Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-08-05
Like Steam Through a
Gigantic COrliss
Engine.
Record Of a Robbery of Tax
Payers Without
Equal.

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 are
covered with magnificent residences,
every one of which is rented the in
come from each being from SS5 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 is located on the
block bounded by Dayton and Halsted
streets, Belden and Fullerton avenues.
Under the law, the Seminary itself
anu UQc TcSlucuCcS VI UhC piOASSSOA"
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 burdelsome 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
the State of Illinois exempts:
Section 2, paragraph 2, 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:
l. All lands donated by the United States
for school purposes, not sold or leased. All
public school housec, all property of insti-
tutions OF learning Including the real es-
tate on which the Institutions are SA"-'e~
not leased by such institutions or other
wise used with view TO profit
q All church property actually and ex-
clusively used for public worship, when the
land Ito be of reasonable size for the loca-
ton of the church building) is owned By
the congregation.
So much for the law.
Is there anything in that Law
allowing this Presbyterian real estate
association to escape taxation?
Not much.
Is there any excuse whatever fol
the taxing officers of Cook Count!
thus placing burden on honest tax
PAYERS that belongs on other shoul
ders"
There can be none.
The law plainly says that ms prop
ertv, either church or school, can b.
exempted from taxation which i
ieased or used In any way with view
to profit.
Now, who is to blame?
The Assessor OF the North Town 1
not
He honestly assesses the property
This year he assessed 1t at 81, 2oO
The County Clerk knocked the as
sessment out, on the plea that 1t wa
church property"
Th- other taxpayers ~ the Mort
Side will have 20 pay this 81, 26C
with 80 per cent added
IL this right?
Il this lusty
Is this the kind OF theology laugh
In the Presbyterian Seminary
What about che spiTItof pa1riotls'
aud brothery love We have been hea
ing 81 much about Of Later
lIas that spirit anything 20 10 VT
mK dndglng aa1 dishonest evasion
ahwml duty = che statef
Letw Helf
asa aatutsf vafF