Mo. Rev. Stat. § 48.060

The provisions of this chapter, enacted to conform the law of this state to the provisions of Section 8 of Article VI of the Constitution of 1945, are hereby declared to be dependent upon the constitutional authority uniformly to graduate the compensation of county officers within the classes as designated herein pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 of Article VI of the Constitution of 1945. The failure of the general assembly to possess such power shall have the effect of making inoperative the provisions of this chapter.