182 THE FISCAL PROBLEM IN MISSOURI

After all, probably the most important factor is the incompetency
 of certain assessors. ‘‘The greatest inequalities
and the most pronounced tendencies toward retrogression in
equalization are found at the local assessor’s point of contact
with property.” Not only do assessors frequently lack the
requisite qualifications for the tasks involved, but also the
manner in which they are compensated tends to encourage
hasty and, therefore, superficial assessment. When no continuous
 supervision by a higher authority is provided, the
results may become very unsatisfactory.
Discrepancies in assessments naturally affect the value of
the properties concerned. If over a period of time one
property is underassessed as compared with other properties
 of a similar kind, that property will naturally sell at a
premium. To the extent that taxes are capitalized the
underassessment will be reflected in a higher selling price,
unless the purchaser has reason to believe that there 1s likely
to be a readjustment in the assessed valuation that will place
the property on the same level with other properties.

ApMINISTRATION OF INcoME Tax AND OTHER TAXES
The Missouri general income tax law was first enacted in
1917. The Federal Revenue Acts and the model income
tax law proposed by the National Tax Association were
apparently used as a guide in drafting the Missouri law and
the later amendments.
Missouri has not established complete central administration
 of the income tax, although the legislature has from
time to time enacted new statutes or amendments that have
given the State Auditor more control. The amendments
enacted in 1929 have apparently given him almost complete
control. At the present time he has the power to increase
the assessment and to allow a credit in case of overpayment.
Appeals have been definitely provided for, and the courts
may now pass on questions of fact as well as questions of
law. Unquestionably, the grant of this authority to the
courts will be most beneficial from an administrative stand-1

 Englund, Eric, Assessment and Equalization of Farm and City Real Estate in
Kansas, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, No. 232, p. 3.