The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-27
wha, is Tangible Property ~

tnlS SOuhIy arc ShBoSOu III oh SA
duce their assessments for taxable purpos-
es, the people will be interested in what
ever tends TO illustrate the knotty points
in regard to that matter. The Aledo Record
has letter from Springfield which shows
how members deal with the matter, and
how Chicago wants to deprive the country
of its share of revenue from railroads and
telegraphs, and how our Mr.. Durham took
the conceit GU" of Chicago on that ques-
ton.
We clip the following from the Records
letter:
On the question of revenue the General
Assembly is also befogged and cropping for |
light. The House in dealing with this |
question has been swinging around an
amazing circle, Some time ago, distrust-- |
ing its own revenue committee it appointed
a special committee on revenue. To this
committee all pending bills we're referred.
The primary object of this movement
was to secure an amendment to the law,
providing in effect that only the tangible
property of corporations, Excluding rail
road and telegraph companies,) shall be
taxed. 1t was proposed TO make 1t the
business of the local Assessors to assess
the property Of all corporations, with the
exceptions above mentioned. To push
this matter through, it appears that the
representatives of manufacturing interests
formed an alliance with members who are
dissatisfied with the present system OF de-
auctions" and provision repeating the
sections of the law authorizing the deduc
ton of debts from credits was reported in
the bill reported by the special committee.
In the consideration of these PROPOSE
tons a contest between conflicting interests
was continued for two days in the House.
Nainly the members grappled with the
mighty problem of taxation. The old
question in regard to "what is property
was argued again with desperate energy.
Mr.. Snow endeavored to convince Mr..
Plowman, that notes and other evidences
Of Indebtedness are not property.
He said IF man who is worth proper
ty to the amount of $40, 900, and another
who is worth nothing, should lock them
selves in room together and the former
should sell out to the latter taking his note
for $4,000, would they then be worth
jointly $2O,OOOP'
Mr.. Plowman was obliged to answer that
for purposes of taxation they would be if
the note was worth its face value"
Other members presented the subject in
a different light, and their process of rea-
soning may be reported conversationally as
follows:
You say note is not property p
81 do
Now, sir, suppose you buy a horse for
800, giving your note for the amount, and
then sell the horse to some one else for
800, taking his note. The horse dies and
the notes are burned up. By process of
Of law the notes may be virtually resur-
rected and collected, but the horse is dead
beyond resurrection. Tell me which of
the two kinds Of property IS most tangi-
ble?'
The party addressed then takes time for
reflection before attempting to answer the
conundrum. These and kindred questions,
intermingled with much speech making,
only created confusion in the minds of
those who had not thoroughly digested the
subject
After the debate had continued daring
the greater part of day-the confusion
of ideas increasing all the time-Mr.
Quinn, of Peoria, obtained the floor and
said
Mr. Speaker, when came here this
morning / thought l knew something about
this subject. At noon | did not under
stand it as well as | did in the morning, and
now I'm sure | don't know anything at al
about it, and majority Of the House are
i'm the same fix" He therefore moved the
previous question on the amendment which
was pending.
Quinn was right, and the motion prevail
ed but the House was only advancing t.
other difficulties. The subject was debated
until the afternoon of the next day, whel
an amendment was adopted striking GU
the provision changing the law in relation
to deductions. Immediately an amend
ment was offered changing the law so as t.
provide that there shall be no deduction
in any case whatever. To the surprise o
every one, this also was adopted. The
Mr. ROuntree, of Cook suddenly discover
cd that an amendment had been previous
" adopted providing that real estate anC
all other property belonging to railroad cor
poratiOns should be assessed as a whole
and that the aggregate valuation should b.
apportioned, or rather accredited to tn
several counties traversed by the road l
prorortion 10 the number of miles OF rOa
in each county.
When the Cook county members realize
the full scope of the amendment they wer
like u small family OF hornets that ha
been disturbed in its nest Their fierce IL
vective and savage oratory were perfect
appalling to the innocent looking membt
who had introduced the proposition. III
Durham came to the reScue-all the ll0
in his nature aroused-and in a terrlb
scathing speech rebuked the madness {
the Cook county mem berS, and boldly dt
cared that the amendment was based o
just principle, which had always bee
recognized in the assessment OF rahrOa
property.
The House refused to reconsider its n
ton, and the bill, thrice slaughtered by Il
amendments adopted, was referred to Il
standing committee on revenue, and it
not likely that we viii hear much moref
the revenue question during this sessio
We regret that no reports are made
the speeches in the Legislature. 1t won
be gratifying to the people to be able
read what their representatives say. n
Durham, according to all accounts, b
won an enviable reputation throughout t
State, and proved himself one of the abb
men in Illinois. His ability is ackno'
edged by all,-and his discretion, GO
Judgment industry, integrity and stro
argumentatiye powers win encomiums fri
all sides. Our district has reason to
proud of him as representative
-
The Paper Money Nation.