The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-04-04
The Proposed Single Tax
Constitutional Amendment

An organization styling itself the
Equitable Taxation League purposes
submitting two amendments to the
State Constitution ut the November
election by initiative Petition un-
der the initiative and referendum
amendment OF the constitution,
which has for its purpose tn" grad
ual elimination of taxes on personal
property and improvements and TIN"
final substitution Of taxes on land
values only, known as III" single
tax system. That our Readers may
ncuuulut Themselves with th, pro-.
visions al the proposed amendment,
We give the iull tex below:
Proposed Amendment, 10y Initiative
Petition, To- the Constitution Of
Missouri, submitting to In" l"-nl
voters Of the stat" Of Missouri tor
their approval cor rejection, a, ihu
General Election To- he held uu the
Tuesday urN following to" first
Monday IN November, \. y. lnl1,
by adding new sections relating to-
revenue and Taxation. t. article
y.
BE- it Enacted by the People of the
Stat" of Missouri, rs follows.
section !. All property now sub
feet to taxation shall be classified
Tor purposes Of taxation and for rN-
r!uptiOu from taxation as follows
Glass one shall include all person.
al property. All bonds aud public
securities ct the State, and of TN"
political subdivisions and muuic-
lpalitlrs thereof, now or hereafter
ISSUED, shall b" exempt from all
taxes, stat" and local, from and at.
ter the adoption of this amendment, ,
and all other personal property shall
he exempt from all taxes, stat and
local ia tn" year l9ll and thereafter;
provided that nothing this amend
mcut shall b" construed rs limiting
OF denying tine power Of the state To-
tax any tom Of franchise, privilege
or inheritance.
Glass two shall include all m-
pruNrmrut~ ln or on lands, except
improvements in or on lands now
cN"mp, from taxation 10y law. In
th. years iIli and 1919, all property
m Glass Two ~hull be- exempt from
all taNr~. stat" and local, to tH.. rN-
ten, ul uur-luprth %. the assessed
value of such property; III tn" years
HlN and 1911, f." tine "Ntout ul two
iuUrtl-, Iu the YEARS HIS aud .p.I
lu thc extent of tHru".iourii-, Ard
ia TIE year 100 and thereafter alt
property in 'ia~s Two shall U' ,N-
"lupt from all taxes, state and foe
cal. provided, however, thn' 300 iu"
year lHli and thereafter, the ina.
pruyomruts to the extent of ,a.nUn. M
IN assessed vale" on the homestead
ol every householder or bead of "a
family, shall be- exempt from all
taN"s. State and local.
Glass Three shall include all lands
in Tn" State, independent uf IN" inn
pruNrmrutS thereon or therein, "N-
crpt lands now exempt from TAXATION
10y law, and Shall also include all
franchises Tor public srryIr" utlli-
ties, aud no property In Class Ihr""
shall ever ho exempt from taxation
Section =. All property subject To
taxation In this State shall be as.
scSscd for axes at its true and act
ual VRklc.
section >. No poll tnN shall be
levied or collected in Missouri, nor
shall any tan whatsoever be- levied
or Imposed on amy person, firm,
merchant, manufacturers, trade, la
hUr, business, occupation or pruirs-
sion under the form ur prctoNt of n
lic"us" for revenue" after December
3lst. 1918, but nothing herein shalt
hc construed n affecting the liccns-
ing of any business, occupation,
profession, plncc or thing in the in
trrcst Of the public peace, health or
safety; and nothing herein con
talucd shall be construed ~ chang
ing the present laws governing the
regulation of tn" manuinctur" and
sale Of fcrmented, Ninous and spir-
ituuus liquors.
Section l. The existing cOustitu-
tiunal limitations upon the rates of
taxation for State, County, school
and Municipal purposes shall have
no force and effect after January
LIST, lgl4.
Section ,. The General Assembly
shall provide the legislation neces.
sary To secure iull and effective
compliance with the purposes and
intent OF this amendment. Nothing
in this amendment shall he con
strued To limit the initiative and
referendum power reserved by the
people,
The second amendment proposed
by the Equitable Taxation League
provides for the adjustment of the
State Board of Equalization aud the
substitution of n State Taxation
Commission composed Of three per
sons, to he appointed by the Gov
ernor, for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of the single tax
amendment.