The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-20
Moline Taxes.

A large number of tax payers in Moline
don't relish the idea of certain corpora
tons in that city escaping the payment of
taxes assessed against them, nor do they
like the idea Of having their road and
bridge taxes doubled OF increased illegally,
They have had several meetings on the
subject, at one of which they appointed a
committee to procure legal ADVICE. The
committee procured the written opinion
of Messrs. Sweeney & Jackson, from which
we condense the following:
First The city council of Moline by an ordi.
nance passed Dec. 4th 1874 declared that certain
taxes assessed for the year 1873 against certain
void and that the treasurer Of the county shall moi
In any manner enforce the collection Of them.
Second.-On the 9th day of December, 1874 the
18north, range west, certified to the board of SUI
pervfsors of this county that In their opinion the
lakes levied under the assessment of 1873 against
these corporations was unequal and unjust and ask
ed the board If supervisors to abate the school tax
OF said district for the year 1873 which was done
or attempted to be done, by the board Of superyis
ors.
The inquiry, Is can the city council and
board of supervisors release these taxes?
Sweeney Il Jackson say
eve are of the opinion that the action Of
the City Council and Board of Supervis-
ors, in releasing these taxes, is illegal and
void, and that the unpaid taxes against the
corporations named are not released, but
exist against the companies as before
Notwithstanding the action on the part OF
the Council and Board.
They give their reasons, at some length,
for the above opinion.
Third.-The commissioners of highways of the
town of Moline made an assessment of road and
bridge tax for the year 1874 and certified to the su
pervisors Of Moline that the amount necessary be
raised was $4450, being an assessment of 20 cents
the 800 on the real and personal property Of the
town of Moline for the year 1874. s.fse5fFsE I
At the last December meeting Of the board Of SUI
visors the board acting on report Of O committee
adopted report increasing the levy of the com
this amount the tax has been extended In Moline
for roads and bridges The question is; Could
the board OF supervisors increase the amount al
above and can the increased amount be collectedi
Messrs, Sweeney & jackson are Of opin-
ion that the increase is illegal, and give
their reasons.
Fourth,-The collector Of taxes for the town O,
Moline is called upon to collect tax reported te
him as Delinquent Road Tar, being the unpaid
year several road dl2
tricts in Moline The question presented ia; IL thu
tax collectablef
Sweeney & jackson say:
I'm this case, these lists are not sworn to
according to law, and this delinquent tax
was not levied by the board of supervi-
sors in fact these lists were not presented
to the board of supervisors. so that fol
want of the necessary affidavit to the lists,
and for want of legal levy of these taxes
by the board, they cannot be collected, fol
they must be levied before they are col
lected.' A
The opinion closes with statement
showing how the unpaid taxes Of 1873,
against the corporations, can be collected