, 1875-02-18

w AstA%s ~ o*s5 tA4t sAo pAA FNoG ~ NAAtAE
to the law known rs Bill 800 is persistently
pursued by the city authorities. That bill is
q special law for such cities as do not wish to
assess and collect taxes Under the general law
Of the State. 1t has proved to bc detective,
but the city authorities propose to patch it in
the hope, which will provo illusory, TINT it
cnn be n1ndo effective. II there were no
other means of extrication save to 60 IN and
amend that Inv, this course would be uuob-
jectionable because necessary but there ia
Inv, general law Of the State, under which
the city taxes con be assessed and collected,
which is open to none Of the special defects
Of Bill 900, and which ia economical nnd cf-
fciant.
Under this general 1aw the State and
county assess property ind levy taxes; un-
der Bill 900 the city makes separate nssess-
ment and levy. 1t is objected that under tue
State law, the Assessors arc unable to nssess
the property BY personal inspection, and that
all they do is to copy the books OF the City
Assessors. 1t ia objected that If the assscss-
mens by the city under the special Inv DO
abolished, then there Will practically be no
actual assessment whatever Of property in
tho city, but mere guess-work. While this
objection is more imaginative tlan real, it can
be obyiatcd by the Law proposed by Senator
robinson, Of this county, to provide M As
sessment Board for this city and county, by
which, in lieu Of the present town assess-
,nonts In tho city, the property Of the city
md county can nil be as edectunlly assessed
as it is now By the city officers. II there be
no constitutional objections to a1r. Rop1S-
SONS proposed law, it removes every possible
objection to the tranafer OF the whole asscss-
ment and collection Of city taxes to tue
machinery provided for State and county
taxes.
The city Is pnying heavy penalty for the
luxury OF having an assessment under d
special law. The whole assessment for ta1a.
bic property In the State Of Illinois ia in round
numbers $1,000, 100000 This Is upon an
average basis Of GO per cent Of tho rca1 value.
The city and county have only one-sevcnth
Of the population Of the State, md hold pos.
sibly about the samo proportion Of taxable
property. The aharo Of the general taxation
properly belonging to this county ia, there
fore, about $17o, ,oo0, eco, computed upon the
stato rule Of 20 per cent. But the city asscss-
rent being a close approximation to tho full
cash value Of tho $3oo, ,000, 900, the state
Board takes the city assessment aud adopts
1t for the state, thereby adding $780,
100000 to the total value Of ta1ables, and
taking that much from the other portions OF
tho State. The result is, that holding Oh to
Bill 800 compels the people Of Chicago To pay
one-fourth Of the whole ta1ca OF tho State,
the State insisting that il we ASSESS ourselves
for local taxes ut a full cash value, wo ought
| to be assessed at tie sama rate for State rur.
| poses and 30 wo 60 on year after year pay.
| ing the ponalty Of IN obstinate adherence to
that defective law.
Under Bill s0O and the city charter, the
Common Council is limited In its authority to
levy taxes to such rates or per cent as will
produce tho actual sum OF the annual nppso.
| priations. II fur any cause but Is or ~ per
cent OF the taxes only be collected, then
there is deficiency to the amount of the
difference, which takes the form OF "loatine
debt" to pay which there is 10 authority to
levy any extra tar. Tleae annual def eieucies
now aggregate several millions OF dollars,
which bear interest and which aro growing
at compound rates. II the city will abandon
Bill 300, It will be relieved from the
restrictions Of the charter, and tha
Council may certify annually auch
sums - may be necessary to defray the cur.
rent expenses and 10 meet the legal demands
upon the city. Here ii direct means Of CT.
Treating the city from ita financial embar.
fass.asn.s, wAieh will bscoms daily more aud
mora eouplioAssd, md whlah nsAns Of e1trI.