Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-15
MOODMEN CASEIS
NOW BEFORE THE
| BOARD OF REVIEW
Attempt Being Made to Have
Reserve Fund of organiza-
ton Listed for Taxation.
ON M'cASKRIN COMPLAINT
Jackson and Rhoads Matters Taken
Under Advisement-LIbelo
Matter Is EXpuraed.


fund is being made before the beard |
of review. Harry McCaskrin recently
thled with the board a complaint claim /,
fng that the big insurance society was
ldodging its taxes and asking to be ap-
pointed as special prosecutor against |
THE company.
SMinn., Truman Plantz of Warsaw and
lother legal counsel for the order are
appearing in s::e case. II is Mr.. Nc
lCaskrin's contention that the society
fBhould pay taxes on it's reserve fund
while the society takes the position
that the fund in question is not pril
marily a reserve fund which can be
loaned out or used by the society but
Is merely 70 be used in cases where
the assessments do not meet mortuary
demands. The society at any time can
drop its assessments and call on this
fuAd and should it be taxed, It is al
legged that the fund in this way could
bo diTsipated.
y UNDER AMUSEMENT.
The Jackson and Rhcads cases were
taken under advisement today by the
board. On action of W. c. Allen and
seconded by H. j. Gripp, the personal
references in the complaint OF Mr.. Nc
Caskrin were expUged and Mr.. Nc
Caskrin was given leave to amend his
complaint.
When Mr. McCaskrin was sworn and
Chairman Ceo-ua Dirbpap,I y
II he knew of any property of Mr.
Jackson which had not been listed for
taxation, before he had an opportuni-
" to reply. a spirited legal battle fol-
lowed In which NJ VI. Sturgeon for Mr..
Jackson declared that the board would
have TO legally confine itself merely to
Swo propositions-how the assessment
was made and the correctness of the
return. They could not question Mr..
McCaskrin on anything outside of the
schedule. according to the opinion Of
MT. Sturgeon. After Mr.. McCaskrin
Fad given his testimony, the matters
were taken under AMUSEMENT
HOT LEGAL BATTLE.
A hot legal battle followed the at
tempt OF Mr.. Sturgeon yesterday after
noon to have the complaint Of Mr. Nc
Caskrin stricken out on the ground
that IL was irrelevant, scandalous and
contained no proof Of the charges
against Mr.. Rhoads.
In the argument which followed
dery language and harsh charges were
exchanged by the two lawyers. The
board did not act on Mr.. Surgeons
W.1E hav. -
CHE case until this morning.
CASE UNDER AMUSEMENT.
The complaint brought against F. X
Rhoads by Mr.. McCaskrin was taken
hinder advisement after a prolonged
Session which did not end until 8
o'clock last evening.
Mr.. Rhcads' attorneys after citing
legal decisions in an attempt to show
that the board had not the power to
force him to take the stand waived
their objections and permitted MIN to
answer.
Mr.. Rhoads created sensation
when he took the stand by stating that
he had purposely left his tax schedule
unsigned instead OF through acciden,
as was generally thought, because Il
had been intimated to him that Nc
Caskrin was going TO bring complaint
against his schedule and that he die
not wish to lay himself open to at
tack.
Mr. McCaskrin denied that he haC
told anyone that he was planning &c
bring Mr.. Rhoads schedule up before
the board prior to the time that it hat
been made out
CLAIMS TAXES TOO HIGH.
Mr.. Rhoads in answer 70 a question
declared that In HIS estimation ne haC
net only given all his property its full
valuation when he had made out hi
tax schedule but that in estimating 1
since that time had found that muci
OF it he had placed at a sum consid
erably in excess Of its actual valIa
tion.
.eAnother wrangle between Mr.. Nc
Caskrin and the attorneys for the de
Tense followed an attempt OF the LAT
ter to show that much Of the evidenc,
was hearsay and OF little value TO tn
members OF the board in making thei
findings. No ruling as to this wa
made by the board. however, ana 1
Is presumed that the arguments q
they were made were permitted t
stand.
CAUSES AMUSEMENT.
gw. E. Bailey. who II was brough
out was with Mr.. Rhoads intereste
IN some stock contained in the stor
of j. B. ingalls,. the jeweler, caused Z
little amusement for the attorneys an
spectators when he was placed on tn
stand.
Gross examination brought out tn
fact that Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Rhoad
had advanced the larger part OF n
sum Of 1890 when Mr.. Ingalls, was
financial difficulties. This propert
Hr. McCaskrin claimed had not bee
catered by Nj. Rhoads for taxation.
sThe latter declared. however. that
was distinctly understood that Mr.. II
gals was TO pay all taxes and tbs
while he and Mr.. Bailey were undei
stood TO be the owners Of the propert!
Mr.. ingalls, retained the privilege c
buying II back at any time in consiC