Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1910-03-19

cans than Homer Il. Tinsman, the
popular attorney and former alder
man. He is qualified in every way for
a seat on the bench.
~E
The Democrats will name winner
II they nominate Edward Osgood
Brown for the vacancy on the Circuit
Court bench. His grand record On
that bench before and his widespread
popularity in Chicago would make his
election certain.
~
Tom N. Donnelly, the popular dia.
mond merchant, would make a good
County Treasurer. II the Democrats
nominate him he will win hands down.
Depriving the city treasury Of seven
million dollars annually by the clos.
Ing Of the saloons don't sound good
to the taxpayers.
Chicago will become bankrupt II the
voters decide that the city shall be
made antisaloon territory, according to
q statement made to Nathan A. Cole,
chairman Of the Manufacturers and
Merchants Association, by Hugo 8.
0rosser. former city statistician. Mr..
0rosser said that, despite the argu.
ments that are to be submitted by the
"drys," the annual loss will be S..
100000 In saloon taxes alone, in add.
ton to other revenue.
In his letter to Mr.. Cole, Statistician
Grosser says:
"The revenue from the liquor indus.
try for the year 1909 amounted to
1890. 039.40. nearly one-third OF the
entire corporate revenue for the year.
Should the city lose this revenue, one
Of two things Is possible, either to get
along without that amount or raise 1t
In some other way.
THE situation would be even more
serious than might appear at first
glance. for the amount collected for
the liquor industry goes into that part
Of the corporate fund from which are
paid the ordinary expenses OF the city,
which for 1909 amounted to $685..
04S.76; 50 that almost one.half OF the
various functions and services would
have to be dropped II this amount
should be lost.
But there are only two ways out Of
the dilemma-either to raise the
amount by special taxes or licenses
from other businesses, or by general
taxation Of all property within the
city.
NEARLY all Of the business lines that
are subject to special taxation are now
licensed and yield at present less than
one.tenth Of the revenue from liquor
licenses. It seems entirely out OF the
question to produce the amount In
this way.
There Is one other way left. and
that Is by general taxation. The pres.
ent tax law limits the maximum tax
rate for corporate purposes to $l.20
and the minimum tax rate to $1.1O.
for each 500 Of the assessed value
Of all property. equal to one.third OF
Its full value. For 1909 the tax rate
for corporate purposes in the city Of
Chicago was $40. with an additional
20 cents for the payment OF certain
bonds and interest thereon.
Under the present valuation Of all
property Of sSS3.150.S97 1t would re.
quire an additional tax levy OF 81
cents for each 800 assessed valuation
In order to raise an amount equal to
that derived from the liquor indus.
try"
The Merriam yawp Is over.
%6A
Harvester Trust politics won't do
The basic principle of the trust is
for the good of some of some of the
people at the expense Of all of the peo.
pie.
Col. James Hamilton Lewis can al
ways feel certain that he has the loyal
backing of every Chicago Democrat
for any position he may aspire to.
<6A
Charles A. Mcdonald has proven by
his record as lawyer and citizen
that he would serve the people we'll on
the Superior Court bench. His nom
ination by the Democrats will be
popular one.
John J. Coburn IL the kind OF man
the people want on the Superior Court
bench. Honest and fearless. az his