The Monett times., 1922-04-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Missouri Per Capita Indebtedues.

= The costs of maintaining the state
government in Missouri, during the
six years from 1914 to 1920, increa led
nearly 100 per cent, according to a
statement compiled and issued by the
Bureau of Census. The expenditures
for the fiscal year ending Dec. 81,
1920 are shown to have been $20,392,-
$50 whereas state government expen-
ditures for the fiscal year of 1914
were but $10,204,123.
/ The report shows that the per-
capita cost for 1920 was $5.9S against
$685. for the fiscal year 1917 and
$3.04 for 1914 The division of gov
eminent expenditures for 1920 is
shown to have represented $3.50 per
capita in the expenses for the general
departments; 500 for interest and
$40 for outlays. The total revenue
raised during 1920 is shown to have
been $z7,353,805, or $500 per capita.
Property and special taxes repre-
sent the greater part of the revenue
in most states. In Missouri they
were 49.5 per cent for 1920; 1868 per
cent for 1917; and 30.6 per cent for
1914. The increase in the amount of
property and special taxes collected
was 54.6 per cent from 1914 to 1917
and 1859 per cent from 1917 to 1920.
Receipts from licenses, which in for
mer years represented returns from
saloon licenses, was 14.8 per cent of
the total revenue in 1920 and 1916 per
cent in 1914.
The per capita net indebtedness for
Missouri is decreasing. 1t is shown
that in 1920 this was $1.73 whereas
in 1917 it was $2.01 and in 1914 it was
$2.19. 1t is argued by the Depart
ment of Commerce. under which the
Census Bureau operates, that the best
of government service is the
per capita tax levy, This is shown to
have been $1.54 for 1920 in Missouri.
$3.50
Missouri members in Congress
organized and led the fight which re-
suited in the increase of the appro-
priation for river and harbor work
during the next fiscal year from $27,-
635,260 to $42,8l5,56l. This is the
which the chief of army
engineers had insisted would be- re-
luired but the disposition of the ap-
oropmations committee was to reduce
t nearly third, Rep. c. A. Newton
organized the river bloc in the House
and, with the help of his colleagues,
'orced a vote, carrying the amend
nent by nearly three to one.
***
With the passage by the senate of !
he so-called Langley bill, which has
ust passed the House by an over {
1h lining vote, announcement will be |
nade by the Veterans Bureau of the
ocation Of the proposed hospital for |
euro-psychiatric ex-service men in
he Ninth district, comprising Mis- t
ouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
'hese are the soldiers suffering with I
hell shock and other nervous diseases d
ties for this hospital have been in
pected at st. Joseph, Excelsior A
prings, Springfield and Kansas City,
To-, as we'll as Leavenworth, Kansas. e
Among the Missouri visitors to
last week was Lieut.. Gov.
.iram Lloyd of st. Louis. He was
lie guest of the Republican members Il
the delegation at a luncheon, met a
nd conferred with several of the
lbinet members and called at the A
'hite House to pay his respects to
resident Harding. c,
&~
Missouri ranks sixth among the n
ates of the union in the value Of all :
lrm property and which, according !.
a report just issued by the Depart i
ent of Commerce, exceeds $3,5O0,- I
10000. In the value of farm crops /,
one, however, Missouri is seventh, I
e amount being $559,048,O 900, The \,
alue of live stock in Missouri en- :, :
ties her to ninth place the amount I
} credited being $1O5,6O1, 900. This ],
st, it is pointed out, includes not l,
lily beef cattle but such products as I
liter, eggs, cheese and even honey. !,
The War Finance Corporation allot-
d $4,000 last week to rediscount al
ans made by Missouri banks for the
lief of farmers and stockmen in that N
ate. N
Il