The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-10-31

INNS, lsidor Loci, Professor OF 70
Htical Science and Public Law in the
University Of Missouri; Prof. F. NJ.
Crunden, Public Librarian Of st. Louis,
and John II. Boutwell,, member Of the
Forty-second General Assembly.
The members Of the commission
were unanimous in finding that our
existing system OF taxation was hope
lessly defective, resulting In the
grossest inequalities and ineficiency.
This amendment provides for the
separation of the sources Of state and
local revenue as well as the discon-
tinuance Of the state property tax OF
$40 on each $1,000 valuation.
It gives to local governments local
option or home rule in taxation, per-
hitting them to tax, or exempt from
taxation any class Of property within
their jurisdiction; provided, that any
taxation, or exemption from taxation,
made in any county or city shall be
uniform upon the same class of sub
jects within such territory. This local
option feature is limited only by the
right, reserved by the state, to levy
any tax upon the special subjects OF
taxation, other than the general prop
erty tax.
In place Of the present property tax
for State purposes. the States revenue
will be raised from the exercise of its
general taxing power, by license, cor
p~oration taxes, mortgage recording tax
and the like.
1t is the purpose Of the amendment
that the State shall raise its revenue
from any source deemed ex~pedient,
except on real and personal property.
The adoption of this amendment
would relieve the taxpayer Of Missouri
of the tribute of some $4,000, 900 a
year which they now pay to the State
and in lieu thereof tax important In
terests which now largely escape tax
alton. It would leave every dollar
of this money in the cities and coun-
ties to be used for roads and other
local improvements II the people Of
the several communities should choose
to apply 1t in that way.
The present system is a crushing
burden upon the producers of the
State, such as farmers, whose personal
property, such as live stock and farm
implements cannot be concealed. The
true remedy is to substitute an effective
Tor an ineffective tax, which is made
possible under this amendments tax
which can be evaded is necessarily an
unequal tax, because II discriminates
against the honest and scrupulous
man In favor of the dishonest and UNI
%scrupulous.
This amendment was endorsed by
the State Association OF County AS
SCISSORS, at their recent meeting at
Bonneville, where they recommended
it to the people for adoption, and also
by the State Teachers Association at
their recent meeting at Joplin, where
they declared that the present system
of taxation was a direct hindrance to
the development OF the educational
Interests Of the state.
"A vote for this amendment is a
vote for Home Rule in Taxation.
PROVIDING FOR MUNICIPAL I'M.
PRoVEMENTs.
No. 6. This amendment allows
cities between two and thirty thou.
sand inhabitants to issue bonds for
self-sustaining improvements, such as
waterworks and electric light plants,
so that the indebtedness for such i'm.
p%rovements would be excluded from
the computation in determining
whether the limit Of 5 per cent for the
total valuation OF bonds is exceeded OF
not. Under this amendment the
amount Of bonds heretofore or here
after issued for self-sustaining i'm,
provements will be excluded In de
} termining whether the city has reach
T. ed It's constitutional limit Of indebted
, ness. AS the principle of this amend
: ment was approved by the peonle In
1902, and a two-thirds vote of the
people directly interested is required
for an application of the amendment
t it does not seem to be open to objec
tion and none has been urged.
: CONFLICTING AMENDMENT.
: No. 7. Proposes that a State tax O.
10 cents on the 800 of assessed valu
alton be levied on all subjects Of tax
aCion. The proceeds of ciis tax woult
constitute the State road fund to b,
apportioned and distributed among tn,
I several counties of the State, in sucl
manner as may be directed by law, TO,
the building Of roads and bridges.
There would be no objection to 1
I II 1t did not unfortunately COZ dict witt
I the proposal Of the fifth amendment
to do away with the State tax ON rea
q and personal property.
But no advocate of good roads, or o
8 State aid for good roads should vot,
q against the fifth amendment because
s Of this conflict. The State will h
ucn better able 10 help in construct
d ing q good roads system for Missouri
h under an efficient ssytem Of taxatio,
:. thar a. ~, ,,,do- tH. ,..a.-