The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1910-03-31
The Macon County Case.

1
Jefferson City March 30-Last wee
passed without. any special incident i
administration circles here but brougb
forth an incident OF extreme interest t
the Democratic state officials. especial
lyto three ofthem-Majors, the Attor
ney General, Gordon, the Auditor ane
Roach, Secretary of State.
These three officials, together with
the Governor and State Treasurer. con.
stitute the State Board of equalization
It's the duty of that board to examine
the annual assessment of taxable prop
eFty In each county and to determine
whether valuations have been fixed le-
gally and Justly. This is done to pro-
tect the state, which is entitled to II
cents for EACH one hundred dollars in
taxable valuation, exclusive of taxes
levied for county and special perposes.
The State IS, therefore, vitality interest
ed in the fair and honest valuation Oh
taxable property. The constitution
provides that Sall property subject to
to taxation shall be taxed in proportion
to It's value" But this value is deter
mined first by the county assesseE
then approved or corrected by the
county Board Of Equalization, and then
submitted I to the State Board for review.
That board IS final Judge of the matter
OF valuation and can order such changes
in valuation of lands and other proper
. as may seem just and fair
Now tor t6prs the storw Macon county |
aaS Judgment of about $50, 900 to |
'ay on account of bonds given to !
abroad that was 2ever- built. The |
'aluatlon OF saxable. property in that
ounty has, been fixed 50 low that this
qdgment cannot De paid out of the
ounty revenue. When the last assess
lent ot the county was under consider
0on py the State Board, Governer
SC sc ley and Treasurer Covgin endeav-
red to have it raised to fair valuation.
he other member of the Board re-
used, and being ia the majority, pre-
fTnted an equitable. assessment. The
res1S Xor of the county, being a non
statesA entered suit in the United
State BS.rict Court to compel the
in the md to do its plain duty in the
order aeaSer. That court issued an
opposed at the three members who
Governor lir valuation but excluded
from the dley and Treasurer Cowgirl
board showinF, the records Of the
to do their duthat they were
parties concerna the state 90 '1ihns
The court took oct t. anu ~ al
the governor for
course in the matter,
Had the governor 40
valuation of taxable ptoropose that the
county be increased tooerty in Macon
values instead of arb5onform to real
fixed by the county btrary valuation
payment of debt the stard to avoid
ceive its just dues from Ma would re-
property-a sum in excess Dion county
ment OF the creditor who is trae judg-
collect his claim from the ling to
Governor county.
-4auiey, sworn to discharge
the duty imposed upon him by the
constitution, sought to protect and
collect the claim of the state without
reference to the county's creditor No
honest citizen could expect the COVER
nor of the state to violate his oath of
offie in older to aid county or any
of its tax payers to avoid settlement of
a claim ajudicated by the court of JUS
tice, no matter what good reasons may
be advanced against such claim. 1t
is manifestly unfair to make other coun-
ties pay their full share of taxes and let
Macon or any other county pay le.5s.
In this matter Governor Hadley disre-
garded all partizan or political consitl-
erations and adhered strictly to lis duty
under the constitution and laws of the
state; and Treasurer Cowgirl, sterling
Democrat, followed his example.