The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-01-11

people Of Missouri about s1.Tu per
capita. In Illinois the per capita rate
is $3.50. The average per capita tax
OF the United States is $500.
II we raised $500 per capita, we
would have $l6,750,000 annual rev.
enue to finance the state
We should have an additional rev.
enue Of s1,500,OO0 for the public
schools of Missouri; s1.s0O,0O0 TO
cover the present deficiency; $4,000
to completely reform the penal insti-
| tutions, which l will later discuss at
greater length.
| believe this additional annual rev
enue required can be best raised by
imposing taxes on the follo,:ing ba-
sis, which l recommend for your con-
sideration:
(a) The raising of the col
lateral inheritance tax from
3 per cent to ~ per cent. which
would return. an estimated in
Cbl A general inheritance tax.
! increase OF ...................... 1.O0O. 900
81 corporations "a privilege or
Id 4 state income tax. to
federal rate ..!....,........... 500. 900
flat ra'p Of $500 ............... 800. 900
i ~ Mortgage recording tax
$50 per cent to state and 80 per
Cg) \ secured debt tax $50
per cent to state and 80 per cent
Chl Ada to pure food and ''''V''
drug department inspection Of
soft drinks .................... $50. 200
department the inspection Of
spirltuOus liquors ............ 256,G00
Total Observation-Disclosures. 500. 900
The passage Of laws covering the
above subjects will not work a hard
ship on any one. While they reach
money which may be said to be in
the turn over" yet they are effec-
tive methods OF compelling the pay
ment Of taxes on vast part OF the
intangible property which escapes I'M
der our present method.
Other states have such laws, which
fact remoTes the objection that they
may cause an injustice to such enter
prises as come in competition with
similar industries elsewhere. Their
business and fairness are now so well
established in our sister states that
/ shall not enter into a detailed dis
cussion of them.
State Tax Commission.
recommend the creation of a
state tax commission. | believe the
time has come when it is necessary to
cleate such commission. whose du-
ties shall be to enforce and supervise
the revenue laws already in force,
as we'll as those which you may pass
Problems rei0ting 10 taxation are al
ways difficult We all agree, how
ever, that whatever taxes are pro-
Eided by law should be efficiently ad-
ministeTed> In order 10 do this it
is necessary that there should be
some central authority, with power
TO aid local assessors and to see that
they administer the laws OF the state
in a uniform manner. A state tax
commission, or some similar central
authority, now exists in about forty
states OF the Union.
A permanent state tax commission
would be able to furnish the general
! assembly such information as is nee
; essary from time to time for the sat
istactory revision Of revenue laws. The
power OF this commission may be
! made to include supervision over the
expenditure. as we'll as the collection
Of the states money, with authority
to recommend methods of economy
and efficiency in all state depart
ments: with authority to make a
scientific estimate OF the revenue for
each biennial period. presenting same
! to the legislature with a budget and
recommendation as to how the money
| should be expended. The budget
would be for the guidance OF the leg
iSlature with a view to make the in
! come and outgo balance.
! The experience of other states
shows the wisdom of such a commits
| sion and Missouri should not fall be-
| hind in adopting this method in work
| ing out our revenue system.
Penal Institutions.
The last legislature abolished the
penitentiary contract system effective
December 31st, 1915.
| Provision has been made for emf
! ploying only three hundred OF the
! prisoners; the twenty-seyer hundred
remaining are idle. with the excep-
tion Of those required for routine
| work This situation is so serious
| as to be critical. 1t will be necessary
for the legislature to act Immediately
| to prevent distressing and dangerous
! results.
| I am thoroughly convinced that we
! must meet this perplexing and com
i pick question boldly and fearlessly
by saying once for all that these con-
tracts shall never be renewed-that
! there will be no better time in the
! future than today to work out this
! problem with this factor eliminated
!, therefore, recommend for your
consideration that the board OF par
dons and paroles. the board of prison
inspection, the bOayds of the Missouri
Reformatory, the State Industrial
go Id 80, sal