Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-23
Mr., HENRYIS THE MAN
Fitted for the Duties and Respon-
sibiIities of Office of Coun-
ty Treasurer.
ASSESSMENT AN IMPORTANT WORK
Various Matters in Which the Tax
payers Have a Vital
Interest.


public interest that candidates for
public office should be reputable cit
Zens and men whose standing in the
community is generally recognized
as above being questioned. So much
is absolutely necessary. But
something more than common
responsibility and good citi-
zenship is required for an office
of trust and responsibility, the du
ties of which require experience and
special fitness; the personal qualif-
cations of the official should be equal
to the demands and requirements of
the Office. The county treasurer, for
example, should not only be the nOmi-
nal head of his department but mas
ter of the situation; not only ca
pable of directing and instructing his
deputies, but himself able to do the
work Understandings. and to detect
errors and falsifications of accounts,
if anything goes amiss, or is attempt
ed to be done in a wrongful manner.
The Treasurer and Assessment.
In regard to the qualifications of a
county treasurer, i'm addition to keep
ing a correct account of all monies
received and paid out, and doing this
in lawful manner, the taxpayers will
bear in mind that during the term
of each treasurer occurs the quad
renniaI assessment of all real estate
of the county, matter in which they
have a vital interest. The assessors
Of the several townships and munich
palities act first; their assessments
are turned into the county treasur-
er'S office; for some weeks they re-
main with him subject to his eXami-
nation, and if in his judgment the as
sessment of any or some portion of
the realty is too high or too low, or
not fair and equitable, he places his
own valuation thereon in separate
column of the assessor : book, and
both the assessors valuation and
those of the treasurer are submitted
TO a board of equalization specially
appointed to make final decision.
This stands Tor the ensuing four
years. and the three following years
the assessors take this as the basis
of their assessments. and only add to
or subtract therefrom such amount
as the varying conditions of the real
estate in their respective limits may
seem to Indicate. Is there anything,
save in preserving the place. promot-
ing the general welfare of the whole.
and executing the prerogatives of Il
legal voter, in which the citizens and
taxpayers are more deeply interested
than the subject of taxation and its
being done fairly and justly?
I'm this the county treasurer per-
forms an important part. He should
do it regardless of partisan bias or
favor. The greater his experience
and the more extensive his knowl-
edge in this special direction the
better he can perform this duty and
the more enlightened will be his judg-
ment The democratic candidate for
treasurer, without regard for any
thing else. * well vcrscd in this kind
of business. has had large experience
in matters of assessment. especially
i'm this city. and is more than ordin-
arily prepared to meet the require
ments and discharge the duties of
the office. TO anyone who compares
the republican and democratic candi-
dates il will readily appear That the
latter is much the better man for the
place by reason of his special quail
fcaiions for the discharge of the inn
portant duties.
Taxpayers Are Deeply Interested.
The voters and taxpayers are really
and deeply interested in the choice of
the best man for the Office, and one
of their HIGHEST privileges is a con-