The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-04-22
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE


some of the measures passed by the
General Assembly, and to submit these
propositions to the people of the state
that the approval of the voters may
be secured before they should become
effective. The statement issued by the
st. Louis conference fully covers the
general grounds upon which these
bills are attacked. 1t is fitting, how
ever, to emphasize other salient points
in connection with the entire program,
in order that the people may be ad-
vised.
In the first place, it has been said,
somewhat specifically, that the bills
proposed to be referred to the people
are the fulfilIment of the party plat
form pledges of the Republicans, who
were successful last November The
voters did not approve any specific
program, for, in fact, the Republican
state administration had no definite
plan until about thirty days before
the legislature adjourned. The vot-
ers may possibly be said to have ae-
copied the pledges of Gov. Hyde at
par value, when he was elected by
such large majority. What were
these pledges?
First, it was asserted that there
would be "a fair re-districting of the
state on a population and not a parti-
san basis" Is there anyone blind
enough, or obtuse enough, to claim
that the judicial redistricting measure
is fulfllment of this pledge? 1t is
the only reapportionment bill passed,
and even Gov. Hyde. in his st. Louis
speech, did not have the temerity to
defend it. The judicial measure,
which invades the courts and turns the
judicial body Of the state into a group
of men whose tenure and authority
appear to be subject to the whim and
choice of the Governor, is to be sub
mitted to the referendum.
Second, it was declared that there
would be reduction Of the burden of
taxation by economy Of administra-
tion." Instead, there is to be an un-
precedented increase in taxes and a
general increase in assessments, which
will subject some counties to the
doubling and trebling Of the actual
taxes paid by the people. Gov. Hyde,
in his St. Louis speech, dcried the as
sertion that taxes for state purposes
all over the state would be raised over
fifty per cent. He said the increase
would be less than sixteen per cent.
Let us see about this. The only way
to determine is to ascertain what the
yield of taxes will be under the new
assessments, with the present fixed
tax levies.
Increases in Taxation
During the four years Of Gov. Gard
ner's administration, the collections
from county collectors for state pur-
poses, including state revenue, inter-
est on the school indebtedness, the
capitol bond fund, at the rate of 10
cents on the 500 valuation, amounted
to 1872, 6S4.56, or an average of $4,-
343,171.14.
The tax rates for state purposes,
levied against the new assessments,
for 1921, will be ten cents for state
revenue, three-tifths of cent for in
terest on school indebtedness, two
cents for the capitol bonds, and two
cents for the blind pensions, or four
teen and six-tenths cents on the 800
valuation, The new assessed valuation
on real and personal property is s4,-
467 ,451 $500 The revenue derived
from the taxes named upon the new
valuations, which must be paid by the
people, for 1921, will amount to So
22,479.36, or an increase over the
Gardner average of $2,179,313.22, or
just little over so per cent.
The facts are plain.
Has there been Economy of admin
istration?" The legislature cost $780,
900 outright, with $4,000 unpaid war
rants, and an extra session approach
ing which will add at least 100000
TO the aggregate. This is greater than
any previous seventy-day session in
the states history. The total appro-
priations amounted to $4,000, 900 more
than any previous legislature. The
Governor admits this. but remarks
that 1--WE cannot have economy at the
expense of efficiency" Thus he
abandons his economy pledge.
Increased Cost of Administration
1t is proposed to submit the consol-
idation bills relating to the new de-
partments of Agriculture Budget and
Labor and the so-called Public We'll