The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-17


1878 there was levied in Illinois state tax
of one million three hundred and thirty |
dollars in excess of the amount |
authorized by law, and in the year 1874
the tax levy Of the state was six hundred |
and Eve thousand five hundred and eighty |
six dollars more than the amount authoriz-
ed by law Ii is undoubtedly true
statement that there is mot one taxpayer
in ten thousand" to whom a fact 80 aston
ishing, comprehending fat robbery so
monstrous, is known. The writer (who
appears to know whereof he speaks) makes
the further astonishing allegation that
fully one-third of the amount of county,
school. city, and other taxes annually levied
in Illinois, is in excess of the amount
lawfully appropriated LEGAL AdUiser.
The statement need not astonishany one
who looks at the way taxes are unneces.
sarily swelled right here In our own coun-
ty. THE ARGUS has shown how Krell,
Beardsley, Chopper, and Pinkley, sitting as
a board of town auditors, allowed every
claim presented without even knowing the
law or attempting to inform themselves in
regard to it. They allowed themselves 81
a day when the law authorizes only $3.50;
they allowed the assessor S. q day when
the law authorizes only $3.50; they allow
ed Ross Mills 800, month when the
law authorizes only $3.50 a day for days
actually employed; they allowed Charley
Halves 50, day when the law authorizes
only $3.50; they allowed Beardsley bill
of 5000 which. at the fees authorized by
Law would not exceed SIC, -and that is the
way the town is robbed. g.
1t is much the same way with the city.
A Republican city council persisted,
against every effort of Mayor Davenport
in imposing two superintendent of water
works on the people. and the mayor fell
it his duty to veto the bill for the extrs
one. Every effort he makes t.
stop unnecessary work, or work which
can be postponed for the present
raises a howl from the repudiatet
hold-over aldermen, and with Bill
Atkinson and Jake WolleDhaupt to hell
them they go on swelling expenses ant
piling on taxes against the advice of tn
mayor. That's the way Repu blicans ru
city and town affairs.
And it is about the same with the cour
ty. A good deal has been saved by tn
move of Madison Bowles, of Yuma, whe
he was in the board. of requiring all bill
to be sworn to. This made the tax-eater
more careful, for they yet had a whole
some fear left for what might happe
before the grand jury. But still there al
many unnecessary bills paid by the couI
ty. Krell gets in good many four or fi'
dollar accounts for teams to ride to Il
o poor farm, and he charges nearly evel
day in the year, including some Sunday
as overseer of poor.
And extra attorneys are hired to he
the prosecutor. Straw bail is taken
justices for criminals and never collect'
to help reduce criminal expenses.
No one need be ';astonished," therefor
e that in the year 1873 there was levied
illinois state tax of 81, 100000 in e
"cess of the amount authorized by la
land in the year 1874 the tax levy of t
Estate was $685. more than the amou
authorized by law
sr Nor need any one be "astonished'
s. know that "tully one-third of the amou
re "of county, school, city, and other tax
ne annually levied in Illinois, is in excess
be ''the amount lawfully appropriated"
IA Look at the action Of our town audit
boards, city councils, school boards a
county boards, and no one need be last
ished" at big taxes. The ARGUS
az done something in exposing the fiat r
berries they perpetrate in this town, 6
it intends to watch the robbers in the
n. ture. But no reform will come until
ng people wake up and put the incomplete
and the public rob bers out Of Office.