The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-04-07
CAPITOL NEWS LETTER.

Washington, d. c.. ADril /. 1922
The high cost of government IN
Missouri is revealed by a state
nent just issued by the Bureau Of
Census which shows that the in
crease was nearly 10 per cent during
the six year period from 1914 to 1920
One Of the interesting features Of the
report was that the increase in pro-
perty and special taxes from 1914 to
1917 was SAG whereas from 1917 To
1920 the increase was 1859 per cent
Total expenditures for the state
government in Missouri for the fiscal
year ending Dec. 81, 1920, are given
as $40, 1892, $3.50 whereas for the cores
ponding period in 1914 they were but
S10,204,123. The per capita costs
which were but $3.04 in 1914 were
$685. in 1917 and in 1920 they were
$5.98. Of this $5.98 there was $3.50
devoted to hhe' general expenses of the
state government; nine cents for in
terest on the state debt and twenty
cents for outlays.
Incidentally the state treasury had
substantial balance in 1920 for
while the expenses were $20,392, 1888
total revenue receipts amounted to
S27 1866, 1905, which was $500 per cap
tia, or an excess of receipts over ex-
penditures of $2.04 per capita,
The effect of prohibition on state
revenues is reflected in the proportion
ate amount derived from licenses dur
ing the years compared. In 1914 the
state obtained $3.50 per cent of it's rev.
enue from business and non-business
licenses, the latter including automo-
bile taxes, whereas in 1920 thepropor-
tionate amount derived from this
source was but 14.8 per cent. The per
capita net Indebtedness for Missouri
is decreasing, having been $2.19 for
1914 and but $1.73 in 1925.
The allotment of an additional fed
eral judge for the Western district of
Missouri is being made the object of q
determined fight in the senate this
week. The judgeship bill, as it pass
ed the House, provided for two new
judges for Missouri but the senate
committee eliminated the one for the
Western district and allowing but one
for the Eastern district. Senator
Spencer's friends deny he was party
to this decision and point to the fact
that he is joining hands with Senator
Reed in an effort to restore the judge
for the Western district.
Missouri played leading role in the
defeat of the Republican House lead
ers last week when the Appropriation
for rivers and harbors was increased
from $27 ,653, 260 to $42,815,561. The
entire delegation, irrespective of party
lines, voted for the increase despite
the opposition of Floor Leader Mon
dell and Rep. MAIDEN, chairman of the
appropriations committee. The fight
was organized by Rep. c. A. Newton
and the river advocates are now count
ing on Senator Reed to prevent any
reduction when the bill reaches that
body,
An early decision>on the location of
the neuro-p sychiatric hospital to care
for shell shock victims in the states
of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Ne
braska is expected. Provision for this
is made in the Langley bill which
passed the House and is now before
the Senate. Missouri towns under
consideration as possible locations are
st. Joseph, Excelsior Springs, Kansas
City and Springfield. The only other
competitor known is Leavenworth,
Kansas, the suggestion being that the
hospital should be located at the Old
Soldiers Home there.
Missouri postmasters of the presi-
Dental class nominated last week
were: John w. Smith, Browning and
Archie C. Atterberry, Atlanta. How
ever, there were a number of fourth
class postmasters named. They were:
Edwin L. Cordes, Westalton; Allen B.
Medlin, Jr., Standish; Mann H. Down.
ing, Mill Grove; Martha E. Bowman,
Gentryville; Augustus A. Fletcher,
johnson and Thurman C. Lainhart,
Anove.
An allotment of $4,000 was made,
by the War Finance Corporation last
week for rediscounting Federal Re-
serve loans to farmers and stockmen
in Missouri.
Missouri with total farm property
valued in excess of So, SOC, 200, 900 was
sixth in rank among the states of the
Union, according to report just is
sued by the Department of Commerce.
This report further shows that the
value of all farms crops in Missouri
for 1919 was 1863 048, 900. indicating
a return of about IA per cent on the
investment and ranking the state
seventh. In live stock Missouri, cred
tied with $105,601 900, was in ninth
place.
Lieut.. Gov. Hiram Lloyd of Missouri
was Washington visitor last week.
He was visitor at the White House
and the guest of several luncheons
n L II