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

A vicious misrepresentation OF
Governor Hadley's views and
purpose concerning taxation is
going the rounds of the Demo-
cratic press. 1t emanates from
an official Democratic source. 1t
will not affect intelligent citizens,
who know what the law of taxa
ton in this state is, but it may
prejudice some voters who have
not the opportunity to learn the
truth. The lie, in effect, is that
Governor Hadley wants all the
farm lands in the state assessed
at their full value, and taxed at
Is cents on the hundred dollars
valuation, while he proposes no
system for valuing and assessing
other taxable property. A lie that
contains a half truth is the worst
kind of falsehood, because its as
ISOLATION with truth makes its
hideous nature less discernible.
The truth is that Governor
Hadley wants all taxable prop
erty assessed at its money value
at the time of assessment-farm
lands, town lots, merchandise,
jewelry, animals, personal prop
erty, money, and all other taxable
property, and then taxed at a rate
sufficient to provide enough rev.
enue to conduct the state govern
ment economically and properly.
He simply wants enforcement Of
a law that has been on the statute
books for more than half a CEN
fury, and which has never been
changed in it's requirements bv
the Democrats who have held the
state in their grasp and been priv
LEGGED to legislate as they desired
tor more than forty years.
In order to understand the real
truth 1t is best to quote the law first,
then quote Governor Hadley, and then
quote the language Of designing poll
ticians who are trying to make the
people believe that Governor Hadley
wants to over-tax the farmers.
The constitution Of the state pro-
vides:
Article 10. section Stakes may
be levied and collected for public
purposes only. They shall be uni.
form upon the same class of sub
jects within the territorial limits of
the authority levying the tax, and
all taxes shall be levied and collect
ed by general laws.
Article 10, section ALI property
subject to taxation shall be taxed In
proportion to Its value.
Article 10, section s.--The state
tax on property, exclusive Of the
tax necessary TO pay the bonded
debt Of the state, shall not exceed
twenty cents ON the n hundred
dollars valuation; and whenever the
taxable property of the state shall
amount to nine hundred millions
dollars the rate shall not exceed
6fteen cents.
Article 10. section 1i.-Prohibits
valuation OF property for local tax
wv bly, tb6n lOT btdtC tdAdLlOU, |
Observe that section 8 provides that
all taxes shall be levied and collect.
ed by general laws" Pursuant to this
authority or mandate Of the constitu-
ton the frst legislature elected after
the constitution was adopted Demo.
cratic In both houses) passed what Ia
now designated as section S1S0 OF
chapter las Of the Revised Statutes OF
1901 (and which stands In the last
revision, made in 1909, without
change). That section reads as fol.
lows:
Section s1S0.-The assessor shall
value and assess all the property on
the assessors books according to
It's true value In money at the time
OF the assessment; and all other
personal property shall be valued at
the cash price OF such property at }
the time and place of listing the
same for taxation,
Sections 300, s1s1 and sls2 pro
vide amply for appeal from the valua.
ton fixed by the assessor, and the
county courts of the several counties
N empowered to remedy erroneous
assessments--and the State Board Of
has the power to remedy
unfair assessments when county
courts or the city assessor OF st.
Louis fan to do 30. /
Now, note that Z law. authorized by /
SAH oonatttutien and enacted BY q