Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1916-10-20
STATEWIDE PROHIBITION AND
THE SINGLE TAX

Whlle missouri counties have been
gradually going "dry" the state OF
Missouri has been Just as gradually
increasing the financial aid it offers
the county roads and schools until
today the public school apportion-
ment, amounting to substantially two
million dollars for 1916, is the largest
in the history of the state.
This money is all going out of the
state treasury into the various coun-
ties.
Where does the state GET all this
money? And where would the
COUNTIES get it if the state didn't
furnish it? Ever think of that? It's
worth thinking about.
Ninety-six of the one hundred and
fourteen counties of this state DO
NOT CONTRIBUTE ONE CENT to-
ward the support of the state govern
ment. All that they pay into the state
treasury in taxes is paid to them by
the state for their county government,
mostly for roads and schools, AND
NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS A
YEAR BESIDES.
That is a rather remarkable fact,
but is is TRUE. 1t is a matter of
PUBLIC RECORD.
Now, let us tell you another fact,
not so remarkable, but none the less
a FACT. 1t is simply this: Nearly
all of the ninety-six counties above
mentioned are DRY counties.
1t is very right and proper that
these counties should receive this
state aid for their roads and schools
because roads and schools are mat
tiers of statewide concern. But il
the state of Missouri loses any great
part of its present income 1T WILL
HAVE TO WITHDRAW IT'S AID.
A total of $7,121, 227.61 (ovel
eighty per cent of which came from
the big cities) was paid by the liquor
industry to the government of this
state and the local subdivisions there.
of during the last two-year period il
LICENSE AND INSPECTION FEES
alone, NOT COUNTING THE REGU.
LAR TAXES paid by the manufac'
turers, wholesale and retailers in the
liquor business and allied industries.
Statewide prohibition would auto.
matically shut off just about one-halt
the present income of the state
Where, then, would these counties e
for the moneys they are receiving
from the state? Where COULD the.
go? Do you know of any availabl,
source of revenue that is not Alread!
pretty well exhausted? Do you know
of any NEW source of revenue? Doe
ANYBODY know where Missouri
could pick up three or four million
dollars a year outside the presen
sources of revenue?
With the state treasury bankrupt
these ninety-six counties could hay,
but one place to go for the road ant
school moneys they now get from
the state. They would have to q
TO THE FARM and put a BIGGER
TAX ON THE FARM.
The cities and towns are now, fol
the most part, TAXED TO THE CON.
STITUTIONAL LIMIT. Any increase
in taxes must COME FROM THE
FARM PROPERTY for the very gooc
reason that IT CAN'T COME FROM
ANYWHERE ELSE.
Do you DOUBT it? Does ANY,
BODY doubt it? Where else coul(
Barry County go for that ~$31,937.5:
which it is annually receiving from
the state? Where could Barton Coun.
ty get the $23,Q92.29 it is now re.
ceiving from the state, if not from the
farm? Where on earth could Dallas
County go to get the yearly income
of $20,358.11 it now draws from the
state treasury, if not to the farm =!
How could Dade County eve raise
the s23,109.56 per year It now gets
from the state, without vastly in.
creasing the taxes on Dade County
farms? And so on down the line
The same is true of Dent County
which now puts $5,797.6S into the
state treasury and gets back .$18,.
1885; of Douglas County, which
pays $6,844.07 and gets back S24,-
623.48; of Dunklin County, which pays
$16,009.98 in state taxes, while taking
out of the state treasury the sun OF
$29,802.7 70; of Henry County, which
puts in $21,367.57 and takes out $685.
477.48; of Hickory County, which
gives $5,716.19 and gets back $1O,.
$1,000 from the state; of Howell,
IL l-A- 90 nnE On