The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-01-15

The business world regards free and
unrestricted competition as a misfortune
and an evil, while the law denCunces any
agreements that tend to prevent IL as a
crime. Therefore, when men enter into
a combination or a trust In restraint OF
competition and trade, and the law in
terposes to prevent or to punish those
guilty OF such an offense, the necessary
judgment Of the court oftentimes seems
harsh In Its severity and unfortunate in
its effect on general business conditions.
While the question has not been for
mally passed upon by the courts, / am
satisfied that 1t Is the right OF the state
to regulate the charges and the conduct
OF any business which Is impressed with
a public use by virtue Of being a monop-
oily. And l do not think 1t is OF deter
mining Importance whether the monopoly
Is a natural one, exists by public fran
chise, or Is the result Of a combination
or trust.
Assuming this power Of regulation to
exist, | believe that 1t would be advis-
able to give to the representatives Of the
state the discretionary power to institute
proceedings for the purpose OF regulat-
ing the charges and the conduct of a
business which Is in effect a monopoly or
Impressed with a public use, or to pro-
coed in the courts to punish and suppress
For Scientific Education.
The practical value of education, par
ticularly along scientific and utilitaria.l
lines, is being more generally recognized
every day. And in no department of this
work has greater progress been made
than in the study and investigation of
agriculture, horticulture and the raising
and care Of live stock. The Importance
of this work in increasing the wealth
and happiness of the people of the state
can not be overestimated, nor is the adj
vantage one that accrues alone to the
farmer and the stock raiser. For all
wealth is, in its last analysis, derived
from the field and the mine There
should be no lack of funds to carry on
this work In the most thorough manner
possible, in order that there may be
given to the people Of the state the most
advanced and scientific information that
is available.
More Money Needed.
To accomplish all or even a substantial
part of what the state should do in this
and other lines of governmental activity,
think 1t is apparent to all that we must
have more revenue. During the last BIZ
ennial period the appropriations exceed
ed the revenueS of the state in the sum
of $l,4S7,254.24. While there were some
unusual expenses during the last biennial
period which will not arise during the
next biennial period. and while there will
probably be an increase of approximately
500, goo In the revenues of the state, yet
/ feel that there can be no question upon
the proposition that we need more money
to carry on the work Of government.
According to the estimate made by the
state auditor, the revenues for the next
biennial period will amount to IS. 131 900.
and the amount which is asked for the
different departments of state is 81, 744,-
222. And the fact that more revenue is
needed does not arise from the fact that
the officials of the present day are more
ex~travagant in the expenditure Of the
public funds or enjoy larger salaries than
their predecessors of a third of a CEN
fury ago. The need for more revenue
arises from the fact that the duties OF
government a increased.
Favors inheritance Tax.
There is now imposed a tax for the
I hnnAft 80 thA a III rnn- 30
lateral inheritances, and l see no reason
why a tax should not also be imposed
upon inheritances generally. The objec-
ton has been offered that a tax upon tn.
capital stock of corporations would re-
suit in a double assessment. This is not
true. A tax upon the capital stock OF
corporations would be a tax, not upor
it's property, but upon the privilege OF
which the state confers and is of benefit
and value to those who enjoy it.
I recommend that you give to thi'
question of taxation and the increase o
the revenues of the state a careful, con
sentative and exhaustive examination
and adopt such policy as may distribute
as equally as possible. the burdens o.
taxation between all classes of propert,
and all classes OF our citizenship, anC
at the same time produce sufficient reve'
nues for the carrying on Of the proper
and the necessary affairs of our govern.
ment.
In case you should decide to impose
the tax herein suggested upon inheri
tances. the capital stock of corporations
and for the inspection and sale of spirit.
uous liquors, 1t would probably be I'M
necessary for you to make any change
in the method of assessing real and per.
sonal property. Independent of the ques.
ton of the need for more revenue. II
seems to me entirely right and fair tina
there should be a tax imposed upon tn
additional sources or subjects of taxatio
herein suggested.
Reduction of Expenses.
1t is proper in connection with the con
sideration of the question as to how II
secure more revenue. that we should ais
consider the question as to how unneces
avoided or reduced. Wherever 1t is pos
sible to decrease the expense of carryin,
on any department of government, with
out impairing its efficiency, such actor
policy which denies to any department o
government the means necessary to ac
complish its full measure of usefulness
is a mistaken and a misguided one.
Should Change Criminal System.
The entire system of rimin proceed
ure should be simplified, and while a
the essential rights necessary for tn
protection of the innocent should be pre-
served, such changes should be made q
will result In the prompt and certain con
viction of the guilty. 1t would probabl
require an amendment to the constitu
tion to secure a complete revision of GU
SySNSt "a III oSCdti &c.
This question naturally connects itse
with the question of relieving the pres
emit congested condition of the docket {
the supreme court. 1t now requires ar
proximately three years to secure a dc
cision of the supreme court in a case ap
pealed from any of the circuits courts (
the state. This condition is in direc
violation Of the constitution of the Stat
of Missouri and of that ancient chartt
of the liberties of the English speakin
people, the Magma Charta, both of whic
provide that justice shall neither be dc
layed nor denied.
System Of State Roads.
Any discussion of the question as
how the burdens to which the people al
now subject can be relieved by the stat
government would be incomplete witho'
!: reference to the subject of the buildir
of oad There is no tax or burden ths
falls more directly or more heavily upo
the people of the state than that whit
is caused by poor roads. or the lack
/ roads. The whole problem of transports
tion--in fact. he important problem
: commerce and of civilization itself
the carrying of that which is produce