Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1915-03-20
WILLIAM o'coNNeLL's RECORD
CLEAR.

Cook County never had better
official than william l.. O'Connell.
His public record Is without stain.
His last public act was to send
check to State Treasurer Russell for
100000 to cover fees in inheritance
tax collected in Chicago.
Mr.. OConnell sent with the check
a letter explaining that he preferred
to turn the money over to the state
rather than attempt to keep II through
court proceedings.
Following Is Mr.. O'Connell's let.
ter:
AT the November. 1910. election
was elected county treasurer Of Cook
county, pursuant to which held such
office for the four.year term expir.
ing the first Monday in December.
1914.
During my term OF Office II was
my duty to collect and pay over to
the state the inheritance taxes due
and payable to Cook county, under
and pursuant to the provisions Of the
Illinois inheritance tax law Of 1895.
BY section q OF this law 1t was pro.
vided.
The treasurer of each county shall
be allowed to retain per cent on
all taxes paid and accounted for by
him under this act In full for his
services In collecting and paying the
same, in. addition to his salary or fees
now allowed by law
n,.. -. A,,N, ~ Nt,..
istence OF this law the validity OF this
provision was assumed by all Of the
county treasurers Of the state, in.
Guiding my predecessors in Office, and
by the several state treasurers, in.
GLIDING your two predecessors, to
whom | accounted during my term
of office. Accordingly | retained the
2 per cent compensation therein pro-
vided for, as did my predecessors In
office, which action was acquiesced In
and confirmed by the several state
and county authorities.
THE validity OF the law was chal.
lenged during the latter part OF my
term of Office in a case again myself
entitled Jones VS.. O'Connell which
was finally disposed OF by the Supreme
court on Feb. 3, 1915 (266 Ill. 443)
and in which the court held the above
section to be invalid and that such
commission belonged to the state.
The mandate in such case has no,
yet been filed in the court below, mol
has the trial been had or any decree
entered therein. Notwithstanding
this, however, desire to acquiesct
in the principle OF the decision rem
dered, and without waiting for tria
and decree in the case, to turn oyel
to you herewith for the state the
commissions so allowed TO me by this
statute.
During my term OF office | col
lected inheritance taxes for the state
amounting to the sum OF s5,590,36l. 80
and retained as commission the 2 pei
cent on such sum as provided by sale
act, amounting 10 slll,s0T23.
AS with my predecessors, II wal
necessary during my term of Office Il
employ an expert in connection will
the inheritance tax law, and retained
as inheritance tax clerk therein A. w
Thurston who has held such position
under all my predecessors during thu
entire twenty.year period OF the exist
ence OF the law. During such period
excepting the last two years OF m!
term, the county board OF Cook count!
made provision in its annual appro
priation bills for the payment OF tn
salary OF such inheritance tax clerk
During the first TWO years OF my tern
the county board continued 10 MAKE
such provision and provided a salar!
for Mr.. Thurston as inheritance tai
clerk of $4,000 per year"