Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-05-13
ALI Law Laughed to
SCOrn on the North
Side.
Houses Renting for $85
to $500 Per Month
Unlisted.
But the Poor M a II S
Taxes Are as Big
as Ever.

The three blocks of residence prop
erty extending from Dayton street TO
Sheffield avenue and from Belden
avenue to Fullerton avenue, on the
North Side, are not taxed to the ex-
tent OF one dollar.
This in defiance Of all law.
The three blocks referred to arc
covered With magnificent residences,
every one of which is rented, the in
come from each being from $50 to
5000 per month.
And yet these houses pay no taxes.
They claim exemption because the
title to them is in the trustees of the
Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
The Seminary il located on the
block bounded by Dayton and Halsted
streets, Belden and Fullerton avenues.
Under the law, the Seminary itself
and the residences Of the professors
on the same block are exempt.
But the law expressly provides that
property belonging to such institu-
tions, used for profit, must be taxed.
In defiance Of this law, three
blocks, or fifteen acres, lying west of
the one block, or five acres, on which
the Seminary is located go scot free,
and the grand residences erected
thereon pay no taxes at all.
The poor people of the city are
taxed to the limit
This year, the State Board Of
Equalization will add so per cent.
more to their burdensome load And
all this time this Presbyterian steal
will continue.
Is this property lawfully exempt?
1t is not.
Here Is the law on the subject,
which the reader can digest for him
self. Here is the sort Of property
T the State of Illinois exempts;
Section 2, paragraph >, of the rev.
= enue law says:
All property described in this section, to
the extent herein limited. shall be exempt
from taxation That is to say:
I. All lands donated by the United States
for school purposes, not sold or leased. All
!. public school houses, all property OF nsti-
tutlons Of learning, including the real es-
l. tate on which the institutions are located
I not leased by such institutions or other
wise used with a view to profit
y 3 All church property actually and ex-
q clusvely used for public worship, when the
land 20 be OF reasonable size for the loca-
/ tion OF the church building) is owned by
V the congregation
q So much for the law.
Is there anything in that law
. allowing this Presbyterian real estate
S association 20 escape taxation?
e Not much.
n Is there any excuse whatever for
the taxing officers of Cook County
thus placing a burden on honest tax
i payers that belongs on other shoul-
y ders?
Is There can be none.
% The law plainly says that no prop
erty, either church or school, can be
" exempted from taxation which Is
leased or used in any way with view
l. 90 profit
Al Now, vino Is % hlames
The Assessor OF the North Town Is
not
lie honestly assesses the property
g This year he assessed IL at s1l, 26O.
# The County Clerk knocked the as
n scssment out, 0u the plea that 10 was
~church property
P" The other taxpayers ut the Nurtt
Side Will have to pay thi, t'l,2bor
Il With 50 per cent added.
lr ls This rlghtf
D. This Iusts
p H. this the Kind of theology taught
'in the Presbyterian seminary
ig What about the splfltnf patriotism
4 lui hHolherf Wte ee have hen hear
tug 81 much about Hf Atef
llas lhat spirit ANYTHING % dowiti
t4k iaisIHs tnt thHnnest utNlun u
e iawful tulf la the ntaief
LftW htaf