The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-02-28
Democratic Protection.

How the corporations OF Missou-
RI are being protected from paying
their just proportion Of the taxes
Of this state through the manage
ment of the State Board of Equal
ization explained:
A mandamus suit has just been
commenced by the Bonrd Of Edu-
cation of the City OF st. Louis,
plaintiffs, against the State Board
OF Equalization composed OF Gov.
Dockery, Secretary of State Cook,
Auditor Allen, Treasurer Williams
ani Attorney General Grow. de-
PENDANTS, to compel the latter to
revise its rulings and assess for
taxation purposes s2is, 600. 600 OF
franchise property, belonging to
corporations and which the Board
o. Equalization had decided was
not subject TO taxation, although
the constitution and laws OF the
state provides for the taxation of
such property the same M all 9TH
cr property. The plaintiffs claim
In their petition, that the school
children OF st. Louis are thus be-
ing cheated out ol and robbed Of
$500, 900, annually, OF revenue that
the laws intended to be collected
aud appropriated to public school
education. The petition also al
lcgcs that the Board Of Equaliza-
tion found the taxable property o;
corporations to he of the value of
$3.50. 0v0, 900 aud In violation of
the ir duty set aside one third Of
that amount as taxable and the
other two thirds, untaxablc, con-
trary to the express provisions Of
the constitution and laws of the
state. The constitution. Scc-i,
Art. 10 says: "All property, sub
jcct to taxation, shall be taxed In
| pfopof'ioN w itH Nhiuts
There IL no such thing known to
our law ms taking "a percentage Of
tho assessed value OF property for
taxation, whether II be franchise
or other property.
At each recurring bienial election
the democratic party Is loud and
long In its professions and prom
iscs to the dear people, but when
the election Is over, prove short In
performance Of such promises and
rccrcant to their trust.
In tho platform upon which our
present state officials were elected,
we find such expressions as these
1--WE are In favor OF n strict con-
struction Of the the stitution,
We dcnouncc the tend ency
to monopoly as one Of the
crying evils Of the day, and pledge
our party to give the people the
strongest possible legislation up.
on this subject" And for fear
that they be- misunderstood II
these pointed expressions upor
such subjects, they then say
"Wc believe all corporations do
ing business In this state shoult
bear their just proportion Of taxa
ton; we therefore demand tn,
taxation Of all corporation fran
chiscs, both domestic and foreign
doing business In this state"
Upon these solemn pledges
Dockery, Cook & Co., "Blanch
Sweetheart and Tray" went be
fore the people Of the state (bu
according to the testimony in tn
Cardwcll Case with one hand be
hind their backs reaching out h
corporations for campaign funds,
and from the housetops and mar
kct places, amplified these pledge
"to the dear people" during tn
campaign.
In view of thcss disclosures q
the wanton disregard of the right
Of the people, and the subservian
cy Of our state oiiicirls to the be
hest of corporations, the qucstio
may be asked: IIa 0 the peopl
of this state become such abjco
slaves TO their party that they Gu
> not see, neither will they heal
> though one rose from the dead
Surely they have not got to thd
J point OF party fraiity Of "bclievin
; that the party (thc King) can d
no wrong" since seeing thes
. things.
These things added to the start
H.. A. "a . an IL