Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-01-18


facts and conditions existing IN thc
state Of Missouri today cannot be
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, If 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. It 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. Appli-
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 a few specific subjects, those
which seem to me to be pressing for
solution at this time and Of para
mount Importance. 1 shall be glad
If 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 u 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-
ton to provide for the three thou
sand prisoners which are now con
fined in our state pe~nitent.ary. We
car no longer continue to neglect the
enlarging Of u eleemosynary institu-
tons. We must provide larger ap-
preparations for our educational in
situations, and such provision must
not only be adequate but available.
We can no longer continue a policy
which forces various institutions for
months during the year either to Dor
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
situations, over appropriated the bien-
NAL revenue $685., 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 31st, 1916, the unpaid bills
in the auditors office amounted to
$1,152,4 1880. In addition to this there
was an amount due the Confederate
soldiers and owners Of livestock
slaughtered to prevent the spread of
contagious diseases, 1898, 1906. And
to this must be added salaries and
obligations incurred in 1915, but not
filed with the auditor on the 31st Of
December, 1916, which would prob
ably amount to $3.50, 900. Thus these
three items together will make a total
deficit Of approximately $1,8o0,00 0
for which you must provide. This,
with our annual decrease in revenue
from liquor license, and a decrease
annually Of $500, 900 due to abolishing
the contract system in the pentten-
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
bred and Seventeen on the present
basis will be approximately five and
three-quarters million dollars. If we
deduct the deficit and the appropria-
tons necessary for educational pur-
poses, which last year aggregated
about three million dollars (and 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 $1.7O 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 $5.03 per capita, we
would have $16,750,OOo annual rev.
enue to finance the state.
We should have an additional rev
enue of $1,500,000 for the public
schools of Missouri; $1,8oo.o0o to
cover the present deficiency; $750,0O0
to completely reform the penal insti-
tutions, which L will later discuss at
greater length.
I believe this additional annual rev.
enue required can be best raised by
imposing taxes on the following ba-
sis, which l recommend for your con-
sideration:
(a) The raising Of the col
lateral inheritance tax from
8 per cent to 7s per cent, which
would return an estimated In
crease OF .......:.:.,...,.......$ l60,OO0
which should yield an estimated
(cS Tax on capital and surplus
franchfss taxi ................. 100000
(d) A state income tax. to
federal rate ...,..."........... 100000
fiat rate Of $500 .............. 500. 900
cent to county, "...,.......t.. 200, 900
(g) A secured debt tax $50
to county ........,.....-..... 10000
soft drinks $50, 900
spirituous liquors .............. ESQ, 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-