The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-10-24

tinuance OF the state property tax {
S1.7O on each $1,000 valuation.
1t gives to local governments locs
option or home rule in taxation. pel
+ hitting them to tax, or exempt fror
taxation any class of property With,
: their Jurisdiction; provided. that an.
I taxation, or exemption from taxation
made In any county or city shall b,
2 uniform upon the same class of sub
jeots within such territory. This Iooa
option feature is limited only bv III,
! right, reserved by the state. to lev,
any tax upon the special subjects o.
taxation, other than the general prop
erty tax.
In place Of the present property tar
Tor State purposes, the States revenue
VIII De raised from the exercise of its
general taxing power, by license. cor.
poration taxes, mortgage recording tar
and the like.
II is the purpose of the amendment
that the State shall raise its revenue
from any source deemed expedient.
except on real and personal property.
me adoption of this amendment
would relieve the taxpayer Of Missouri
OF the tribute of some 81, 900. 900 a
year which they now pay to the state
and in lieu thereof tax important in
lerests which now largely escape tax.
alton. 1t would leave every dollar
OF this money in the cities and coun-
Ties to be used for roads and other
local improvements If the people Of
the several communities should choose
to apply it in that way.
h 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
TOT an ineffective tax, which is made
possible under this amendment tar
which can be evaded is necessarily an
unequal tax, because It discriminates
against the honest and ~scrupulous
man In favor of the dishonest and nm.
scrupulous.
This amendment was endorsed bv
the State Association OF County AS
SCISSORS, at their recent meeting at
bonneville, where they recommended
II TO the people for adoption. and also
by the State Teachers Association az
their recent meeting at Joplin, where
they declared that the present system
or taxation was a direct hindrance IN
the development Of the educational
Interests of the state.
A vote for this amendment "a a
vote for Home Rule in Taxation.
PROVIDING FOR MUNICIPAL N
PRoVEMENTs.
No. 6. This amendment aI,ows
cities between two and thirty tbor.
sand inhabitants to issue bonds for
5elf-sustaining improvements. such az
waterworks and electric light plants
SO that the Indebtedness for sucb inn.
lrcVements would be excluded from
he computation in determining
whether the limit of 5 per cent for tbs
otal valuation of bonds Is exceeded or
Under this amendment Tho
Of bonds heretofore or here.
lfter Issued for self-sustaining i'm.
'roVements will be excluded IN da.
ermining whether the city has reach.
d its constitutional limit of indebted.
.ess. AS the principle of this amend.
was approved by the peoDle IN
9O2, and a two-thirds vote Of tbo
eople directly interested is ~reou,rod
Or en- application of the amendment
e not seem to be open to obiee.
on and none has been urged. ,
CONFLICTING AMENDMENT.
No. Z. Proposes that a State tar NJ
. cents on the 800 OF assessed vain.
non be levied on all subjects of tau.
lion. The proceeds Of This tax wouId
institute the State road fund to be
Dportioned and distributed among the
'reral counties of the State. in such
as may be directed by law. for
e building OF roads and bridges.
There would be no objection tn n
1t did not unfortunately conflict with
e proposal of the fifth amendment
DO away with the State tax on real
I'd personal property.
But no advocate of good roads. or ~
ate aid for good roads should vote
the fifth amendment bccarsa
this conflict. The State will bo
lcn better able 70 help in construct.
3 a good reads system for Missouri
der an efficient ssytem Of taxation
an It can under tEe present system
llch puts a premium on ~tax-dodging
d Gees not secure adequate common.
ton Tor franchises and other sDeoisl
ivileges.
Any citizen who desires the separa.
n of the sources of State and local
cation and the removal of about
100000 State tax on real and per.
property must logically vote
linst this amendment.
Both the Democratic and Republican -
tforms contain promises of State :
for good roads, so that our legis.
ors will be Obliged to make ample
for this work under the
,a1n- 81 49,