The herald., 1895-10-26
ASTOUNDING FACTS IN TAXATION

The Herald recently contained an edi-
torial regarding the report OF the Illinois
bureau of labor statistics. which set forth
some very important facts, bearing upon
the subject of taxation, which were
worthy the attention of the entire nation.
The report referred to is being circulated
and read very extensively through ILL.,
nois and other states, and is ellie ting
more comment than almost any official
document that has appeared for several
years. We have since received complete
copy of the document kindly sent us by
Mr.. James Malcolm. secretary of the
state board OF arbitration at Springfield,
Iii. The report contains u vast am cunt
OF food for reflection and discussion.
The bureau of labor statistics was estab.
lisbed in 1879 and it m ads its first report
in 1881. Other reports have followed
biennially, but none ever contained so
much Information or took such strong
ground In favor Of tax reform on rad ical
lines. Considerable space is devoted to
showing the condition of the wage-work-
ers: their average compensation, cost Of
living, ETC.. but the striking feature OF the
document and that which has stirred up
a large hornets nest is the ex pose OF en-
listing taxation methods in Illinois, and
especially in Chicago. These revelations
are made, the re port says. IN the interest
of the laborng class; the tax methods
being termed Liberty destroying" in
their character and effects.
We learn from private sources that
Republicans in Illinois are very much
worried over the report, non-partisan
though it is, and are eager to break the
force of its revelations, some of them
even going so far as to demand the abo-
lition OF the bureau for daring to publish
the names of wealthy tax. dodgers and
per;urers. On the other hand Demo
cratic papers all over the country have
been giving favorable notices OF it, and
calling attention to the startling facts
and statistics. believing that the truth
shorld be told, let it hit where it may
and hurt whom it will.
The laws of Illinois require the assess
ment of all taxable property at it's full
value; but it appears that in Chicago
particularly, it is Il common thing to as
sess the property of certain favored
classes at less than % per cent OF its real
value. This is especially the case with
reference to land which N many lnstan-
oes IS assessed at merely nominal ii cures,
though held by the owners at very higl
prices.
Another striking feature of the report
10 the numerous instances mentioned to
show how personal property escapes taxa
tion in Chicago and Cook county. + OF
instance, in the whole county of Cook,
with more than million and half OF
population, there are only 397 frs nd
burglar proof safes, the average value
of which is only $29.6 But in Mad son
county, there are 2l5 such safes, of an
average value of $40.32, and IN Morgan
county, which has 81 safes, the average
value is 1880. Figures showing similar
dlsparities in numerous other counties
are given. Then again, the returns of
assessors reveal a frightful scarcity of
moneys ard credits in Cook county. 1t
appears that Chicago, the great CONNER
ciai metropolis of the whole western
country, carries on Its operations. SO far
~ bankers and brokers are concerned,
with less than fifty thousand dollars ION
hand and in transit" and of checks and
other cash memoranda and funds subject
TO draft. This amount is exceeded by six
times in the county of Peoria, while in
Macon county. which returns the lowest
amount of all. except Cook, it is $500
more Ihan Cook.
These are only few of the incongruities
and iniquities o. taxation methods which
are. exposed. Probably nothing in re
way OF ASSES maDt statistics ever so
severely tested the ere iulity of TOO