Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-16

70 pass Q revenue Law which would
compel the holders Of mortgage
notes to pay their pro rata share Of
taxes assessed against the mortgsged
real estate. Tue democrats at.
tempted to secure some revenue 70.
form legislation. but the republican
machine defeated all attempts to
enact any revenue laws which
Afforded a5y relief, and instead
passed . revenue bill which is far
worse then the present law. Every
democrat In the legis ature voted
sgainss this law and it was passed
under the party lash By republican
votes.
In order that tho people may
know what the best mem bers Of the
legislature think Of the new revenue
Law, We print herewith the views OF
two Of them.
Senator John McAdams, q grain
dealer Of Quincy. and . practical
business man, expresses his opinion
OF the new Law IS follow:
Quincy. ILL.,. March 1.-The res
revenue law mskes the owner OF
property on the fret day Of April Of
any one year liable for the taxes Oh
such property for that yesr. Under
the old law the owner on the first
day Of May WAS liable. This clause
will be o desriment to tho farmer.
Who 50 generally markets the pro-
ducts OF his farm after April and
before Mayl.
The new law creates more places
TO be filed by high salaried officers,
which will cost the county OF Cook
alone more than $50, 900 Annually in
excess Of the former plsn-to assess
the property and collect the taxes.
"ltprosides fer listing property for
assessment at ore fifth OF Its fair
cash value, and fails 10 provide any
such plan for bringing out or in any
way uncoveriDg property which in
tie past has escaped taxation.
This new law IL not in the inter.
est Of the people. and its passage
cannot justify the calling Of an extra
session which cost the tax pay ers
nearly 500. Co0-when il gives them
nothing in return. This law will
not 20 into effect until July 1, 1899,
OF for more than three months after
the next regular session Of the legis,
lature has convened, and may repeal
10 before il becomes operative at all.
Then with the revenue law repealed
End the reapportionment Law de.
elared unconstitutional by the
courts, who can say that the ople
got value received. or that the sps
tisl session Was not Q blank? Very
truly. JOHN McApAMs
Hon. Free P. Morris, OF Watseka
IN able lawyer and . legislator o.
experience who represents an ag,i
cultural district, says:
"Wstseka, ILL.,, March 2, 1893
Regarding the Few revenue law, my
most serious objection to it Is, tha
u creates . greater machinery To-
the assessment Of property thai
heretofore. Il places an almost ar
bitrafy power In the supervisor o
sssessments-the county treasurer
lie can raise or lower assessments q
will. and the only relief is the boart
OF review. II Is 8 hardship on th,
people outside Of Cook county, for i
their assessments are too high. the,
are obliged to 20 70 tie county seat
frequently . long distance. to secur
corrections. OF else employ . Law
lysr to look after il for them
while formerly the local town
ship board OF review coul,
make the correction without OF
pense. The principle Of local hom
rule 10 abrogated and the power i
now centraliz ed in the hands Of on
man OF the board Of review at tn
county seat. This will work Q gros
hardship. Again the Law creates tn
great expense Of publishing in
nswspaPer . complete list Of the a.
easements In each township. Thisi
utterly useless. aud there 10 no CT
cuss or reason for incurring such u
expense. IL 10 very questionabl
whether there will be any create
valuation placed on property unde
this Law than the old one, and shout,
u not be much greater, IL will to i'm
possible, wash the ons-nfth valuation
column. 70 secure emo ugh money {
carry on the expenses OF the munich
palities aud school districts in tn
state. Another feature OF this bill |
IN isjustice 10 the farmers in that
requires all property held on the 6rs
OF April 20 be assessable for TAXATION
Heretofore IL wss on the first Of May
Many farmers are unsble 10 msrke
their grain owing to the conditiol
OF the roads and prices Of grain
TONER than the month Of April, bu
nsv tbs grain on hand April vii
10 taHsble. This Vas Q shire I'd NOV
on the part Of the elevator men VII
escape taxation on grain purchase
b. them and In store during {,
nossh Of April. Every feature q
the revenue measure proposed b
The dema rats for compelling col
Poratioss. coal mining. manuisc,u,
srs and rssspspes companies to di,