The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1917-01-13

solved by figures OF speech, nor in
the review of past records Of splen-
did achievements. The benefits Of
government carry with them certain
burdens which, II equitably distri-
buted, make the sacrifice OF each
individual citizen insignificant In
comparison with the advantages he
receives.
The money required to maintain
the government must be provided by
those who enjoy its benefits and prof
1t by its protection. 1t seems to me
a plain dictate of honesty and good
government that public expenditure
should be limited to public necessity
and should be measured by the same
rules OF strict economy as are re-
quired in private business. Appll-
cation of business principles to pub
lie affairs is the surest method OF
giving equal and exact justice, and
this is the chief end of government.
shall now recommend legislation
on few specific subjects, those
which seem to me to be pressing for
solution at this time and of para
mount Importance. | shall be glad
IL in your wisdom you can find bet
ter remedial measures that will
serve the same end.
Fiscal Affairs of the State.
At the outset we must acknowledge
openly and squarely that this state
cannot be maintained on our pres
ent revenue. The first and most i'm
portant question which confronts US
is the problem of raising enough rev.
| enue to properly conduct the activi-
| ties of the state. There Is a demand
| for immediate and positive legisla-
tion to provide for the three thou
sand prisoners which are now con-
| fined in our state penitentiary. We
can no longer continue to neglect the
enlargng Of our eleemosynary institu-
tions. We must provide larger ap-
preparations for our educational in
stitutions, and such provision must
not only be adequate but available.
We can no longer continue a policy
which forces various institutions for
row money at exorbitant rates of in
terest or to close their doors.
The people of Missouri expect US
to work out a feasible plan that will
provide the revenue necessary to
maintain our institutions without en-
barrassment and without stint. In
order to do this there must be a
change in the present financial plan
The last legislature, after cutting
appropriations as far as possible and
still maintain the standard OF our in
stitutions. over appropriated the bien-
nial revenue $5,361 .995.29. The gov
ernor vetoed and held up during this
period approximately two and a
half million dollars OF this amount.
The institutions OF the state, how
ever, could not be closed. The rev.
enue has not been sufficient; and on
December 3lst, 1916. the unpaid bills
in the auditors office amounted to
S1,152,458.90. In adfA.ion TO this there
was an amount due the Confederate
soldiers and owners OF livestock
slaughtered to prevent the spread OF
contagious diseases, 1898, 3,7S0.s6. And
to this must be added salaries and
obligations incurred in 1916, but not
filed with the auditor on the 31st Of
December, 1916. which would prob
ably amount to $25O.O0O. Thus these
three items together will make total
deficit OF approximately Sl.S0O,OO0,
for which you must provide. This,
with our annual decrease in revenue
from liquor license, and decrease
annually OF 100000 due to abolishing
the contract system in the peniten'
tiary, brings us face to face with a
crisis.
This situation cannot continue. We
must completely remodel and rehabili'
tate the finances of this state imme-
diately The revenue of Nineteen Hun
dred and Seventeen on the present
basis will be approximately five and
three-quarters million dollars, II we
deduct the deficit and the appropria
tions necessary for educational pur
poses, which last year aggregated
about three million dollars land this
year should be more), the entire rev
enue for 1917 will be absorbed, ex
cept approximately one million dol
! lars.
Our general revenue fund costs the
people of Missouri about Sl70 pei
capita. In Illinois the per capita rate
is $3.50. The average per capita ta1
, of the United States is s503.
II we raised S5O3 per capita, We
p would have sl6,75O,OOO annual rev
enue to finance the state.
We should have an additional rev
enue OF $l,5OO,OOO for the public
Z schools Of Missouri; s1S00.000 Il
| cover the present deficiency; $75O,0OC
10 completely reform the penal insti
+ tutions, which I will later discuss a
+ greater length.
! | believe this additional annual rev
= enue required can be best raised b!
imposing taxes on the follo'dng ba
r sis, which recommend for your con
i sideration:
J. (al Tho raising OF the col
lateral inheritance tax from
| 4 oh