The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-01-15

treasury show a steady growth, due
in most part to the income arising
from the beer inspection fees and the
natural growth and increase in the
taxable wealth OF the state.
The fees collected under the modifi-
ed beer inspection law passed by the
last general assembly, aggrega te
S770,613.7S, of which S201, 341.S3
accrued prior to the passage of the
amended law, and S560,271.95 since
that law became operative, The
average monthly receipts from in
spection fees is in excess of $25, 900,
This law has fully vindicated the
Judgment of those who favored its
enactment, and has proved to be "a
popular and beneficent measure.
The "act to provide for "A state Ii
cense tax on distilled liquors, includ-
ing whisky, brandy, rum, gin and dis
titled spirits OF all kinds, wines and
all kinds of vinous liquors" etc, has
been declared unconstitutional by
the supreme court OF Missouri. Prior
to the decision OF that honorable
body, the special license commission
er collected $50, 742,06, under this
law This money has been paid into
the state treasury.
TAXATION OF FRANCHISES.
The franchise law, enacted by the
last general assembly, has greatly
simpified the assessment of public
service corporations While fran
chises We're in fact assessed prior ia
the passage of this act, grave uncer.
tainty existed as to the power OF the
state to tax this class of property
under the then existing laws. The
new law leaves no question as to the
legality of the assessment. The as.
sessmenJ of public service corpora
tions has reached 120million dollars,
an increase in the past two years Of
OF liz million dollars, or more than
ID per cent, while the increase in the
assessment OF real and personal prop.
erty for the corresponding period is
scarcely ) per cent.
The constitutionality Of the act
providing forAthe taxation of col
lateral inheritances, legacies, gifts
and conveyances in certain cases, tc
provide revenue for educational pur
poses, for the maintenance and sup
port of the Missouri state university
and its departments" has been sus
tanned by the supreme court The
first payment into the stale treasury
under this statute was made on the
3lst of January, 1900. Since that
date SAT, 1924 81 has been received
on this account, $347, 62T SO being
apportioned to the state university
and $50, 406.S4 to the Rolla Schoo
of Mines. The last general assembl,
appropriated 1904, 100 Of this ia,
for the benefit of the state university
and $4,000 to promote the inter
ests OF the School of Mines at Solla
These appropriations were addition
al to the $lS4.700 appropriated
from the state revenue fund to NEE
the salaries and current expenses o
both the university and the Schoo
OF Mines. 1t is estimated by Stat
Auditor Allen that the income to tn
university and School OF Mines unde
the provisions Of the collateral in
heritance tax law will not be les
than 100000 yearly
Auditor Allen also estimates tina
the total receipts into the state treas
ury, on account Of the state revenu
fund, will be about 5h million dollar
for the ensuing bienual period.
1 recommend that the Hppr0pria
tions for all our state institutions b
as generous a. may be consisten
with the revenues OF the state.
sound public policy, however, absc
, luteIy and iuhezibly commands ,ha
the total OF the. appropriations b
brought within the limits OF our est
, mated revenues.
The outstanding debt of the stat
on January 1. 1901, consisted {
, 81, 1887, 900 3k per cent reiundin