as It is. forcefuIrv
Illustrates the rank favoritism which Drc,
valied during the Republican reign in Mis-
souri, when corporate interests not only
went untaSed, but when corporations were
released from obligations they Justly owed |
and these burdens, aggregating over twentv
.nlInons OF dollars. were fastened upon the