The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-10-29
A CAMPAIGN LIE NAILED.
~ Cooks Letter to the Globe
Democrat.

The following letter was sent last
week to the Globe-Democrat and
Republic. The Republic printed part
Of 1t, omiting the paragraphs relating
to the assessments OF the Globe
Democrat and Post-Dispatch. 1t
would seem that the St. Louis papers
are democratic, republican and in
dependent only to cover the field.
Otherwise they take care Of each
other
To the Editor of the Globe Democrat;
A great newspaper like the Globe
Democrat ought not let its partlzan
zeal lead it to detract from the we'll
earned prestige Of its own state, nor
to unfairly or uniustlY exalt other
states to the detrlment Of It's own.
In your recent editorials, compsr-
ing the assessment Of property for
taxable purposes in Missouri with the
states Of Illinois, Iowa and Kansas,
aud In comparison OF the tax rate in
these states, you are not fair with
Missouri, and you claim for illinois
and the other states under republican
control advantages, 10 regard to tax
alton, which they do not possess.
You state in this mornihg's issue
that "the actual amount of direct
state taxes paid 10 Missouri is II
cents on the 500 valuation, lOB
cents In Illinois and less than one
cent in Iowa"
AS matter of fact, the tax rate
for state purposes in Illinois for the
present year has not and will net be
fixed until about the 1st of Deem
but the rate for 1903 was So cents on
the 800, fifty of which was for the
revenue purposes and two for schools
In Iowa, the tax rate for state
purposes this year is So cents on the
800, thirty Of which is for revenue
and five for schools.
In Missouri, as you state, the rate
for all the state purposes Is II cenis,
but you neglect to state that only 10
cents Of this is for revenue, while the
remaining seven is returned TO
the people for the support OF their
schools. Consequently, the tax levy
for meeting the expenses OF conduct
ing the state government. exclusive
OF the state tax for school purposes in
the three states named, is as follows:
Iowa .................. 80 cents.
Illinois. ................. 80 cents.
Missouri n.... 10 cents.
hold kilograms from the auditors
Of both Illinois and Iowa giving me
these figures as to their respective
states.
Nor are you fair in your positions
CONCERNING the assessment Of property
in Missouri, as compared with the
republican states adjoining US. 1t is
true, the law in Illinois specifically
fixes One-hfth value for taxing pur-
poses, and the law fixes a one.fourth
value in Iowa, while In Missouri the
law specifies the "actual cash value"
which you hold means one hundred
cents on the dollar.
So intelligent newspaper as the
Globe. Democrat ought not to be so
Ignorant Of conditions in its own
state as not TO know that custom in
this state, practically as old as the
state itself, has fixed one. third
value for taxing purposes as a prac-
tlcal compliance with the law. There
Is not county in the state that has
az any time assessed property at its
full value. 1t is absurd to claim that
II is done in the City Of St. Louis.
80 universal had become the custom
Of assessing property at practically
one-third Of its actual value that the
last constitutional convention took
this custom into account in fixing
the limitation Of the rate Of taxation
lit had not done so, the maximum
tax rate could and would have been
placed at much lower figure. This
being true, 1t would be manifestly
8upiust to property holders Of all
pses to assess property at 100 cents
fon the dollar, and there is not a
county 10 the state that has done