, 1873-02-14
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Yesterdays Proceedings in the
General Assembly.
ar0e Number of Bills introduced in
- Both Houses:
Outlines of the Bill for the Collection
Of City Taxes.

Of City Taxes.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune
COLLECTION OF CITY TAXES.
:. SPRINGFIELD, H., Feb. 19.-The Committee
m Municipal Affairs, after reading all the bills
presented to them, took up q substitute which,
farine been prepared with great care, was read
"a second time to-day. The bill is substantially
The same bill which was prepared and argued
unon by convention Of the Mayors of the cities
of this State last year, but which could not be
paased by the Assembly. as it WAS hoped and
believed that the general revenue law would be
ample enough in it's provisions to meet the ne
cessities Of State, county, and city officials in
raising the separate revenues required. Exreri-
ence hns, however, proven that while that law
requires but very little amendment for State
and county purposes, it is wholly inadequate
and united to meet the requirements OF
cities in the assessment the collection OF
taxes for CITY PURPOSES. It was hoped that the
Enabling set OF March 22, 1872, legalztng the
assessment and collection Of city taxes for 1871,
Eorld afford the authorities in citiee time and
oupo,tunity to arrange for raising their revenues
for 1879 under the general Revenue law+ Chi
cago and nearly all the principal cities OF the
State were compelled to proceed under the Old
.srete1n in assessing their city taxes for 1872,
snd consequently one of the first bills presented
to the Assembly, this session, was bill asking
tlst these assessments for city ta1es for the
yea. 1879 be legalized. This emergency bill has
been reported upon fayorabfy, and will no doubt
become law But. what will be done with tho
assessment for 1882 If the Revenue law could
not be made to apply for 1872, will it be any
more plable in 1882
voluniuous, q necessity claimed for it from the
fsct that no two lawyers Of any ability have
been able to sgree in opinion as to the effect
which the general Revenue law has upon the
existing city charters. II q law should be en-
taxes under their charters, and the Supreme
Court should decide that this power had been
taken away by the Revenue law, it would be
bad fix. 80 the bill agreed upon BY the Commit
tee ' provides , that the Common Council Of any
Incorporated city in the State, majority OF al
the Aldermen elected agreeing, may proceed to
assess levy, and collect city taxes, the bill emu
meIatng the to whlea sacn en- taxes snah o9
Nominate and the Council confirm the appoint
ment Of City Collector and City Assessor, and
that The Council shnll elect as many Assistant
Assessors as may BE- necessary IL IL as aso pTot1aes
lighting, etc. The provisions with regard to
delinquent taxes, and appeals against Judgment,
stringent and aa the ID dodgsE t MI tbam have
Personal actions for the collection OF
personal taxes are provided for to be
brought before Justices Of .-the Pence
or any Court OF competent jurisdiction py the
City Collector. The sale OF lots and lands Tor
delinquent taxes is, Of course, to be made BY
general officer OF the county, according to the
Constitution. but he shall only act as an othcer,
to carry out the execution Of the Judgment OF
Ak. -, ~ 11rr3 nf 4 d ty
money. He ia to be paid for his services such
sum as the Council may determine This will
save the enormous amount OF fees, such as
Chicago had to pay the County Treasurer ea ct the m
City Collector, pith his numerous staff, had to
stand aside, doing nothing.
NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD TRACES.
Mr. Anderson introduced . bill to repeal Sec
lion Of an act approved Feb. Is, 1863, beng
an act to extend tho powers Of the Chicago 4
Northwestern Railroad Company" the section
being as follows:
Said Chicago Northwestern Railroad Company Is
te convenient management Of It's business, and said
Il is ore1s heretofore conferred By tho laws Of ts
II any other State upon the Chicago ENorthwestezn
Railway Company, or any other Company consolidated
With it. -
Mr. Anderson objects to the section On the
ground that it gives unlimited power to the Com
'DHnF TO 90 Is II plEA863 ll4u6I t46 44W6 "a %1A5
Tor any other State" and to change and relocate
it's tracks in this State under Laws made in other
States.
ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
a1r. Quinn introduced bill to abolish capital
punishment, and providing that persons con-
Ticted Of murder shall be confined in the Peni-
:tentiary for term OF years to be fixed by the
Jury The bill WIS read first time, and ordered
10 second reading Without reference. ,,e,te
.Mr. Ray introduced bill providing that any
person keeping open any theatre, circus, con
:rert, Or other exhibition, show, or amusement OF
shall exhibit any panorama, show, or device on
Sunday, shall be subject to fine Of 1900, and
Imprisonment for sir months or less, at the dis
uetion OF the Court.
DAMAGES FOB DEATH.
bill was introduced leaving with juries the
auount of damages to be awarded for inja1iees
resulting in death, the action to be begun within
ITO years after death. ''''~'
pTHEn NEW BILLS:
bill was introduced by hi. Holes to repeal
Eection' 80 Of the Revenue law so as to compel
ether citizens nnd corporations besides banks
and bankers to furnish the Assessors sworn
statement Of the actual amount OF their capi-
tai, instead Of one-third, as now.
Mr.. Hte, Of LeClare presented bill .'rcS77iid-
ing 1ur tue esIauuzument Of an 11..surance De-
paTtment, with clerks, actuarles. examiners. and
much other paraphernalia.
"A bill has been prepared to amend the Emil
nent Domain law 30 that compensation may be
obtained by the owners Of property damaged by
she. construction ct Yiadqcta, This Is to an
Ecipate the construction Of yiaducts over the
fallr6ad tracks III Chicago. =;
-. - ON THE WAY TO ST. LOUIS
Eyery Chicago lobbyist mho arrives here, and
does not desire to mako his business known,
jlsB he ia t'on the way to St: Louis, y and "laid
Qver to see the boys" They continue to lie
over Tor several days. and return home without
seeing st. Louis OF tasting its muddy water:
This excuse is getting entirely 'too thin,"' and
"going to st. Louis" means that man is on
some doubtful mission he wishes to keep quiet.
There are several "on the way to st. Louis"
uow. -.
PERSONAL.
Mr.: v. q. Brainerd, Of the Board Of Trade, is
meeting Of the Directors referring to q division
of the Railroad and Warehouse Board, and to
the grain inspection.
Board rf Healf}, Goum;eainuar REYNOLDS ar