The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1910-11-04

property FOR h purpose of assess
and the full assessment of all
property for the purpose of taxation.
The Board Of Equalization is com.
posed OF the Governor, the Secretary
Of State, the State Auditor, State
Treasurer and Attorney General. Gov.
ernor Hadley say that these officials
(all Democrats) approved his recon.
mendation that the legislature pass
such a law as would secure the full
return of all property for the purpose
OF assessment, and the full assess.
ment of all property for the purpose
OF taxation" or course, he meant
legal assessm ent; and the law above
quoted shows that a legal assessment
is the real value in money of the prop.
erty assessed.
Now note what the Democratic
newspapers are printing, at the in
of Chairman Shannon and his
literary" employees. The following
was sent to Democratic newspaper
by such authority, in plate form, ready
for printing in newspapers:
Governor Hadley is an advocate of
assessing farm lands at full mar.
ket value, and urged the assessors
10 assess 1t. When the question OF
the equalization Of the farming
lands OF the state came before the
Board OF Equalization at its final
meeting, Governor Hadley was not
satisfied with the work of the coun-
ty assessors, as to the real estate.
and worked and voted for an in.
rease assessment, from about
thirty.three and one-third per cent,
at which farms are now assessed, to
one hundred per cent of their value.
Governor Hadley made the mistake,
although a lawyer, Of considering
the Board of Equalization a board
of assessors. He didn't stop to ap-
p%reciate the fact that the board
could only equalize, not assess. For
tunately for the farmers of Missouri.
the four Democrats Of the board,
Messrs. Cowgirl. Gordon, Roach and
Major, stood by the farmers and
prevented the raise in their assess
ment OF 300 per cent. Every farmer
in Missouri who does not want his
farm assessed at 100 per cent of its
value, while two-thirds of the money
OF the state lodges taxation, should
vote the Democratic ticket this fall.
Now note these facts:
~ The Democratic leaders admit
hat they have favored. and now favor, |
n illegal, irregular and unfair assess.
lent OF property, and that, under
'emocratic rule, two-thirds of the
honey of the state has been permit
I'd to dodge taxation-the very evil
overnor Hadley seeks to remedy.
(2) They admit that farm property,
their administration, has been
at only one-third of its actual
alue, while everybody knows that dis
nguished Democrats, in the employ
I corporations, have for many years
l1uenced the assessment of corpo-
tie property at a less proportionate
alue than farm property.
Here Is the whole truth about Gov
Hadley's position relative to
1xation. He wants a legal. honest
'sessment Of all property, and then
tax rate sufficient to meet the ex-
'nses Of the state government, eco
omically administered. He wants
hat the constitution, written by Dem
,rats, and the taxation laws, enacted
Democrats, provide for. He took
l oath to uphold the constitution and
enforce the laws Of the state and is
ying to honor that oath. Democrats
i've for forty years ignored the con-
tuition, permitted the violation OF
W and managed the affairs Of the
solely with q view of winning
ections.
Now, as to the rate Of taxation: The
says It shall not be more
an fifteen cents on the hundred dol
rs valuation after the taxable wealth
the state exceeds nine hundred mil.
ms. SO It ia now fifteen cents for I
ate purposes and, under an amend
adopted a few years ago.. at the
stance OF Democratic leaders. two
nts additional is levied and collect
to pay the interest on Certificates
indebtedness" to the school and
minary funds. These certificates
d been issued and the money and
in those funds illegally ap-
led to debts of the state before that
nendment was proposed. 1t was 4.
opposed and pushed to adoption by
'm%ocratic leaders to avoid whatever +.
nsequences might follow their &C.
m n thus depicting these funds-in +.
us converting, contrary to the plain .
andate of the constitution. interest i.
airing school funds, producing a
venue for the schools. into a perpet- i,
! state debt. the interest on which .
iounts to about $3.50, 900 a year, .
cry cent of which is paid out Of 1
xes collected on farm lands and !
her property. The last Legislature l
d to appropriate $500, 503.ss out of l
a canara1 rouopNa f,,rS - H. 4