New-York tribune., 1901-10-25
IMPORTANCE OF DECISION TO CITY.
TAXES OF HOUSE OWNERS REDUCED FROM
IS to $4-s2 600 ADDED TO COOK
COUNTY FUNDS

Chicago. oct. 24-The tax decision given to-day
by the Illinois Supreme Court relates 70 twenty
three local corporations. enjoying municipal fran
chises including traction companies. gas companies
and electric companies. whose total capital stock
was estimated be worth S36s,ooo0Vo. all OF which
had escaped taxation previously. and was likely 10
be omitted again by the State board. which ad-
journed last December without assessing this vast
amount OF property.
The trial Of the case was begun before Judge
Thompson. in Springfield. on March %. and the de-
cision handed down May 2 commanding the
board TO reassembe on June l. and assess those
corporations in accordance with the rules OF the
board in regard 10 the assessment OF capital stock
But the board not only neglected make the
sessment repealed the rules OF the board the
subject which had teen in force for thirty years
ana had been sustained by the United States Su-
preme Court as the only fair ana legal plan OF
assessment
What was considered the weak point in the
teachers case was that the Inandamus was asked
While the board was still in session and while 1t
was protesting that II meant 10 do the very
thing which the mandamus required The teach
ers' contention that the board was continuing
body. and that 1t had refused for years 10 make
these assessments and that II a mandamus could
issue until after the board had adjourned II
might well never be issued al all, and there was
absolutely way compel the board to perform
its manifest duty. The teachers view Of the case
seems TO have been sustained by the Supreme
Court
Broad as Is the sweep OF thlS decision IN ltSelI'
its logical results are much greater. the de-
csion. II is said really applies just well 10 rail-
road corporations and every other corporation in
the State and may lead the collection Of back
taxes.
Concerning the decision OF the Supreme Court
TO compel the equalzers 10 list the stocks of cor
porations. Mr. Greenacre. the attorney who acted
for the Teachers Federation in the courts said
to-day:
The decision shows that the methods OF corpora
tions must be open public inspection; that the
taxes OF house will be reduced from s. 10
S. and thai the deficits annually confronting the
pear Streets be improved, bridges built ana
the schools and other public institutions main
tained IN proper manner. BY this decision an
archy in Illinois is deprived of it's only excuse.
Mayor Harrison said
The decision adds $S.OO00 900 to the funds of the
State. and of this 100000 will to Cook
County where the teachers started the fight II Is
up TO the Board of Equalization 10 bow to the
dictates the one effect IL Will have prob
ably will he to squeeze lot OF the water out or
stock various corporations, and il may drive
of them of the State farer climes-
New-Jersey, for instance.
Levy Mayer who is attorney for two of the trac-
ton companies concerned. said:
If the equalzers follow strictly the rule of the
court the result Will be appalling. There Is such a
thing taxing corporations out OF existence.
And then, with this burden them. they Will
will reduce expenses, and the service Will
suffer The well known position OF the Supreme
Court in regard granting reheaTings leads TO
believe that the celebrated case is at an end