, 1876-05-25
PAY YOUR CITY TAXES!


.pris'c of Chicago people to pay their taxes
without further aclay. For the first time in
years there is a condition Of things in this
city to attract tho payment of taxcs and for
tho first time in yenrs it will bo indecent aud
outrageous for men not to pay who have it
in tleir power to do 70. Heretofore the
reckless expenditure of city moneys aud tho
tlisrepntablo class Of people Irving upon tic
taxes gave good excuse for refusal to pny
until it became absolutely necessary. Now,
however, the practical work of retrcnchmcnt
has been begun, and there is not the slight
est doubt that tile present Mayor and Coun-
Gil will reduce the current expenditures to
the lowest figure consistent with tho public
welfare. In the meantime, tie city
finances arc in deplorallo condition.
Several months back pay is due to
the policemen, tho frcmen, tho teachers,
aud all those employees Of tho city who
nro most in need Of their earnings from
mouth to month. between $500. 600 mud
$l,ooo,ooo are duo employees for services and
labor rendered, for which neither the Inv
nor justice warrants a further postpone
mont. 1t is not too much to say that there
aro solno instances OF actnal suffering, and
there are certainly mnny instances OF gross
swindling, arising from the failura OF the
city to pay those who have done the public
genuine service. III both cases people suffer
who have earned their money. It il also
necessary to provide for the interest on n
farge part Of the bonded debt which fnlls
due July l. The city must have money in
order to escape a default and in orlor to re-
lieye tho necessities Of those to whom it is
indebted for public order and protection.
Wo have the pledge now that the money SO
paid shall bo used for these Legitimate
purposes, mud not employed in the s.sain-
ming" processes TINT hnye been going on
for couple Of years to Keep up tho per-
nicious and unlawful issue Of certificates 1t
is time, therefore, for tho property-owncrs
to pAy up, nnd relieve city really rich mud
prosperous from the b1emish of bankruptcy,
the appearance Of which has boen brought
on by fnlse policy and an extrnYagant ex-
pentlituro Of public moneys.
There is also m appeal to the selfish
nature Of those who are not to DO influenced
by these higher considerations. The taxcH
for 1876 arc really past due, and their collec-
tion can DO enforced within the next two
months by judgment mud sale. Tho law
under which they aro now assessed and col
lected is tie State law, and there is no longer
my opportunity to successfully avoid
their payment Thoy must be paid
i'll tho end aud tho limit OF timo is
not far OF. But to attract the
prompt payment, on account of the pres
ent necessity Of the city, discount Of 2
per cent is offered on MI tho taxes of 1876
which slall bo paid prior to Juno /, and II
por cent on NIL paid prior to July l. Applica-
tion to tho Comptroller for tho necessary
amount to pay any PERSONS taxes will secure
n certificate, from which per cent will be
discounted when tho money shall be paid to
tho County Treasurer. This is better inter-
est-the rate being about I: per cent per
annlm-than anybody can earn on money
for the next two months, and it should in-
dnce oil taxpayers to mako special effort
to pay at onco. 1t is now duty, prompted
by motives Of charity and humanity as well
rs Justice aud self-intercst, and there is no
reasonable nor fair EXCUSE for further delay
on the part Of anybody who can possibly
rlsise the money which, iu my event, will
have to bo paid over in two 1nonthH.