, 1876-02-25
CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS,
To the Editor ef III. Chicago 7r4eu,s:

CHICAGO. Feb oi.-Ilo illcgs1'ty OF the loat-
Ing debt Of tho city having hocono public
question, 1t catl servo no good purpose TO rntse
4uibb!et whereby 1t may remain In doubt, Tho
dobt ilaelf is void; the certificates nro only owl
dencos Of Huch debt.
It ia void, frat, beeause OF the Constitution.
Tho principle Of that instrument Is 10 roq,liro
tho State mud ero,y municipal division to pay
casl, and incur no dobtB except to O itn1itod or
eont, and III 4 n,Runor expressly deBiguased.
Provision for casual Indebtedness from failure
In tho ruyonuo Ia mndo; also, for tho purposes
Of war; but no other debt eau bo orusted except
by the vote Of tho people. Even tho Legislature
10 not authorized to act Al ugent OF the pcoplc
fer that purpose. (Art. w.. Sec. ~
The direction relating to cisios is ~ explicit
No debt shall bo incurred IN any manner, or
for any purpose, which, with existing iudeotod-
ness, shall exceed s per cent on tho assessed
yaluo Of the property. And before or at Tho
time au. debt 10 incurred, provision muas DO
ntado for tho collection Of direct annual ta1
sufficient to pay tho Interest It falls due, aud
discharge tho principal within twenty yonra.
ON! Tie 1eeis!stvs aepsr'tmont Of tho city can
that no debt can be incurred or have the slight
est validity, except by ordinance ennctcd in loyal
form for that purpose (Art. TX, SEQ. l2).
Tho General Assembly shall re1urs that al tbs tax
tons shall u taxed Tor tho payment oi dobts con-
raosed unaor authority Of Law, such taxes to 10 uni
tulisaicon OF tie body imposing tho tamo lBse l0)
This mortgages all tho property in tho city
for tho payment Of evcry lawful dobt.
The General Assembly IL authorized to EN-
| aud collect taxes for corporate puipoaes but
| cvon tho 0onoral Assembly III not ycated with
power 10 authorize cltlea to boc0Mo indebted In
any manner to efcood tho poF cens eyeu upon
e0ryed that the prohibition ia, not that tho city
Bhn}l not become indebted upon honda or apon
certificates or written evidences, or for poriod
exceeding q year. or until tarcs Of tho year shall
! to become indebted ''in my manner OF for auy
| purpoBo" to M nmolnt exceeding the lIuit.
Tho modetn theory Of taxation Of property iB
thas tho owner o"os the State or municipality a
property; after The levy Or Imposition OF tho tax
| by the taxing power, tho owner owes to 1t tho
e1nct amount that haa boon Ascertanod to be his
duo proportion, The methods that may bo 70
| eortea 10 TO collect this dobt arc various. Tho
| Legislatures l,ave power to resort to tmprison-
mont Of tho body OF the oWuor dlslross and
sale OF hlA gooda; se!xure. lesee, or aalo OF
tho lands !: or suit IN aBsunpBit. or debt for tho
tar due Tho night to SUMMARY remedies md
tue lien given u Rocarity doos not change the
relation OF tho taxpayer and BtAte from tho Sim
ple relation Of debtor aud creditor. No higher
fsns IN .r" tne Ropoy e7Gf IT,, e1'sta tnnn slas
| .*e pA1obo ut iton ~ houulo =
debt. u IL OF ths hams oharactor with tho
p1opotty, ., = 4sna!old III tue goods OF his
sonans . VINCE sls 'aaelofa may aoike ana coll TO
p.y she th rent anS ms Of tho same character
WIN tne property o. Tue mottga9eo III tue thtuR
| MotlFaRoo; or u lns Wafehonsonan Or carrier
~ tle eooos stored or transported, hletapllort-
cally eaoh ot thoae haa property 10 tho thing;
but ta fact 1t 10 only lion upon Tho thing to No.
euro the peJnoht OF : deht Tue debt is tho
| prlnelp.a t9;hg n el cases. mo llen u only the
INCIDENT. uns'l tsio ta1 warrant u issued tho
dcDt 10 not due uHtll al opportunity 10 given 10