, 1874-02-09
ONE REMEDY SUGGESTED.

A gentleman of largo oxpcrionce in tho nsseBs-
meut and collection Of taxes was called upon to
give his views Of the present system and, prcfer-
ring to writo out IA Htntonlont OF Ills own, has
eont in tho following communication:
70 the Editor ef The Chicago 1ribt'!e:
Sin: The ever recurring aud always yexatiouB
problem Of taxes, and how to pay thom, is now
again before the public. At poriod of tho yoar
when money iBlcast abundant, and the resources
of The people most heavily crippled, the onihouB
notice from the lax Collector daily paradod in
tho newspapers, md tho local postal department.
is burdeuod with re7cmptosy 1nai1datos 10 "toli',
Yuenss" to appear before TINT Official anu
promptly respond to his demands.
There are III tho City Of Chirayo from $4,000
to $4,000 persons WHO annually pay municipal
taxes aud assessments. OF this number, only
very i,conBidorabe proportion have auy famill-
arity with the motlus oporandi BY which asBesB-
monts aro made, md tho results arrived ut that
arc summed up on tue books OF tho lax Ool!ec-
tor.
Tile public in gono1al is blindly ignorant Of
the menus and machinery employed IN tho pro.
cess OF determining tho taxable value OF local
property for purposes Of municipal reyenno, and,
Byidoutiy, pay but little lloed to tlls details
which annually so to mnlo up tho Appropriation
bill.
oun TAX nuREAu.
Wo PURPOSE giving brief royiow of our tax
bureau, its organization, and tho practical work.
ing of 4 syateln which bears 40 heavily upon tho
RESOURCES Of the taxpayer, aud which, at the
same limo, forms 70 important nn element
Tat aa1 orpose ssR' s a"is some sa eoas aoa
anomalous featurea and suggest tho urgent
noct! of reformation and reconstruction Of our
revenue System, will bo male apparent.
pLAN AND Tt1EoNY OF AsSEsSMESTH.
First, then. MS to the plan aud theory Of as
Bcsslnonts The general Inv Of tho Htatc, as
well rs tile proyiesons of tho City Chartor, con-
!omplute md provide for a'l annual assessment.
ro carry thls into olfeot, we a hayo ,a Iax oom-
penhation, with tho expenses OF the otllco, will
,ppsoxt1natc sa0,oUo per anuun,. There is also
Ill AG=cssor for tho city, who haa from tel,
70 Twenty-Five Dopu.ios,, costing ,o TIC
4'''' moro. This i m Sa'' ite@ ~ II II fesas!a1
ls,..tal oxpenao. Lot uB uce what In tho e4uiy,
llo,.t rcndored7 ?. At tho appropriate acason the
assesgor marahals his Doputtos, provides them
str,ctions and sends them forth to asHoss all tho
reul and personal property within the corporate
limits. According to tho legal requirements, tle
Deputies aro supposed TO acryo personal notice
forms, SO that tllo lattor nny mako up oach hli
own roturlla, Of tho amount Of taxable propcrt.
In llis poaaession, which exhibit o is at tho aan
limo to attest under oath. Investigation nj t.
different Ia tho public in gonoral a
to compliance with this requirement. Ut tll
law that OH an average. hardiy one !" b.
makes hia own roturi,s. Hence, ~ rule, tn
Personal Personal property pr of tic taxpayer and mike
:oturn accordingly on the booka. The mos
.ast,al examination Of the tax-iiats would dc
nonstrate how singularly tho public estimate Q
Al. rnuu's wealth tiiEors f1om that OF the At
loARur.
ron EXAMPLE,
Eo lave sean tue assessment Of 5000 set dow
as covering tito porsonal-psoporty wealth OF
ppl,ient bunker who lives in lordly mansion Q
oi.o OF ol,r fashionable avonuos, and WHO
laily driven to his bank behind 0 81 900 team
sud Ia q 51,5uU baloucAe,-whlle clerk lyin