The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-06-30
MARSHALL FIELD WAS
TYPICAL TAX D0DCER
Another Leading American Found
Out-Field Held as An Ex-
ample to Our Youth.
Put Money Into Personal Property
So AS to Dodge Millions of
Dollars -of Taxes.

Chicago, ILL.,, June 28.-President
Eugene A. Prussing of the Citizens
Association, OF Chicago, has given out
the following interview:
"The publication of the personal
property return made by Marshall
Fields trustees calls attention in a
1t Is stated that his trustees report
securities and other personal property
subject to taxation. That is to say,
it has this great sum in addition to
it's stocks in Illinois corporations, in
cluding the corporation known as
Marshall Field & Co. The fact Is,
that he was never assessed at more
than $2,500,OO0 for personal property.
1t Is true, also, in spite of this low
assessment and because Of his large
holdings of real estate, that he paid
taxes on more estate, real and per-
sonal, than any other man in the city.
He must have failed to pay taxes,
however, on at least $15,000,000 in
each of the last ten years. At the
usual rate Of taxation he failed to pay
$150,00O year, or in ten years
$1,5OO,OOO The real amount he failed
to pay throughout his entire career
was probably over $5,O00,000.
But whence did he get this exemp-
tion, this privilege, and why? Let
the assessors answer.
THE condition of affairs recounted
here is not peculiar to the Field es-
tate. There are thousands in all
classes of society in this community
and throughout the country who es-
cape the payment of their just share
of taxes in this or some similar way,
50 that the owner of visible personal
estate and the owner of real estate
which cannot be hidden is scien-
tifically estimated to pay from two to
five times his just proportion of taxes
in communities like ours. This form
of anarch1sm is so common, we sell
dom realize it. Do you wonder that
securities are in demand, and that real
estate is drug in the market?
1T Is only when such man dies,
and his estate must be sworn to in
the probate court, that the assessor
Is honestly informed and an opportun-
ity for fair tax assessment Is given"
But He Was an Honorable Man," Of
Course!
To show how such men as Field are
boosted into heroes we- print the; fol-
lowing random opinion expressed by
various papers and individuals round
the country at the time of his death:
Marshall Field was a most whole
some type of the rich man. He made
his money by great business ability
and square dealing. He listed his
properties and paid his taxes without
wincing or lodging. 1t is a matter Of
regret that there are not more multi
millionaires like him."
"Mr. Field has been called model
millionaire man1 He was home'loving
Marshall Field died respected as
we'll as rich: He lived uprightly. He
did not shirk his duties as a citizen.
I'm civic life he stood for the type
of citizenship that pays it's taxes
willingly. He was promi-
nently mentioned as a vice-presiden-
tial candidate on the Democratic ticket
in 1904
James H. Eckels said: Il think
Marshall Field did more to establish a
high standard of commercial integrity
than any man who ever lived in this
city. He was the embodiment of alb
solute integrity in small things as
we'll as large"
Mayor Dunno said: II am deeply
grieved. Mr.. Field was probably the
strongest and cleanest type of the
honorable and upright business man
in this country. He was unscrupu-
lously honest in all his dealings, both
with the public and his fellow mer-
chants
Verify, money covers a multitude of
sins! Even the most respected cap-
ifa1fefo oop,& ho +r,,.%ols