, 1873-09-05

alBo explained It fully to tho Representatives Of
lozon corporations who called on mo.
Roporter-.Dut wl'at Hteps. did you take whoa
you found the Aeaosaora had not made the rc-
Mr. noot-r sont for Tho Aessaaors, oapoo1a1ly
those In tho city, and asked thom why no 1c-
turns wero made, and they anBwerod mo sub
stAnttenally n they did hfr. h1r. Miles, via.
wore assoaaod on their tangible property,
complied Will, tho law; that many Of thosn
understood tho law !. that way. while others
claimed that thoy had .liated all the property
corporations olaimod Tho law Was unconBtitu-
tionnl.
Isoportor -1sut they 'asy you have aaid tho
9tAtc Board Is IN unconstitutional body.
Mr. Noot-No ono can state Any such thing,
except IS IN exouse. / have said no such thing.
When people want to do a thing that requires m
'excuae 1t Is d very caBy nnttor to find Quo, tho
EcuuB OF the American iB wonderful in this di-
roction. Chips arc plenty, and 1t Is an onsy mat
had no trouble whou ho wanted to " chaw up"
nerortor-What ID yot1r opinion Of tho power
Of tho State Board to sssess corporation .prop-
hi. Root-Ibo law authorizes tho State noard
to asaoBB the property Of corporationB. I think
1t IL competent for them to do ao.
'1sepoft;er-wbhats property do they asscs', and
'Mr. Root--I can answcr that question by An
illustration, Suppose corporation is engaged
in the manufacturing business. TIA capltn1 stock
paid nj, Is $780, 600. It llas on hand In real and
petsonnl proporty s1oo, ,Oo0.: This property tho
is we'll managed. and 1t hns good line Of trale,
40 that tho shares arc worth $40. The law
authorizes tho State Doard to asaeys $40, 600
against tho stock Of tho oorporation tf,ne calling
,thopremium as so much additional capital.
property s sold for taxos how will tho tax on tho
other $1,000 bo collected ?
Mr. Root-Woll, you nre gotting doopor in tho
conunGrum busincss than I am ablo to go. 1
suppose when .you tax a shadow you eau lovy
on It il you can catch it. ;,
nep9IterIwha;t, ;, 1ao r. yonp GanelRs oRni0n will tho
Mr. Root-I don't know. hare aeon aeycral
members Of tho Board ouch ono tells mo he
nro projudiced. I. have seon nothing myself
TINT would intlicate unfairnesg. It is unfortu-
nate that our corporations hago not made re-
turns, mud supposo'it IL thought to bo o suspi-
oious circumstance by somo Of tho mombors Of
tho Board.
Roportos-1s thore any prejudice in tho minda
Of the State Board against Cook County? =
Mr. Root hnvo no means Of knowing. I
have not asked thom. Only know what aome Of
think there il any prejudice. bol1evo they are
ali fnir-mindcd men. Some indsornet, unofficial
remarks may havo been made, such hs "Wo
will tall up tho smaller countieB mud put tho sur
plus on to Cook !" but don't think such remarks
will havo any influence: I: -
Roporser-Whht III in this HtorY about tho
lands and lots not being assoasod in Cook
County,?
evidently mistake in tho footings. II thero ia
less aero property thero arc moro lots, for
thoro a largo number of now subdivisions.
Correct footings will show thousands moro lots
than in 1879. I do not suppose thoro aro any
lots omitted. Tho County Board, at great OK
cd, and they. arc. There has never boon 30
thorough nj assessmont. This pretenBo that
lands aud lots have been omitted ia man Of
straw, eaallyrsos up and as easily knocked
down, The Assessors have been very thorough
in This respect, and 1Ir. Pollok, tho Clerk, and
his assistants have been very careful to got In
all tho property.
nopcEtar-Wel1, thon, tho only difficulty about
tho nat:er is IS to the returns Of corporations.
Mr. Root think that is about all, md that
cnu be cured Whom Mr. Miles was here told
him that tho Board could acnd conlmittee here
aud thcy could call on these corporations FOR tho
information the ABsosBors Ind failed to procure
TINT had thought it waH competent for thom
to do 30 md it 8eema tho State Dohrd have
availod themselves Of tho suggestion. The As
SCISSORS declined to Mr.. Mioa to undertake
tss aS sts ssa L sGt ss t1s noson stsss n'',a %ss
tho Assessora may furnish. The law requires
the State Board to aseesB and the AaHeBsor'H ro-
turn iB only ono OF the modes pointed ont for
obtaining the information.
Ronortor--What will tho Committee do to-day
Nj. Root don't know. suppose they will
| obtain information as to tho: corporations, and
tho value OF their capital stock.
| Noporter-,Wil tho Assessors furnish them any
| infortnation7
| hlr. Root can only say TINT Mr.. Philips do
clnel to mako any further attempt. for tie reh.
aon that he thought it uae1eaa. Ilnve not seen
bfr. Amborg, Of West Chicago. Mr.. Patch. ot
| North Chicago, is willing to furnish any infor-
nation, but says there are only two OF
| three corporations located on tic North Side. !
! don't know Of amy corporation in other towns.
except: perhaps, in Town Of lake.: aud poasiDly
Reporsor-H How many corporations arc there
| in Cook Counsy2
MIR, Hoot-I haye no means Of knowing. I
presume the large number accredited to Cook
County in tho Secretary Of Statea office are not oil
| III existence. Many Of them, especially mining
concerns, are only on paper, and many have nov
| OF been organized.
Renorter-Dut are there not, some valuable
! corporations2
Mr Root-I presume there arc many. Theil
| value depends largely Oh their management. A
| change in that would reduce their value.
.Ropo1ter-How about other countios In tho
State. Have their corporations made returns
bIr. Root-Somo have. understand none
are in from Will or Adams Counties, aud but &
| few from Sangamon, where theTo are many.
Reporter-DoeH thiB Committee propose to
visit other countiea
! AIr, Root, presume 80. It is their duty tt
| do 10.
YESTERDAYS Temperature.