, 1869-03-12

We have the intelligence from Spring.
field that the bill providing for the prac-
ticAl assumption by the State of Rll the
debts which the several counties now
owe, or which lhcy may hereafter con-
trsc', In aid Ct railroads, has passed both
houses Of lhe Legislature. The bill axes
tho nmpunt Of taxes collected in the sew
eral counties In 1853 As the n.ximum
which shall be hereafter paid into the
State Trcasury; and that during the next
twenty years the increase Of taxation in
these ccuntiss owing or TO owe railroad
deois shall he applied to the payment o!
these railroad dcbte. THUS, the assessed
value Of the real and personal properly
in Cock County in 1868 is $s6 ,51o.sl0;
in Crawf71d County it is II, 1,s96.'65 The
taxes levied ior 1868 are six and one-hslf
mills, cf which two mills are for schools
ard two mills for State debt, leaving the
tax fer general revenue and interest
funds two ard one-half mill7. The tax
TO b. collected in each county tor these
purposes will be: .
C1avfos.i txnn.y. Observation-Disclosures. 4,7&a
In 1850. and thereafter, tho assessed
value Vi the property In these counties
will probably be Increased atthe rate OF
len per cent annually, in crlsr to give
tIect to this law, making next gear an
incrasf, say, Of ..
Took County,. ......,, -, ..,..,,...,....,.$4 $4l SD
Ctx*Fso Cpahty.....-........-.-.. 4H
Cook County owes NO railroad debt,
but Crawford County proposes to sup
scribe half million OF dollafs. Under
this law which has been passed, the $21 !
3S9 increase OF tax In Cook County will
60 into The 6'atc Treasury. in accordance
With law, to pay the interes: on the deo'
support all the State charities, huild
the State H2use, pay The jud.cla
expenses Of the State, the legislative AM
Executive salaries and expenditures, an
all the current expenses Of the govern
ment; while The increase In Crawfor
County will be psid over to'thas count,
10 meet the interest and principal OF he
railroad debt. The enormity OF thi
measure uAy be perceived when II l.
known that there are At least thist.
counties In the State row owing ratlroa
debts, amounting to possibly e4.00o.o0t
and thA. unlrr this law this sum will b
tncreattd In those and other counties I
perhaps 610,Oo0,oo0 There is no limit i
the lsw, and counties will no. hesitate
ircur the liabilities, when by % dom
they escape tsxa,ion in equivalent am ou1
Tor Sa't purposes.
The sL1,'ion for general purposes th
yesr it all tie State will amount to foi(
coo. E.x. gear the 6:ate will need $7o1
yvtt Ia
until It resrhes 81 100000. Under ii
bill the {3io.0o0 increase over 1865 vi
hare TO ht p1d exclusively by II
counties which owe no railroad det
The tax, therefore, upon c ue Coun'
ard the other Counties In the State wh{
owe no 1.ilroal debt will be the sAu
PRO rata, up to the Euu
s64o.oOo, and the other s36o,0
xlllhave to be borne ty them exclusive
Strange - it may keen. this aet, {
s'roy ying The constitutional requirement
equality oi taxation, received more th
a two-thirds vore in each house. 7
utter impo'icy Of the measure. IS well
Its gross injustice, tns quality and uncc
stiiu .ional,.y, mus. have bscn mant'est
the members who, never.helcss, seen
afraid 20 vote sgs,ns. i.
The bill not only provides as We h
sst.d. but 1t does much more. Il (
II; empss, In fact, ali the railroad prope
In these teot-owirg couutles from Is;
lien tor S.a.e purposes. aud requ|
that The taxes collected on that e.
Of properly In thoae counties shalt I
bo sppl;el 10 the psyneu: Of The cou