The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-04-15

Scathing criticism of the admins
tration of Gov. Hyde and the leg;sla
tive program passed by the last Gen
eral Assembly, which was controlled
by Republicans, is contained in a pub
lie statement formulated Monday a
a meeting Of approximately 100 up
state Democratic leaders at thI
Planters Hotel.
| The meeting, which was presided
over by Chairman Edward jamie oi
the Democratic State Committee, wa.
attended by practically all Democrats
State Senators and State Represents
tives. In addition there were severa
county chairmen and state committee
members. About dozen women alsC
were present. The purpose of the
meeting was to review the work Of
the Republican State Administration
and to point out its defects to the pub
lie.
| In their public statement the up'
state Democrats bitterly assail the ac-
tion Of the State Board Of Equaliza-
tion in raising the assessemnts of real
and personal property approximately
80 per cent. They also claim that the
Republicans violated their pledge with
regard to the creation of budget
system and the elimination of useless
offices.
All of the efforts of the administra-
tion, the Democrats charge, were 1es-
tined to vest unheard-of power in the
Governor and to establish in Missouri
a "one-man rule. Particular crlti-
cism is also directed against the judi
cial gerrymander, which is termed
"the most impudently partisan meas
ure ever passed by Missouri Legis-
lature." 9
Text of Statement
The statement, as given out at the
meeting, follows:
Representatives Of the Democratic
state and county organizations, meet
ing in conference with Democratic
members of the Fifty-First General
Assembly, for the purpose of review
ing the official activities of the state
administration and the work of the
General Assembly, ask the attention
of the people of Missouri to outstand-
ing features of the Republican legis-
lative program, presented as the full
fillment of it's party pledges.
"We challenge closest inquiry into
this legislation. and the action of the
State Board of Equalization in raising
assessments of real and personal pro-
perty from $2,471, ,746,046 to $4,467,-
451, ,6S2, approximately 80 per cent,
without corresponding reductions in
tax levies.
primarily this program rests upon
pledges to reduce the burden of tax
alton by economy Of administration,
the budget system and the elimina-
tion Of useless offices. In the face of
this pledge, the session just closed
cost $2s0,000. a sum greater than any
other seventy-day session n the his
tory of the state, appropriating more
than any previous General Assembly.
Under the guise of reducing taxes the
state revenue tax levy was lowered
one-third, but the State Board of
has since increased the
assessments so per cent, which will re-
suit in a general fiat increase of taxes
for state purposes throughout the en-
tire state of approximately So per
cent. Instead of creating a budget
system, the legislature established a
Department Of Budget with vast |
powers over contracts and purchases, |
gesting in one mantle power to con-
srol the expenditure of almost two
thirds Of the states funds, without |
proper supervision or control, and
with functions designed to bring about !