The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-21
Secretary of State Discusses Tax
alton and Assessment
in Missouri.
UNFAlRNEss OF EDITORIALS.
Actual Rate in Missouri Shown
to Be 10 Cents on the 500.
While IOwa's Is 30 and
Illinois 80 Cents.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Jefferson City. Mo-. Oct 20.-Sam 3.
Cook. Secretary of State. has given out
a letter addressed to the Glooe-Democrat.
in reply to its editorials comparing the
assessment of property for taxation in
Missouri with that of other States. The
letter follows:
To the Editor OF the Globe-Democrat:
great newspaper like the be-Democrat
ought not let Its partisan zeal lead 1. to de-
tract from the well-earned prestige Of its own
state. nor to unfairly or unjustiy exalt other
States to the detrlment OF its own.
In your recent editorials. comparing the as
sessment Of property for taxable purposes in
Missouri with the States Of Illinois. Iowa and
Kansas. and In comparison Of the tax rate in
these States. you not fair with Missouri
and you claim for Illinois and the other States
under Republican control advantages. in regard
to taxation. which they do not possess.
You state in this mornings issue that 'the
actual amount Of direct State taxes paid in
Missouri Is II cents the 500 valuation 10 1-3
cents in Illinois. and less than / cent in Iowa"
As matter OF fact. the tax rate for State
purposes In Illinois for the present year has
not. and will not be fixed until about the nrst
OF December. but the rate for 1909 was 52 cents
on the 800. nfty Of which was for revenue pur-
poses. and two for schools.
In Iowa. the tax rate for State purposes this
year Is IS cents on the sI0o thirty OF which IL
for revenue and ave for schools
In Missouri, AZ you state. the rate for all
State purposes Is IT cents. but you neglect to
say that only 10 cents Of this II for revenue,
while the remaining is returned to the people
for the support Of their schools. Consequently
5as s.1 tie vy ,. .a Of
state tax Tor school purposes In the three
States named. IL as follows:
Illinois, 30 cents.
Missouri. 10 cents.
Illinois and Iowa. giving me ne these figures a. ' to
their respective States.
ASSESSMENT PROPOSITION.
Nor at in Il
pared with the Republican states adjoining us.
It Il true the law in Illinois specifically .nxes
law axes . one-fourth value n iowa. while in
Missouri the law specifies the actual cash
dollar. ' N'' '''
So intelligent q newspaper as the Globe
ditions In " Il. OWN NJ State - as not to know that @
custom n this st,,s: Pr.esis.Iy, = old =: e.
taxing purpose a. a practical eompIisncs with
the law. 1hcre is not a county in the state
faiI value. It Z .bsurd to claim ss.s il i: done
IN the city Of st. Louis. So univsral had
s sf sf :
the last Constitutional Convention took thl.
n,e ef ssson in Il had as no Sans
the maximum tag ,.s' ssr,a snd v9sS bsi ssys
Il would s. Unjust to
holders Of ali Glasses to aness property g 100
e. g the Sst h., ,ao dons
The assessments n1sd By the state Board Of
sss saa snse sns vea1
higher. than thoee n1ed by the State boards in
Of .as S1s.s 81 ssieh y s illinois
5sS.ss ss:sS, J: S i Illinois at $4,000 and in
assessed by the last Republie.n CITY A,..;so.
psSocaasie fsae aa STATE Bossd at sshtssn and half
The public service corporations Of Missouri
now pay taxes on more than 49,. 10000 50
esnnos s. 81 tn. faet that 1ss th
Republican party was In control Of Missouri
the railroads did / OF nay one. dollar. Of State
II is true that railroads and other oublle-
:nS lows hss Do IN
souri,. in spite Of the fact that they are as
publican States. but it is also true that all
other classes OF property pay more unss I'm IN
simpis % resson that the taI rate in those states
Missouri
In Kansas ~ in Illinois and lows the as-
se.sment Of public service eorIorations !: w vs:y
rate is "a cents On the sloo for STATE purpose.
and consequently corporations and all other
oiassss Of prupsrty In that STATE pay more
taxes in proportion to its value than In Mis-
in addition to this Missouri collects from cor
poratIons in special fees and taxes not included
Is Il. ' Every dollar Of Which goa: into u. State
treasury. and just to that extent lssssns the
burden on the property and holdings Of the IN
dlvidual citizen.
surely, in view OF its own tax record. to s.y
,othinG ef tho eonparisons here submitted. ne
-Democrat ought to be the last to complain
n taxation in Missouri Tho issue 1t represents
IN this subject will prove AZ disaSrouS to the
Repuhiican party leaders did the effort made
two wears ago to fool the people with the cry
II looted school fund. SAN b. Cook- I
Jefferson City Mo-, Oct. 90 1904.