The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-26
Things for Tax-Payers to think about.

Isl
The board of supervisors convene to-day
in extra session, at the written request of
one-third of the members of the board, "to
take into consideration the present high as
sessments of this county" We are not
aware what action will be taken by the su-
pervisors, and we are also ignorant of the
scheme of the gentlemen who requested this
extra meeting, But we are wholly at a
loss to know what the supervisors can do
TO change the assessments. They cannot
give us new assessors-they cannot change
the rule fixed by the Legislature for the OBJ
servation Of the assessor in making assess
ments-neither can they fix value upon
property for the assessors, as that must be
done by each assessor as dictated to him
by contentious Judgment in conformity
with his oath. And even if by any means
they could procure the assessment lessened,
the board of equalization would change it
to its proper valuation, to accord with assess
ments throughout the state. No, gentlemen,
you cannot usurp the functions of the Legis-
lature and the assessors. This high assess
| ments makes you vince, but you must stand
it as long as you bear the yoke ofradicalism.
Instead Of putting the county to the needless
expense of extra sessions of the board of su-
peryisors to consider present high assess
ments, sit down by your fresides, free from
prejudice, and calmly consider the cause of
this high assessments, and how it can be
guarded against In the future.
Remember a radical legislature appropria-
ted, unnecessarily, four hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to commence the construc-
ton of a State House, that will cost us when
finished at least three millions of dollars !;
also one hundred and Fifty thousand dollars
to build a penitentiary at Cairo, that is no
more needed than new State House; also
seventy thousand dollars to establish char
ny school for the education of soldiers or
phans, an institution that is now begging
for patrons, and that was never asked
for, except by political Williams, anxious to
handle public money; also three hundred
thousand dollars to expend in the manage.
ment of the Joliet penitentiary, an establish
| ment that should not cost the state a cent.
Remember this same legislature required for
| its session expenses about fifty thousand
| dollars more than required by its predecess-
| ors. Remember that in addition to his sal,
| airy, your radical Governor requires four
teen thousand five hundred dollars to keep
| the-executive mansion repaired, lighted and
warmed, and to pay clerk hire, postage and
| stationery.
| Remember that your radical legislature, in
stead of economising, and diminishing the
number of public officers, increased the daily
expense of your state government, several
hundred dollars, by creating swarm of over
| fifty new officers last winter. Remember
that ignorant, degraded negroes are being
| registered for voters in the southern states
according to a law of your radical congress
| at a cost of forty-four millions of dollars
| which you must pay, and that hundreds O
dollars are being expended annually by the
war department, to enforce the laws Of wal
in time of peace, over ten states of the Tn
ion, to which the constitution of the United
States applies.
/ Think over all these things, and believe
| it is not interest ON the war debt that re
quires such immense sums for revenue, bu
that high assessments come from having in
power reckless, corrupt and desperate poiit
icians, who are depicting your public treas
ury with extravagant appropriations for par
tisan purposes, and that high assessment
4 can only be lessened by the accession Il
authority of a party pledged to an honestan'
economical administration of public affairs
and the speedy restoration of the Union ant
| constitution, s