Piedmont Weekly Banner from Piedmont, Missouri • 1

PIEDMONT, WAYNE COUNTY, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1917 Established June LV2 VOL. XXVI. No. 8 BIG ROAD MEETING HELD ATPATTERSON POWERS OF THE STATE TAX COMMISSION Law For Valuing Property. Penalties Incident To Assessments.

Wayne Next To Lowest In Assessment In The State. ROAD BOND CASE IS THROWN OUT COURT Jude Foard Sustains Demurres of Defendants, Compton Threatens Damage Sihu. Thomas Gilbreath DIED, July 16, 1917, at his home in Piedmont, after an illness of several years, in his fifty-first year. Thomas Gilbreath was born in Wayne County Missouri where he lived all of his life. He received his education in the Piedmont Public School and begin business life with D.

Allen for whom he worked a number of years. He afterwards became interested in politics and was twice elected Collector of Wayne County. He was the present Collector for the City of Piedmont having served two terms. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he had held a number of offices, he also belonged to the M. W.

of having joined that order a number of years ago while living at Greenville. He has retained a membership with the local Presbyterian Church several years. He had a rare quality of making friends and being true to them, There is one thing in human nature that is refreshing as water to the thirsty soul, or as the light to the eyes that for weeks have known nothing but darkness. There is one thing in human nature which makes the whole world kin, meaning that sweet and blessed and mysterious gift and grace of our nature which we call friendship." Thomas Gilbreath was married to Miss Bertie Malugen of Piedmont, who with a daughter, Alline, and a son, Thomas, survive him, He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. James Grisham, of Fredricktown, Mo.

two brothers, Isaac and Smith and a sister, Mrs. John Hack-worth. Those who stand on the shore or wharf and see their friends depart their emotions are not to be written. How high their hope, with what confidence their hands are waved in the last sight, is an incident, but what they feel cannot be said; the voyage cannot be measured. Outward bound has little significance for us who stand alone or turn to weep and pray God for a safe passage.

The funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 17, 1917, at the Presbyterian Church, by Revs. Calvert and Webb the interment taking place at the Masonic Cemetery conducted by Friendship Lodge No. 98 Knight of Pythians. Circuit Court Docket, August Term 1917. First Day-Monday, August 6.

1 State of Missouri vs. Job Meador, cutting timber. 2 State of Missouri vs. Chas. Cameron, netting fish, 3 State of Missouri vs P.

H. Fulton, Jselling intoxicating liquors. I State of Missouri vs. James Ross, selling intoxicating liquors. 5 State of Missouri vs.

Coleman Bennett et al gambling. 6 State of Missouri vs. Emmet Westmoreland, et al, gambling 7 Susie Scott Watson vs. W. I.

Watson, divorce. 8 John L. Wilkinson vs. J. E.

North, action on account. 9 Mingo Drainage District vs. J. Hanley, forjlelinquont ditch taxes. 10 J.

F. Johnson vs. Western Union Telegraph Company, damages. 11 Sherman Rhodes vs. John W.

Wilson, ejectment. 12 In the Matter of Lela Hebl. ing. Partition for decree of title. Second Day Tuesday, August 7.

13 State of Missouri vs. Ben H. Hughes, et al lacivious behavior. 14 State of Missouri vs. James Odum, carrying concealed weapons.

15 State of Missouri vs. James Odum attempt to rob. 16 State of Missouri vs. Virgil Ray field, et al. dynamiting fish.

17 State of Missouri vs. James K. Cochran, carrying concealed weapons. 18 State of Missouri vs. Luther Barnes, rape.

H. O. Ilolteretal vs. Loren Maxlield, ejectment. 20 Ed Waits vs.

J. D. Butts, action on note. 21 T. J.

Moss Tie vs. Missouri Southern R. to recover over charges. 22 John M. Cates vs.

Robert Shelton el al, retax. 23 J. F. vs. Ozark Valley Railway action for penalty.

21 Nellie White vs. A. W. Smith et al, suit in partition. Third Day Wednesday, Aug.

8. 25 State of Missouri vs. Maggie Stevenson, burning dwelling. 26 State of Missouri vs. T.

L. Moore, grand larceny. 27 State of Missouri vs. William Mathews, larceny. 2S State of Missouri vs.

Virgil Buyer, rape. 29 State of Missouri vs. Luther Littrell, violating local option law'. 30 Simie, McEadden vs. W.

It. McEadden. divorce. 31 Susan B. Strait vs.

Mercantile Stuns Corporation, to set aside decree. 32 State of Missouri ex rel But her Eaton vs. James 11. Turner et al, damages. 33 State of Missouri vs.

Aught Ellington, keeping and storing liquor. 31 Alice Gilmer vs. J. E. Gilmer et al, ejectment.

35 Laura McCormick vs. George McCormick, assumsit. 36 Robert J. Ramsey vs. Eli illiatn et al, quiet title.

Fourth Day Thursday, Aug. 9. 37 State of Missouri vs. Adolph Fish, grand larceny. 3S State of Missouri vs Thomas Morgan, common assault.

39 State of Missouri vs. Luther Littrell, storing liquor. 40 State of Missouri vs. Arthur Ies, carrying concealed weapons. II State of Missouri vs.

Virgil 1 Gibson, burn lary and larceny. 1 0 'oiitiiiucl mi page two.) Many Southeast Missouri Papers Comment on Move Made By Wayme County in Regard to State Highways. Wayne County Delegation In Jefferson City Today. At a meeting of the citizens of Patterson, Friday evening, July 13, 1917, the Patterson Commercial Club was organized and the following officers elected: President, Charles B. Ford; Vice-president, Martin Warren; Secretary, J.

R. Croy. Addresses were made by Hon. 0. L.

Munger and Representative 0. W. Hackworth of Piedmont, after which resolutions were passed similiar to those adopted by the Piedmont Commercial Club at their meeting Thursday evening, July 12, endorsing the proposed location of the East-West State Highway connecting Piedmont, Patterson, Greenville and Lowndes. This resolution sets out the directness of this route, indicates the advisability of utilizing the present Piedmont-Greenville gravel road and pledges the State Highway Department that one-hilf of the money required for its construction will be furnished On demand. A friendly contest over the proposed location of the Poplar Bluff-St.

Louis State Highway through Butler, Wayne and Iron Counties is creating a lot of interest both at home and abroad. The Piedmont Banner in its issue of July 5, explained that the road from Des Arc, Piedmont, Williamsville and Keener would traverse the most direct and persistent route, over low and uniform grades, requiring no bridges, and few culverts, would avoid interference by high water at any season of the year, would accommodate a greater number of people both in this and adjoining Counties than would any other possible location through Wayne County, would pass through the most densely populated section of the county and has an abundance of road building material available. These facts the Banner knows to be substantially correct and were arrived at after a careful investigation by competent engineers. The Democrat News of Fred-ricktown, in Madison County, Missouri, says, It would seem that a few folks in Wayne County have resolved themselves into a committee to urge the location (of the Poplar Bluff-St. Louis State Highway) from Flat River to Bismarck, then to Iron ton, then to Greenville and on to Poplar Bluff.

Their proposed route covers a large area of sparsely populated country, and in many large sections the country is so mountainous as to almost preclude the possibility of making a road." The Arcadia Valley Enterprise, in Iron County, copies a report of the meetings at Piedmont and Poplar Bluff and comments as follows: We are assured that the route suggested can be built easier and at the same time accommodate more people than any other route that can be selected, and the enthusiastic road builders of the county prefer this proposition. The people who are supporting this route have the confidence of the Enterprisesome of them, (Continued on pave two.) (b) Corporation officers. (c) Individuals. 13. To institute proceedings to correct assessment irregularities.

14. To prescribe forms for annual and other rejiorts from officers, and all blanks and books used by revenue officers. 15. To assess railroads, cars, rolling stock, street railroads, bridges, telegraph, telephone, express companies and other similar public utility corporations. 16.

To assess real and personal property as any other assessing officer may legally do. 17. To assess omitted property. 18. To correct errors on the assessment rolls.

19. To raise or lower assessed valuation of real or personal property. 20. To call meetings of assessors. 21.

To review all assessments and hold hearings for all whose assessed valuation may be changed, and enter lawful valuations. 22. To require county clerks to keep valuation up to amount fixed, and certified by state authorities. 23. All powers conferred by law on revenue officers necessary to perfect, make effective, and complete the collection of the revenue.

THE LAW FOR VALUING PROPERTY. The following is an abstract of the Missouri Statutes governing the question of value for assessment and taxation purposes: Sec. 11344 requires assesor to take oath that he will assess all property at what he belieues to be its actual cash value. Sec. 11348 requires the person listing property to make a true and correct statement of his property and its value." Sec.

11351 provides form of oath made by person assessed to be true and correct in hisstate-ment of all property and its value." Sec. 11354 provides for the county board of equalizatihn ascertaining the true amount and value of all property on each list, and if list made be found false, such person shall be required to pay treble the amount of taxes." ascertained to he chargeable, and the maker of any false list is liable to punishment for perjury. Sec. 11357 provides that hank property shall be valued and assessed as other property at its true value in money. Sec.

11358 provides that owners of building and loan association stock shall give a just and true list of the same to he assessor with the actual cash value of each share on the first day of in each year. Sec. 11381 provides that the assessor shall value and assess all the property on his books according to its true value in money at the time of the assessment. Again, in the same sect inn, is repeated the assessors duty to value property at the cash price of such property at the time and place of listing the same for taxation. (Continues! mi pan- I Thos.

Harris, assessor for Wayne county, and Dr. J. A. Banks, county judge of the western district, returned from Jefferson City, Friday night, where they went to attend a meeting of the County Assessors and Board of Equalizations, eill-ed by Cornelius Roach, chairman of the State Tax Commission. About 160 attended the meeting, nearly all of the assesors and about 50 or CO county judges and city officers.

The State Tax Commission has accepted the agreement of the assessors that they will assess their counties at the actual cash value, as this is the law. There is no law for assessing at any per cent whatever, but the actual cash value. The list made out by the assessor and sworn to by the tax payer is not an assessment, but only a memorandum: the assessment is made out when the assessor makes up his book. Wayne county is now assessed at an average of $3.57 per acre, and is next to the lowest county in the state, which is assessed at $3.02. Most counties run $9.00 $11.00 and up to St.

Louis county which is assessed at an average of $90.75 per acre. Mr. Roach, chairman of the State Tax Commission, gave instructions on the following: Enumerated powers of State Tax Commission. The law for valueing property. Penalties incident to assessment.

Duties of the State Tax Commission. A condensed form of the Enumerated Powers of the Tax Commission and the law for valuing property are thus given: ENUMERATED POWERS OF STATE TAX COMMISSION. 1. To do whatever is considered necessary by the Commission to secure effective enforcement of any assessments, revenue and disbursement law. 2.

To investigate and supervise work of any administrative officer having to do with finances. 3. To appoint agents and delegate them with all powers of the Commission. 4. To inspect all books, papers, documents, statements, and accounts on file, or of record: (a) In any state department.

(b) In any county office. (c) In any township office. (d) In any city, town or village office. (e) In any school district office. (f) In office of any other district officer.

5. To subpoena witnesses. 6. To examine witnesses under oath. 7.

To administer oaths. 8. To examine concerning taxation, general or specific, books, papers or accounts of (a) Any corporation. (b) Any firm. (c) Any individual.

9. To exercise general supervision over (a) All assessing officers. (b) County boards of equalization. (c) County boards of appeal. 10.

To require all property liable to taxation to be placed on assessment rolls at its true value. 11. To confer with and advise assessors. 12. To institute proceedings to enforce penalties against.

(a) Public officers. The legal haul' mq1 the county road bonds lived when it went hebci Jno. P. Foard at Poplar BLiT Wednesday, on a charge of venue from the Circuit Court in tins county, After hearing tlu evidence in the case foacd sustained the demurrer of tlu County Court of JeH'erson County and the W. R.

Compton Investment Corny any of St. Louis, the defendants in the ease. Judge W. C. Kerkholf, the IVvely Dairy Company, et al, were the plaintiffs in the case.

The case grew out of the sale of the good roads bonds to the Compton Compan.v by the County Court. Litigation in St. Louis county automatically tied up the sale of the road bonds in this county so the County Court took advantage of the section of the Statute's allowing the Court to issue refunding bonds to pay oil a bonded indebtedness of the county. The original bonds wore sold to the Compton company with the understanding that they would he immediately taken up with the new issue of bonds authorized by the County Court. This was done.

After there became some criticism of the manner in which the Court was spending the road money Judge Kerkholf, the Pevely Dairy Company of which he holds a large interest, and others, got together and instituted the suit. The County was represented in the case by Clyde Williams and R. E. Kleinschmidt, prosecuting attorney. Former Assistant Attorney General Rutherford was chief council for the Compton compam.

John 11. Reppy, 11. Ik Irwin ami Albeit Miller represented the plaintiifs. We understand plaintiifs will try for a new trial and if Ibis is refused they will appeal tlioeas A now feature lias entered into the case by the announcement of the Compton company that they are considering the filing of a damage suit for a largo sum, no against the plaintiifs. The grounds for this suit would be Ii.it the suit lies acted as an injunction against the Compton company and that they have been unable to place the bonds on the morket.

Disinterested lawyers give it as their opinion that there is excellent grounds for such a suit. Among those from this county who went to loplar Blulf on the case were: Judges Bv nl. Miller and Perkins; G. W. Gasclie, county clerk: Frank Deitrich, county treasurer; llarrv Giillitb, highway engineer; lb Ik Jones, cashier of tlie Peoples Bank of De Soto, besides the attorneys and plaintiifs in the case.

Tim DeSoto Times. Pay upas jou down and Pay down as jou jp up All who have not paid in ad vanee will please advance and pay. Friday and Saturday arc sol for the collection of assessment for oiling the streets. 1 lelp a busy man by calling at the office of the City lei and paying your assessment, on Friday. COMM11 1 EE.

Train The Young People While the world is planning the conservation of food, the winning of the war and the problems in relation to training and equipping a great army we must not lose sight of a far more important problem. This is the conservation and training of our young people. On them will rest the continuation and success of the great civilization which we are a part. It is important that The world be made safe for democracy" but it is more important that the world be kept saft for democracy. To do this we must spare no pains in preparing our young people for the responsibilities they must meet.

If the world is kept safe for demecracy the boys and girls must be prepared to meet this task with a confidence of full preparation. This fall when the schools open in Wayne County every boy and girl of school age should enter and stay until the close. For those who have completed high school it would be well to enter college or other institution for greater preparation. No boy below draft age should be encouraged to enter the army. Such boy needs preparation for a greater service.

The draft law has provided for army recruits and if the present age does not supply enough congress can raise the age. Boys make good soldiers but preparation will make them good statesmen. W'e have material for soldiers but the next generation needs all the preparation we can give for the solution of the bigger problems that the winning of this war is sure to demand. Let us do our best to keep our young people in school. J.

K. Jones..