The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-11-03
WHY YOUR TAXES ARE HIGH


"Nobody wants to discuss taxes,
saws Governor Hyde. He is mlstak,
en-. The taxpayers and voters OF
Wayne county, Republicans and Dem
ocrats alike, desire to discuss taxes
and they propose to discuss them.
This is the second of series OF ar
ticles to appear in the Journal-Bhn-
ner which will show why Missouri
taxes are higher during the present
administration than during the pre-
ceding administration. We believe
that this newspaper should present
this information as a part OF its SER
vice to its readers, and we believe that
the facts contained herein should
come to the attention of every Wayne
County voter. The figures quoted are
official.
Particularly, the farmers of Mis-
souri, should become acquainted with
the pertinent facts respecting the
HYDE administration burdensomee
tax policies. Tens of thousands OF
Missouri farmers, many of them
farmers of Wayne county, were among
those who voted to put Hyde and his
State Board of Equalization in office.
These voters cannot be held RESPONSE
BILE for the acts of these men in office,
but these same voters, we feel sure,
both Republicans and Democrats, will
ioin in voting against continuation
of the Republican administration. IL
behooves every man and woman voter
to care for their own interests, Tor
not one voter should be a party to his
own oppression.
What has Hyde and the Republican
State Board of Equalization done for
the farmer?
In 1920, the assessment of farm
lands in Missouri was S773,71l 1913
Taxes for state purposes, even at the
higher rate of eighteen cents on the
$500 for 1920, levied on this farm land
assessment amounted to 1890, 6S0.86,
approximately.
The State Board, under Hyde's die
tation and leadership, raised. the as
sessment on farm lands to $1767 $685.
718. State taxes on the new assess
ment on farm lands yielded $l,767,-
568.71 in 1921, at the new rate of ~
cents on the 500. State taxes alone
in 1921 were increased for the farm
er $446,S47.85.
The assessment for farm lands in
1922 is approximately the same as
for the preceding year. while the rate
for state purposes is Is cents on the
800 valuation. The farmers of Mis-
souri,, therefore. in 1922 will pay i'll
state taxes alone approximately ST.
297, S39.43 or 1917, 1887 more than
they paid during the last year of a
Democratic administration.
Governor Hyde insists that there
has been TO increase in state taxes,
but the Missouri taxpayers, upon
comparing their tax receipts will find
this to be a misstatement Of fact in
an attempt to mislead them until af-
ter the coming election. At the same
time the Governor brags about the
large increase in the state school
fund during his term of office from
S5,911,673 for the 1919-1920 biennial
period to $9,077,010 for 1921 and
1922. To those who stop to think
the Governors plea of no increase in
state taxes is absurd for it is COM
mon knowledge in Missouri that one
third of the common revenue received
by the State of Missouri must go into
the common school fund. This pro-
vision was placed in the constitution
years ago, and fortunately soyf for it is
wise that one-third of the taxes are
thus disposed of instead of being
squandered. by the present extrava-
CANT administration. 80, ......'
Governor Hyde had nothing to do
with providing that one-third of the
revenue go to the public school fund
but he did have lot to do with in
creasing the amount of taxes collect
ed from the property owners of Mis-
souri, from SIT, 735, 019 in the years of
1919 and 1920 to S27,221 900 in 1921
and 1922. He attempts to evade the
issue but he must admit that his own
figures tell the tale which he hasNso
carefully tried to evade during his
entire term of office.
While the state school fund has
been increased $3.165,34 in the past
two years it must be remembered that
there has been an increase of $780,
686 for the general expenses of the
State This is an amount more than
was necessary to run the affairs OF
Missouri few years back.
Another fact which MISSOURI yot-
ers must remember is that while spe-
cial taxes. such as the income and cor
poration franchise have been reduced
by Governor Hyde and his Republic
can associates who are in charge of
the states affairs, home and farm
owners of the state have been forced
to pay an increased tax levy and it is
from their pockets that the increased
amount for the school fund is OBJ
tanned and not from those who enjoy
special privileges as under Demo-
cratic rule.
Hyde lowered taxes on railroads,
street railways. telephone and tele-
graph lines, on incomes of the wealthy
and raised the valuations on every
acre of land and every home in the
rural districts and in the smaller cit
les and towns in the state.-Wayne
County Journal. N WA aHtI