Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-31
Report of Commission
Named by Deneen is
Submitted.
GIVEN Legislature R E
Provides Abolition of Board of
Equalization and Other
Radical Changes.

Springfield, H., Jan. 31.-Abolish-
ment OF the present state board OF
equalization and substitution of state
tax commission OF three members to
he appointed by the governor are the
chief Recommendations in the report OF
the revenue commission appointed I'M
der the joint resolution of the last leg
jslature.
Governor Deneen sent with the re-
port la special message to the legisla-
iure in which he said:
I transmit herewith 10 your honor
able body the report of the special
tax commission appointed 10y me under
the authority of an act approved June
E, 1909.
CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
The recommendations of the report
embrace changes in our present rev
enue system and its administration as
follows:
The abolition Of the state board of
equalization and the substitution there
for of q permanent state tax commits
sion to consist of three persons to be
appointed by the governor by and with
the advice and censent of the senate,
and vested with the following powers
over the subject of taxation for state
and local purposes:
(a) To prescribe forms for assess
ment books. uniform accounts and
financial and statistical reports of To-
cal tax officials, with power 10 require
reports and TO examine books and 'aG--
counts
Cb) To confer with, instruct and ad-
wise local assessors as to their duties,
visiting each county as often as neces-
sary and practicable.
ACCOUNTS SUBMITTED.
(c) To require individuals and cor
porations TO furnish information as to
capital stock, assets and liabilities,
etc. as required by law.
(d) To direct proceedings and pros
ecutions against public officials and Of
ficers or agents of corporations and
others for neglect or failure to COM
ply with the tax laws or orders Of the
comm ission.
(e) To hear and determine appeals
from the action OF county boards of
review. with power TO summon wit
nesses TO appear and give testimony
and produce records, books and dOcu-
ments.
90 To appoint special assessors
and direct the reassessment of proper
" in any taxing district where il ap-
pears, On complaint and after invest-
cation. that the original assessment
was not substantially just and equita-
Bile.
POWER TO INVESTIGATE.
(g) To investigate at any time on
its own initiative the efficiency of the
administration of the tax and revenue
laws: and for this purpose to have .
power 10 summon and examine wit
nesses on oath.
(h) To confer with the governor .
on the subject of taxation and the ad .
ministration of the tax laws, and 10 fur ,
nish him with such information relat- .
ing thereto as he may require.
Cd To investigate the tax laws and /
their operation in other states and .
countries. and To recommend TO the
legislature such changes in the rev.
enue laws rs seem eXpedient.
% To report biennially TO the gen
eral assembly and 70 the governor its
proceedings and decisions. with sta
tistics OF taxation and revenue. and rec
concentrations.
tk) To make all necessary rules
and regulations relating 20 procedure
ar its meetings and 20 carry out the
purpose for which the board was Gre
Rted
Accompanying the report is the draft
of bill creating the proposed state
tax commission and prescribing its
powers and duties.
Such permanent tax commissions
were established in Indiana in 1891, in
New York in 1896 in Michigan and
Wisconsin IN 1899. and, within the past
five years, in New Jersey. Texas,
Washington. Minnesota. Kansas. Ala
hama, Arkansas. Oregon and ohio
CHANGE CONSTITUTION.
The commission also recommends
the amendment Of article * of the
state constitution by adding thereto
section u. reading as follows:
Section IA. From and after the
date when this section shall be in
force, the powers OF the general
assembly over the subject matter ii
OF the taxation Of personal prop
erty shall be as complete and un-
restricted as they would be If sec
tions I. S. 2 and 10 Of this article 4,
OF the constitution did not exist: h
Provided. however. that any tax 4,
levied on personal uroperrv must