The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-03-03
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State Auditor Gordon in his printed
announcement as a candidate for re-
nomination by the Democrats, gives
table of figures showing the amount
Of taxes each county pays into the
State Treasury and the amount
which the State pays back to each
county in apportionments, such as
support of public schools, road i'm
provement, foreign insurance, etc.
The statement is somewhat startling,
for it shows that to ninety-six coun-
ties the State has paid back to them
for the year 1915 sums ranging from
$347 to $2,894.27 more than they
paid into the State Treasury in the
way of taxes. st. Francois county
received back $13,341.72 more than
it paid in taxes into the State Treas
ury.
This being true one might natural
ly inquire where does the State gov
eminent get the money to pay its
current expenses, such as salaries of
officers and the thousands of other
necessary incidental expenses per-
tanning thereto. Have you ever stop
ped to think about it? 1t comes from
fees collected by the several State de-
partments for commissions issued,
grain inspection, excise and licenses
to corporations, automobiles, ETC.,
etc.
Take the State Auditors office. for
instance. For the years 1918 and
1914, Auditor Gordon, after defray-
ing all running expenses of his de-
partment paid an excess of over $780,
600 into the State Treasury. The Of
flee of Secretary of State and other
departments have contributed in like
manner to the up-keep of the State
government. SO it is clear to all who
stop to think that the several de-
partments of the State must be hon
estly, economically and efficiently
managed, else the State government
returning the counties more than it
receives from them would be bank
rupt; and all this talk on the part of
Republican campaign spellbinders
about waste, extravaganza and ineffi-
cheney is the veriest sophistry with
cut any foundation whatever.
Has the reader ever thought of
how little he pays for the support of
the State government Missouri has
the lowest State tax rate of any State
IN the Union, condition that is al
together due to its Democratic adj |
ministrations which, from 1872, grad |
ually and persistently paid Off a debt
Of millions and reduced the tax rate
from 40 to so cents on the 500 as
sessed value to only IS cents at the
present time. If you are assessed at |
$1,000, you only pay to the State
Sl.S0 in taxes, and then the State
turns around and pays back to the
county more than it gets from it for
educational purposes, road improve
ment, etc.
But If you only pay $3.50 State tax,
how is it that your tax receipts on
your $1,000 assessment in Farming
ton calls for $21.30? This way-alI
the balance of that $21.30 you pay ex-
cept the $1.80 State tax, is your coun-
ty, road and school tax. The tax re-
ceipt on $1,000 assessment which
we have before us, places the county,
tax at $500, or 4Oc on the hundred
dollar valuation; road tax $3.50, or
25c on the hundred dollars, and school
tax $500 or $3.50 on the hundred dol
lars.
And this would have TO be increas-
I'd, or your schools and roads suffer,
t the State did not pay back to you
Tor these purposes more than you pay
. i, This is due in large measure
o the faithfuiness, honesty, efficiency
md economy of the several depart
nents Of our State. They are all
Democrats, It's true, but no Repub-
lean administration--we have never
lad but one out and out Republican
administration since 1870-can make
% satisfactory showing.
The conclusion of the whole matter
the Democratic party in CON
.rol of your State affairs. Il