, 1874-08-23
County Attorney Rountree
E-kpounds the Law.
It till De Tery Hard to Keep tho Ren from
Pecketing The Honey.


The Committee On Equallzatio Il OF Taxes o
the Board of County COMMISSIONERS acco1de
tile town officers hearing yesterday afternoon
end lislopcd to what they had to say With refer
euce to their estimates tor town expenses 70
1874 Cnscr the old law, the Town Boards wert
absolute 80 far as asceriain!ng the amount o.
tax to to le1ied for town purposes was con
earned, but, under the enactment Of Las. winter
1sis power was transferred to the Board ol
County Commissioners. Hence, to learn the
Truth Of the alleged misarp1opriation OF
money By the town officers, the
Committee named MAS instructed by
tao Board Of County Commissioners to summon
the officials Interested and ask them for I'd e1-
planatson Of
THE UNUSUALLY HEAVY APPROPRIATIONS AsEED
for this year. The South Town Wants 81, 900,
the West Town $4,000, and the North Town
e15ooo for Expenses" The Town Clerks sub
ritted tho s' estimates " in lump to the County
Commissioners, aud, since it was believed that
there was steal u somewhere, tho Committee
desired to learn what tlcss amounts were needed
for.
Previous to commencing thei7 session. County
Attorney Nountrec was consulted as to
THE LAW,
and be gave, substantially, the following
opinion:
Epr several years the members OF the Town
boards had voted themselves large salaries out
Et the tuzes cnllectcd, and last year tie Leglsl1
ture placed Fl me limitation upon then in order
10 protect tbs tax-psyersA:ixirg their Salaries
A general impression prevailed that the Eoa::l Of
County Commissioners lal tue right TO iii the
eala-ias Of the town officers. but they could not
US serious constitutions! questions were Involved
II tho Legislature had authorized that. the
question of delcSsting Legislative authority
would arise. Hence. alter full discussion, tho
project was rejected and the Legislature fixed tho
en!aries itself, providing that THO Town Super
sltor 1Lou1l have s. day for work dune out
side OF the towu aud $1-50 day for doing town
business within the limits OF the TOWN.; and
tLa. the Clerk should have tic same compeusa-
1ion. That having been done, the matter OF the
sa!alica Of these two officers VAS sgttled beyond
all question. The Revenue law Of 1872 was lit
tie bind With reference to the compensation Of
the Assessor; but a reference to tie Township
Organization law. passed last winter, showed
trst his salary WAS fixed at s2.50 . day for time
actually employed; and, as to the Collector, the
Fec and Sa1a1y act of 1872 provided that in no
event should his salary exceed s., 800 year.
He took it that there proylElous were final I
Accordingly, the Board OF County Comnis-
s!oners had but one thing to do. and that Was to
ascertain what amount tile towns needed to
couduc. their aifairs. Iu the West Town the
parks were to be looked after, aud III tie other
towns there were outstanding obi. atoms, to |
meet which taxes must bc lcyitd. 4 man,iamus |
would io to compel that Aftcr the money was I
collected 1t n,st bc paid to tAo Supervisor, WHO
put it into tho Town Treasury. where it WAS Us
much ut the mercy Of the town officers Under
the present law as it was under the old syB-
tom. That vas owing to lAa fact that |
tho purpose for Which it was raised
is not required to be specifically stated II any
town officer attempted 70 tale moro than the law
allowed him for Ms services, any taxpayer could
1eatraln him by I'll injunction ftou the courts.
The lAyT having t.en LAID down.
THE COMMITTEE
then met in formal session. There were present
Guruick, WHO occupied the chair
Bosue, and Busse Supervisor hincev. Of North
Chicago; Supervisor Sclallk aud Clerk Gtuel,-
nut, oi South Chicago; dr. btnL[osd, President
of tic Board OF Went Chicago Park Commission
era henry Greenebauin, vi tue same body, aud
halt dozen stragsl-rs, who Lad dropped i'll to
EGG nAat %as gong on
THE " ESTIMATES"
OF the Town Boards were iirst taken up and ex-
.ul:red. They were as follows:
North Chicago Asked tur .0o0 in bulk, no
mention beln., made Of now it waa to bo paid
CCr.
West Chicago was l:ttlo more specific.
i. lcituty u calertiun anl commissions of
County Tre4s 1rer and Town Collector un
town ,a1 fog payment Of interest Gil
Lends for park purposes. 10000
lu1 auuual ins t-4lnelis Of interest 1t Ter
cent Dire and payatle OF GET bonds Of s1,0to
esct, bcaring lutte July l. 1d'o etc. 1ooS5
For een4i~au4ual nsIall1ntn lit Of intc1cAt ut 8
per cen. due and pay able, etc., on oulstand-
lEg lxallnce Of hf:y bonds VI s,Co3 each,
d-4zl June l, 5000
Ar.uu. Necessary TO IroTide sinking fund
tor retiring, on 3un> !, lS75 Of The bal-
nIcc Of t:ty touds Of 81 COZ EACH dated june
l, 1e'- 4utVVu |
Au1u:nt necessary 10 provide sinking fund
f,;- the retirement, July /. 1850, uf o67 bonds
o s, ,n0J each, dated July !, 1870 27,co0
Total. sl4+.2S5