Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-07-29
Hundreds ofResidenceS
Exempted from Le-
gal Taxes.
Citizens Obliged to Pay a
Higher Rate that Fraud
~ May Thrive.

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 eacn being from $50 to
5000 per month.
And yet these houses pay no taxes
- They claim exemption because the
vuitle 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
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, 60 scot free,
and uhe 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 burdeISome load. And
all this time this Presbyterian steal
~ will continue.
y 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 3, 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 houses, all property OF insti-
y tutions OF learning .acludlng the real es-
tate on which the institutions are %s"a'-<
not leased by such institutions or other
wise used with "a view TO profit
, All church property actually and ex-
clusvely used for public worship. when the
land Ito be Of reasonable size for the loca-
ton OF the church buildlng) 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 for
the taxing officers of Cook County
thus placing burden on honest tax
payers that belongs on other shoul-
ders.
There can be none.
The law plainly says that ~ prop
erty, either church or school, IAN be
exempted from taxation which is
Ieased or used In any way with view
TO profit
Now, who is to blame?
The Assessor OF the North Town Is
not.
He honestly assesses the property.
This year he assessed it at 81, 200.
The County Clerk knocked the as
sessment out, on the plea that It was
church property"
trh other taxpayers ~ the North
Side will have 20 pay this 81, 200,
with so per cent. added.
Is this right?
Is this just?
Is this the kind OF theology taught
In the Presbyterian Seminary?
What about the spirItof patriotism
and brothery love we have been hear
ing so much about Of late?
Has that spirit anything % do with
tax lodging and dishonest evasion OF
lawful duty 10 the State9
Letus hear
IouANNIsuuRa, IN che frausYaaL
tsa wonderful little town lt Is boo
Use years of age, anl che iuhlbItWts
number urit thaus1ud DO Stands