, 1873-11-12


In hotol-lifo na we'll az olaowhere.
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THE STATE TAX FOR 1873.
The Springfield bondholdors continue to Ia
ment over the now wcll-undorBtood purpose Of
tho pooplc Of this county to pay no taxos under
tho roocnt Stato assessment. until every legal
remedy is exhausted. Tho Register rocont1y pro-
sonted tho totals Of certain descriptions Of prop
orty in this county, and compared thom with tho
roturns from othor countles also the fact that
tho number Of hogs, pianos, cattle, etc., woro
loss in Cook County in 1878 than in previous
years. and, pointing to these itcms, thinks they
juRtify tho increase in the assessment Of all tho
roal estate In Cook County la por cont, and tho
personal property in nearly All oqusl proportion.
The assessed valuo Of taxable property in this
county WAS Increased from s14l, 900, 900, aa re-
turned by tho Assessor, to $2sG 900, 900. Tho in
crease IN the assessment over that Of 1879 was,
outsido Of Cook County, 121 per cont in Cook
County, 800 por cont. Tho asaossment OF 1871
like that Of all tho preceding years, made Cook
County pay moro than ono-sixth Of all the taxeB
Of tho State. It now mikes Cook County, but
principally Chicago, pay ono-fourth. we submit
that m nssoRsment thus arbitrarily changed to
transfer tho burden Of State taxes upon this
city is 40 unjust aH to call for
general rofuaal to pay the tax until
tho last legal remedy shall bo exhausted.
But the motive for tho increase OF assessment
stamps tho whole proceeding with fraud. Tho
Ring At Springfield has been for years pushing
upon tho county tho municipal rai1road-aid
bonds, obtained by fraud aud akillful strategy
from tho victimized communitios. Springfield
itself Was largely interested in the business, as
contractors, managers, bankers, and operators.
Thirteen millions of these railroad-aid bonds arc
in circulation, and the people whose lands arc
mortgnged for the debt aro refusing to pny the
interest, Indeed, are going further, and are In
yestigating the validity OF tho bonds themselves.
Tho half-milion OF 10 por cont bonds issued In
aid Of the Ottawa, Oswogo t. For River Valley
Railroad have boon sponged out by tho Supreme
Court. Another half f-naillion, issued to the Gil
man, Clinton l. Springfield Railroad Company,
are just now passing through tho judicial
cruciblo, All oyor tho Stnto, aa the awindlo
becomes understood, the people are refusing to
pay interest on them. or to DO taxed for them.
How many banks thcro arc in tho State whoso
capital aud savings deposits arc invested in
theHo railroad-aid bonds ne do not know per-
haps they know at Springfield. Certainly 1t is
known thero that, il the payment Of these bonds
depend on tho voluntary taxation Of the coln-
II, &k,N
paper on which they are writton. Honco the
plan to mako Chicago pay not only hor own share
Of tho State tax but in addition tho intorcst on
all these millions Of bonds, now practically ro-
pudated by tho municipalities tlat issued them.
Honco tho increase OF the assessment in Cook
county from so8, 600 900 in 1872 to 9287, ,000,0 900
| In 1873. Tho clear and manifest purpose OF tho
| increase III tie aaaessment over that Of 1872
WAS to provide fund to pay tho interest, duo
and unpaid, as vol a8 interest to bocomo due On
all thogo bonds. Chicago is to bo mado to pay
this tax, that tho holders Of these now COM
peratively worthless eecuritlos may get their
interest, which tho communities which issued
the bonds refuse any longer to pay,
| Tho argument In tho Register roads very much
aa though it had been written by somebody in
tho State House. It Is equivalent to anying
| that because tho local Assessors Of Cook County
returned pig at q lower ratio than pigs aro
assessed in Kaue County, therefore 1t was right
for tho Board Of Equalization to double the en-
tire assessment Of Cook County, roal and per-
sonal. Chicago, howovor, will pay no euoh tax; II
will not assume, directly or indirectly, tho pay
mont Of tho interest OF principal On thoBo rail
roatl-ad bonds. Not until tho court Of last IT,
sort a4qll put Deputy Sheriff in evory man'f
house, will thst tax be paid. To pay 1t now Ii
to surrender to tho bond- d-thioyoa. and submit tt
the practical transfer OF tint whole qoht from
the counties which owo and ropndiate 1t to bh.
cago. Chicago givos notice, therefore, that th
tux will not be paid,