, 1873-11-17
4 TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION.

Tho time has como In tho B0Vornmont OF this
city and county whom there muat 10 somo or.
ganization for tho protection OF tho public
against unjust and illegal taxation. 4 SPRING
field paper ca1s tho attention Of tho State to tho
woalth md magnidconco of Chicago, and indi-
catos TINT hero Ia tho place for tho tax-gathoror
to reap Ills harvest Tho 'sarne paper gravely
aasuroa its roadors TINT 1.-THE oapital aud aRsets
Of tho National Banks Of Chicago a]ono "aro
ovor s495.0o0,000 being nearly double tho
amount on which Cook County ia assessed for
Slate taxes in 1875" and demands tllat
hereafter tho State shall look to Chicago
for Its revenue. NO hive, in addition
to tho Slate Government, with its supplementary
legislature known aa the State Board Of Equal
ization, various local Goyernmcnts all clothed
with thopower Of taxation. These include; /. Tho
authorities Of tho Towns Of North Chicago.
South Chicago and Wost Chicago; 2. Tho
several Boards Of Park Commissionorg g. Tho
Common Council and L. Tho Board Of County
Commissioners. All OF those possess tho
power to 1oyy taxos md oxpond tho
money. Tho Park Commissioners may he
restricted, but tho othora havo no restriction
other than thoir own discretion. The Common
Council aro restricted by tho Constitution from
issuiug mud selling my moro bonds until tho
municipal dobt shall bo reduced, but the Board
ofCounty Commissioners are not restrained. Az
tho limitation to which tho county debt may DO
Increased ia por cent On tho aggrogate
Of the Slate assessment, 1t is in tho
power Of TINT Board Of flftoon members
to issue bonds and increase tho lebt from the
present sum Of $4,000, 600 to s15,ooo,o COO. Eight
membors constitute q majority Of tho Board, and
these eight may issuo bonds and sell them, and
o1pond tho procoeda at their discretion, until they
havo exhausted tho 911, 100000. The impor-
tanco and dangor Of that powor can be host
Judged by looking at tho list Of The members, as
follows:
Sam ARhton, J.H Clough,
John Crawford, George II. Bogue
Chriotian Busse, Thomas Lonergan,
John Jones, 4. D. johnson,
Joseph Roolfe, ]. I. Russell,
John Hertiug, G.. II. Harrison,
". D. Durdiok, Joseph Harris.
II. III. Singer,
President Of this Doard, and 10 make up the
standing committees. The public will, of
course, regard TINT as an indication OF tho pro-
datory intentiona Of the majority. The major
ity In the Common Council is restrained, or
may DO restrained, by tho voto Of tho Mayor.
Tho majority OF tho Board Of Commissioners Is
absolute in its action. Against its Illegal action
the only remedy is an appeal to the law through
the courts. Tile same co,lreo is essentially noo-
essary in MI tho cases Of illegal, unequal,
or :oxtortionato taxation. To make this ap-
plicaton to the courts effootive, thoro must be
union, corporation, and concentration. In other
cltios. this proceeding has boon found necessary
for tho protection Of tho oitizons against the
rapaoity Of tho Municipal Government. For
this purpose, thoro is organized d
"Taxpayers' Association" Tie object is not
to resist, the payment OF lawful, just and noccs-
aary taxation, but to oppose evory attempt by
the svindling local governments to exceed tAoir
authority, to embark in wild enterprises, and
to indulge In tho pastimo Of selling public
bonds for tho more purpose of dividing tho pro-
coeda among horde Of tax-eators. This organ
ization can employ counsel, and, through
Its officers, can act promptly and otfec-'
tively for the whole public. They will
aorvo as d yigiant snporvinor over tho
proceedings Of tho various Boards in The matter
Of creating debt, loyying texos, and o1ponding
mopoy. They can apply for inJunotlonB. and
take all other stops to arrest and stay illegal and
improper proceedings, and prosecute all appen1s
to 1lnal judgment in the highest courts. Such
an organization will DO a valuable auxiliary to
tho local Government. Ono effect will DO TO
break up the loose and sloycnly way in which all
our tax business liz dono; 1t will prevent these
municipal bodies "tak1ng tho chances," and will
contlno tho operation Of levylng taxos to lcgiti-
matc objects, within tho strict lottor OF logal au-
thorlty. The timo has como for ouch an organ
izatlon in Chicago. It should no longer DO Do
layed. ::':.,,.. ::":..":':.
g THE CASE OF THE VlRG1Nrus.
10 tho Edior II 7,he Chicago Tribune:
Your article. about tho ANNEXATION Of Cuba hits tho
nail exactly tho hsad We Qon't want it at any price,
but am sorry to you tRe ground In the YFgnlps
mater which tends to throw your great influence IN
the Bilo Of the Gibusterlu TE-maktnR oprit which