The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-04-20
Taxation

Editor Times:-This question has
been agitating the minds of govern
ments since governments have been
instituted among men and we are as
seemingly as far from wise solu-
ton of this abstruse problem as were
our predecessors.
Government being essential to the
uplift of the race of mankind and the
safety and permanency of property
as well as that of the safety and per-
petuity of mankind, they have been
instituted for just these purposes.
The first of these were not very COM
pick in their beginning, as the wants
and needs of the early peoples were
limited as compared with the pres
ent age. 1t costs more now to meet
the demands of one of our largest
municipalities than it did in earlier
days to govern a nation, and as we ad-
vance in civilization, wealth and pow
er our government cost increases.
This is characteristic of governments.
Those governments in which all of its
citizens have a voice, expenses are
usually less than where the few con-
troll.
1t is expedient that we should I'M
derstand where governments get mon
ey to defray the expense of govern
ing, ard the answer is through taxa
ton, and this is derived from or is
certain sum levied on and exacted
from the property of the citizens Of
the Commonwealth. All just gov
ernments collect a uniform rate from
oil &c ~ hot &c CO m
certain unit of property which is
called the standard of measure, and
when this is adhered to there can be
no inequalities of taxation and each
citizen under such a program bears
only his proportionate and just share
in lieu for his security of life and
property and his participation in all
other benefits flowing from said gov
ernme:t. This is just, for it equal
ICES the burdens of taxation, no prop
erty paying either higher or lower
than all property of similar kind.
Property in Missouri is supposed to
be rated for purposes of taxation at
about one-half of it's cash value at a
certain rate per one hundred dollars
thereof. This amount, with the gov
eminent of the State economically adj
ministered, has always been suffi-
cient to foster and take care of the
States every obligation to its citi-
zens.
A fair and just assessment of st.
Francois county's property would
give a tax value of property of at
least twenty millions instead of about
fourteen or fifteen millions, as at pres
ent, and this, too, without any great
increase on property other than just
increase on the great mining inter-
ests of our county. There is not an
intelligent person in our county but
that knows that these vast properties
are not nearly bearing an equitable
share of the States taxes and it is in
comprehensive why this should be the
case. Thanks to the constant effort
of The Pennington Times in the bat
tie for justice along these lines. The
Times has waged an honest, intelli-
gent, continued fight for justice in
the equal valuation of property for
taxation, and The Times should feel
proud that a response to your eff
forts has been made by our County
Board of Equalization. The gentle
men constituting this board are to be
commended for their response to the
demands of even justice and we are
sure that their action will meet with
the hearty approval of our people,
and the companies themselves are
bound to approve of the same, as no
injustice has been done to them and
none has been attempted. They are
simply required to do what the other
property of the county has been re-
quired to do-pay on more fair
valuation of their vast holdings.
A TAXPAYER.