Ripley County democrat., 1917-06-22
The Tax Commission,


Commission created by the For-
ty-ninth General Assembly. ,rhe
members are former Secretary OF
State Cornelius Roach, chnirman,
Hon. James Y. Player, former
Comptroller Of the City Of St.
Louis, and Hon. J. H. Galesner,
a prominent farmer and stockman
OF Southeast Missouri, The latter
is a republican, The Governor
is 10 be congratulated upon the
personnel OF this commission,
They are each peculiarly fitted
by experience and sound business
Judgement to administer the pro.
visions OF this law nationally and
10 he satisfaction OF all the people.
Chairman Roach in discussing
the policies TO be adopted by the
commission, said;
Membership on the State Tax
Commission is a great RESPONSE
bility, as we'll as q great honor.
In carrying out the purpose Of
the new law, ] shall give the best
service ofwhich | am capable.
The new law was not enacted for
The purpose Of either increasing
or diminishing taxes. The law is
intended to provide the means
and authority for properly enfor-
cling existing laws. It does not
contemplate any revolutionary
methods. unless living up to the
requirements OF law that has
stood the test of time may be cal
led revolutionary.
In enacting the Tax Commiss-
ion law, the legislature aimed to
do justice in taxation matters.
BY this enactment, the legislat.
ure intended to eliminate ine-
qualities and abolish favoritism.
The purpose Of the law is not to
discriminate against the farmer,
the banker, the investor. nor any
other class Of citizens, but is in
tended to put an end to all dis
elimination az far as possible in
taxation matters. The law ex-
presses no new theories in taxa
tion, unless it be that an improv-
ed administration Of existing law
shall he called something new.
Ny steadfast purpose as mem
ber OF the Commission will be to
administer justice ss between in.
dividual and individual, as oe-
tween county and county and be.
tween one part OF the State and
any other part. No one will fear
the operation Of this law unless
he fears Justice,
The Commission has no power
to control the quantity or amount
OF taxes to be collected for the
State, county, city, town, village, |
or school district. The General
Assembly only has power to de-
termine how much shall be COL
lected for state purposes, as that
body alone has power to fix the
rate Of levy. In county affairs,
the county court only, has the
power to fix the rate OF county |
levy end determine how many
dollars shall be used for county
In like manner, city
councils, village boards, and
school directors are the only Of
fcers under Missouri law that
nave the power to fix the rate OF
evy and determine how many
hundreds OF dollars shall be coll
ected and spent for local use.
by the very terms of the sosl.
,reating the State Tax Commits.
ZION, this Commission ia dsnie !
he power to fix any rate Of levyl
y determine the quantity Of tax
% TO be used for the State or any
II its subdivisions. Under the
operation Of this law, just aa here
ofore, the officers elected locally
ire the once. and the only ones.
Q whom taxpayers can look forl
leteSmininE how much Or how
i:tIe, how high or how low taxes
will be.
The great central purpose for