The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-15
CITY TAXES.

uay, ana nelu long consultation WIN .itN
joint committee of both houses on municl-
pal affairs The object is to :. arrange Tor
the support of the bill providing that the
general revenue law shall be SO amended
that city taxes shall be assessed and col
lected BY the city authorities. The follow
ing cities were represented
Alton-Mayor Pteiffenberger.
Observation-Disclosures Funk, Ira J.
Bloomfield, city attorney.
Monmouth-Mayor Burlington.
Jacksonville-City Attorney Dunn.
Quincy-City Attorney Colbert.
Chicago-Geo NonHollen, collector :;
G. A. Holden, for commissioner; H. F.
Tuley, corporation attorney
Mr.. Halpin has already offered in the
House bill as intended to meet the alleg
cd omission in the general revenue law,
and the joint committee agreed to report
in favor of this bill with some additions,
And the Springfield correspondent of
the Chicago Tribune, same date, says
The announcement that the Committee
on Municipal Affairs had this subject be
fore them on the Halpin resolutions, has
aroused great interest throughout the In
corporated cities in the State. Mayor
pfeiffenberger from Alton; Mayor Funk
and General Bloomfield, City Attorney,
from Bloomington; Mayor Burlington, from
Monmouth City Attorney Dunn, from
jacksonville, who brought with him long
and able letter from General Mcconnell,
Mayor of that city, urging the passage OF
the bill now before the Committee City
Attorney Colbert, from Quincy, and City
Collector Won HoIlen, and Tax Commits
sioner Holden, from Chicago, were
here yesterday in relation TO this
matter. No formal meeting of the com
mittee was held, but these gentlemen held
interviews with the chairman Of the com
mittee and Mr.. Halpin General Bloom
field and Mayor Funk left some suggestions
in writing which they desire embodied in
the bill, but these suggestions are merely
matters in datail, interesting only 10 cities
whose legislative bodies, like Chicago, have
adopted section of the General lncorpo-
ration act. relating to special assessments;
1t appears that nearly all the Incorporated
cities in the State are in the same position
in regard 10 city taxes that Chicago Is.
Quincy alone. SO far. seems to be somewhat
Indifferent to the matter, although the ac-
ton taken BY her city authorities may lead
To much yexati0us litigation. She has
made and collected her assessments for city
taxes for 1872 upon the returns made 70
the county clerk, under the provisions OF
the general revenue law, and now she
seeks, under a second assessment. 10 make
up the deficiencies iii her revenue. The
authorities of the city of Quincy do not
offer any opposition to the bill introduced
by MIR. Halpin but say they do not need
it. But the authorities OF the other cities
50 far as heard from, are urgent in theil
demands that the county officers shall keeI
hands off in the matter OF city taxes. May
or Mcconnell Of jacksonville, i'll his letter
TO a member of the committee, saws. '' Ii
strikes me, first, as a departure from al
the analogies aud pr0prieties Of our form
I OF government II take the collection o.
taxes for city purposes out Of the hands OF
/ the city, and place il in the hands of Off
GERS not elected by the city-not interested
in the municipal prosperity-not acquaint
ed with municipal needs and in no wise
amenable t. the supervision or control Of
( the officers elected by the people Of the
city 10 supervise their affairs. Again. il
has introduced an element of uncertainty
which is very preiudicial u the public in.
terest. A very large class OF the people
are always sufficiently ready to avoid the
payment ct taxes on any available pre-
text There is now prospect that the
bill as reported from the committee. vii
become a law The members from the
rural districts have NJ disposition t. inter
ferc in the matter, but will be advised b.
the representatives from the cities, anC
yield To them the privilege of contrplin.
any legislation needed Tor the benefit %
their constituents.
! Mayor Murdoch, of this city. invite,
-. City Attorney McEIheme Ia accompan
him to Springfield, in regard To TIL, mat
ter Mr.. McElherne was ready to 90. bu
at the last mameut Nr. Murdoch conclul
ed not - %, and said a. NcElherua tha
lac could do a, he thought best abou
going. OF course Mr.. McElherne didn'
eo-he did not think it his duty to q
!, without being requested 10 do So.
Below win be found a synopsis of l.I
which has been prepared by those inter
ested in the matter aud which is to b
presented in the Legislature.
Special Dispatch 10 the Chicago Tribune
. SrRENGFIELD. H.. Feb l3.-The bill {
be reported to the House is very yaluui
nous, a necessity claimed for it from tn
fact that no two lawyers Of any ahilit
have been able u agree in opinion rs {
the effect which the general Revenue Ia,
J has upon the existing city charters II
law should be enacted enabling city al
thOritles to assess and levy taxes undo
their charters, and the Supreme Coul
. should decide that this power had bee
! taken away by the Revenue law, it woul
be bad fix. So the bill agreed upon b
the Committee provides that the COmm0
. Council of any Incorporated city in Ill
State, a majority Of all the Alderme
: elected agreeing, may proceed t. asses
, levy, and collect city taxes, the bin enl
merating the purposes to which such tax,
shall be applied. 1t also provides tn;
the Mayor shall nominate and the COunc
, confirm the appointment Of City COllec
or and City Assessor. and that the COunc
shall elect as many Assistant Assessors &
may be necessary 1t also provides f,
the means OF raising money for the col
strUction Of sewers, laying water main
paving, lighting etc The provisions wit
regard to delinquent taxes, and appea
: against Judgment, are very stringent, an
the dodgers will have to be very artfr
. indeed to get round them Personal a
2 tions for the collection of personal tax,
are provided for to be brought befol
Justices Of the Peace or any Court
competent jurisdiction by the CITY Collec
5 or. The sale Of lots and lands for deli
quent taxes is, Of course, to be made by
, general officer OF the county, according
the Constitution, but he shall only act ,
an officer to carry out the execution of Il
judgment of the Court and shall not CO
lect any of the city money. He is to
paid for his services such sum as ii
Council may determine.
Farmers Convention.
There viii be mass meeting af II
farmers Of Henry county, and those wi
Ilrf~t Nl.ss, =. Il - ~