, 1874-02-09
TEE ASSESSMENT OF TAXES.

Tho collection Of the personal tax assessed for
state and county purposes has been in progross
during the last eix weeks, and will continue for
some weeks to come 30 tnnt the subject is somo-
what conspicuous1y unpleasant just now. Tho
facts and figures WHICH we havo gathered and
present in another article In this mornings
paper will not do much to mollify aggrieved
taxpayers, but may possibly 30 direct tho atten-
ton Of tho people to tho Irregularities and
abusos Of the present system Of assessment al
to lead to reform. While almost overy indi.
vidual taxpayer has Ind OCCASION to note special
instances Of partiality, 1t is not likely that
thers has been q general comprehension OF
tho onormity Of the unjust discrimination prac-
ticed. A may have congratulated himself on
escaping 60 lightly, or D MAY havo fol5 that ho
was payiug double what he ought to pay On the
baeis Of his next neighlor assessment, but
thoy hare both probably regarded their cases as
exceptional. Tho fact ia TINT partiality iB the
rulo aud not tho exception and it cannot well
be otherwise under tho tuoHent rnodo for aecer~
tanning tho value Of p Msonai property. Tho
nsa&tor is in tho hands Of the Town Assesao:s,
Of whom there arc thrt.o for tue entire City of
Chicago. Under the law as 1t stands, tho
people Of South Chicago arc compelled
to chooBo their Asscssc Mt ono voting place, and
tho people Of West Gu lcago nnd North Chicago
tho sama. It would DO ridiculous to presume
TINT shoro could be fair expression Of tho
choice Of tho pooplo Whilo compelled to vote in
this manor. Tho r.su It H. usually, that the In
dividualB who desire the town-oilcos, and aro
familiar with the processes Of drumming up
votes, carry tho election. Then red tapo inter-
yencs III such 4 manner rs to give tho Town A.
aesaor but six or eight weeks in which to
make up his nhsesamdnt.rolla. To do the
work in the time allotted, he employs
| from frteon to twenty dopntlea or Az
sistant Assessors, WHO nre choson mainly
with reference to their Bsrvicos at the polls. A.
! score OF men,--a1l Of tht,m inexperienced, most
| Of thom ignorant, and n part OF thom corrupt
start ont to aaaass tho roperty. In some cases
they aro dccetged, in othcra bulllcd, In still
others bought on. Tls, rosulta, aomo Of which
aro specifically given il the article referred to-
| arc the most glarias Inconsistencies. Largo
hou-choldorB a, ID b,1yl3osH lrms arc omitted al-
| together; many arc laced at an under. valua-
ton TINT is. palpably absurd and the
| grcntest bun'!en. In proportion to tho rea
value Of p, operty, falls upon the smal
dea1ors and modest touscl1olders. Ono OF tlt
very richest mon In Chicago paya 4 pc rsonal tai
of only $50 and another Of only 817. while 1t
is not unr sual for saIaricd men to pay from 900
to $50 on household furniture Of unpretontioua
charautc and comparatively Insignificant valuo
The din areucos In tho assessment Of we.kuowl
buslno - firms aro Asrikingly unfair.
1us onuootlon with portrayal ot tho abuses o
presf Mt system, we print, also, tho suggestion 0
oorE lin remedies from gontlomon who llayo giyel
the .aubjcct considerable Thought Ono Of then
iB ospocially worthy Of attontlon. It ID
| p soposed substitute tor the present ays
;om Of raising revenue BY personal taxation
| The proposition. IN hr!et, u to do AWAY viii