Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-21
AFTER THE FARMERS.
How the Republican Revenue Law Is
Made to Operate Against Them.

The farmers of Illinois should vote SOL
idly against the Republican ticket at the
coming election, If for no other purpose
than that of securing the repeal of the
Ubiquitous revenue law passed by the last
Republican legislature at the behest of
Governor John r. Tanner and the cor
porate interests backing his administra-
ton. The bill, as forced through the leg
islature by the Tanner machine. might
have been entitled An Act to Promote
Tax Dodging by Corporations. and to
Protect Mortgage Sharks" without in
the least violating the spirit of the text
of that remarkable document. So far as
the farmers are concerned their burdens
have not only been increased but every
possible obstruction has been placed in
their way should they seek to obtain re-
lief from excessive and unjust assess
ment.
When the bill was under discussion in
the assembly the Democrats. who were
in minority, made a desperate but in
effectual struggle to secure an equitable
provision concerning the time of assess
mentS and the proper division of taxes
upon mortgaged property. An amend
ment was offered and solidly supported
by the Democratic members, providing
that in the assessment of mortgaged
property, two tax bills should be made
out-one upon the owners equity and the
other upon the mortgaged interest. in
such cases the owner to hold the tax
bill against the mortgage interest as
set-off against the same with interest
simply proposed to place the burden of
taxation where 1t properly belongs, was
defeated by the Republican majority.
Another feature of the gross injustice of
the new law is the change in the time of
listing property. from May 1 to April
1. The effect of this change is to catch
farmers with more property than If the
assessment were made May I, when the
farmers stock of grain and live stock is
lower than at any other season of the
year. During the discussion of the bill
at Springfield this clause was taken up
by farmers institutes and similar organ
izations throughout the State and strong
protests were forwarded to the Republi-
can legislators, but these were disre-
garded and the change made despite
the protests of the Democratic minority.
AS IL to further Cypress the farmer an
other provision of the law abolishes the
township board of review in all coun-
ties outside of Cook. er the new law,
If a farmer desires to rect an unjust
assessment of his property he is COM
PEELED to get to the county seat during
the busiest season of the year and then
wait his turn to make his complaint This
is one of the most oppressive features of
the law. causing. as it does. great ex-
pense and los~ of time to country tax
payers
As II to add deliberate insult to injury
the new law holds the unconfrmed word
of corporation of equal weight with
the oath of a private person. In other
words. while the farmer and individual
business man must solemnly swear to his
schedule of property, CORPORATIONS
ARE PERMITTED TO TURN THEIR
LISTS IN UNSUPPORTED BY OATH.
II the farmers of Illinois believe that
such law is fair to themselves they
will. of course, vote for the Tanner Re
publican ticket. If they believe they have
been Disseminated against they will elect
a Democratic legislature which is pledged
to remedy the evils Of the infamous rev.
enue law.