Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-11
TO TAX OF NOT TO TAX.

TO TAX Or NOT TO TAX.
There is some anxiety in Chicago Owe
the possible exodus of many of that
city's largest corporate companies as q
result of the recent decision in which the
Chicago Teachers Federation secured d
supreme court verdict which will result
il. the taxation of these Interests that
have hitherto escaped under the eXemp-
ton laws in the interest of large man
rfacturing and mercantile establish
ments. The matter is now being con-
sidered by the state board. Should II
come to the point where the big con-
Germs would be called upon to submit to
greater taxation after SO many years OF
comparative exemption, there would os
trouble in the camp. and, rather than
submit, many of them would reincorpo-
rate under the laws of New Jersey or
some other state. In other words they
would move to localities more favorable.
So that the federation, which started the
fight against the tax dodgers. in order
to get more funds to support the schools,
would be thwarted. The first indication
cs this possible calamity was sprung
upon the city last week by an apparent
IL authoritative statement that the Full
man Palace Car Company, which has
grown up with the city, contemplated
rowing its headquarters to New Jersey
II the tax decision Of the supreme court
was made effective. But, whether or not
the Pullman people are simply putting
up q bold front, there is no question in
the minds of many but that such action
on the part OF the equalizers will cause
10 end of lawsuits and trouble general
". Consequently, until the state board
completes it's work the corporations will
be on the alert. The cases which have
already taken form promise to make
plenty Of trouble for the board, and ii 1t
finishes it's work in two months time 1t
will accomplish more than 1t bargained
for. The corporations which We're af-
fected by the decision just rendered by
the supreme court do not. it is said. in
tend to submit gracefully to the ruling
of the court, as is evident from the
amount of legal talent they have ar
1ayed on their side to protect their in
terests. They regard the decision as an
act of persecution, and they claim that
such exorbitant demands as are stipu-
lated In the courts decree would mean
ruin to any one of the companies af-H
fected by the decision
It is stated that the companies now
being considered by the board are those
concerns exempted by the manufactur-
ere, act, and also by the exemption
clause of the present revenue law. This
would include big department stores,
newspapers and everything where the
question of the value of capital stock is
brought up. The railroads will not es-
cape, either. Such sweeping action on
The part of the equalizers would not be
quietly submitted to, and The disturbing
effect the rumors from Springfield are
creating has tended to swing public sem
timent to the side of the corporations.
1t is questioned whether it is not better
for business in general to permit mat
tcrs to remain as they are, without the
court interfering. The capitalists argue
that they must be assured that their in
yestments are secure. and the cranks by
their actions will not help the city but
injure it AS one capitalist said: In
five years under such disturbing inilu-
ences every large corporation Will have
removed from the state. Then there will
be not enough capital to assess to secure
the funds for building school houses"
A number of vexatious problems are
involved in the subject. Equality of
taxation is a principle that is pretty well
grounded, and yet conditions of exemp
ton may be concerned that would really
enrich the community to a greater ex-
tent than taxation that would result in
removal.
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